- Racial doctrine
- The Germans made a distinction between people based on race.
- Racism
- Discrimination based on race.
- Radar
- English abbreviation meaning: Radio Detection And Ranging. System to detect the presence, distance, speed and direction of an object, such as ships and airplanes, using electromagnetic waves.
- Radio Orange
- Radio station that was broadcasting during World War 2 from London. Specifically focused on the occupied Netherlands.
- RAF
- Royal Air Force. British air force
- Raid
- Fast military raid in enemy territory
- Railway strike
- This was announced on the radio and complied with by the Dutch railway staff on 17 September 1944. The railway strike was intended to support the allied plan Operation Market Garden. After the allied airborne landings had failed, Dutch railway staff remained on strike until the liberation.
- Ranger
- American name for a specially trained soldier (similar to commando).
- Raspoetitsa
- Russian name for the rain season. Through the excessive rainfall, Russian roads turned into quagmires which made the transportation of troops and the supply practically impossible for the German army.
- Ratification
- Confirmation, agreement by a government or parliament of an international agreement.
- Razzia
- Organised round-up of a group of people. This could be Jews but also persons in hiding or other groups.
- Recce/Reconnaissance
- Exploration. Stalking the enemy in order to get as much information as possible. During World War 2 reconnaissance units usually were lightly armoured and equipped with light arms. These were only for self-defence. Exploring is not an offensive task.
- Red Army
- Army of the Soviet Union.
- Regiment
- Part of a division. A division divided into a number of regiments. In the army traditionally the name of the major organised unit of one type of weapon.
- Reich chancellor
- Name of German head of state. From 1933 till 1945 Adolf Hitler was Reich chancellor of Germany.
- Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD)
- Labour service for men between the age of 18 to 25 years old introduced in Nazi Germany in June 1935.
- Reichskommissar
- Title of amongst others Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the highest representative of the German authority during the occupation of The Netherlands.
- Reichstag building
- German government building in Berlin.
- Reichstag fire
- On the 27 February 1933 the building of the German government was set on fire. The Germans could declare a state of emergency and hereby come into power. It is not known whether the fire was started by the Nazi’s or the communists. The Dutchman Marinus van der Lubbe was in any case condemned for the crime.
- Reichswehr
- German army during the Weimar republic.
- Reichswetterdienst
- The Reichswetterdienst primarily carried out weather observation and auxiliary tasks for aviation. Most of the weather observing stations were located at airports.
- Resistance
- Resistance against the enemy. Often also with armed resources.
- Revolution
- Usually sudden and violent reversal of existing (political) the political set-up and situations.
- Rhineland
- German-speaking demilitarized area on the right bank of the Rhine which was occupied by Adolf Hitler in 1936 after World War 1.
- RKKA
- Official name of the Red Army, the army of the Soviet Union. In full “Rabotsje Krestjanskaja Krasnaja Armiya”, meaning Red Army of workers and peasants.
- RKKF
- Official name of the Red Fleet, the fleet of the Soviet Union. In full “Rabotsje Krestjanskaja” meaning Red Fleet of workers and peasants.
- RKKVF
- Official name of the Red Air force, the air force of the Soviet Union. In full “Rabotsje Krestjanskaja Vozdoesjny Flot”. Meaning, Red airfleet of workers and peasants.
- Rocket
- A projectile propelled by a rearward facing series of explosions.
- Royal Air Force / RAF
- The United Kingdom’s air force
- RSHA
- Reichssicherheitshauptamt. The central information and security service of the Third Reich.
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