ENThe policy of the German authorities, to, in accordance with Nazi ideology, annihilate the Jewish population constantly placed the Karaites, who at that time inhabited various European countries that were gradually being conquered by German armies, in constant danger. Official attempts made in 1938 by the representatives of Karaite community to convince the German authorities to treat them as a non-Jewish population, resulted in only partial success. After the conquest of France, Lithuania and Crimea the Karaite community was persecuted in various ways. However, it succeeded in surviving the war, in contrast to the fate of most of European Jewry. This was only possible thanks to the efforts of numerous people, including hachan Seraya Shapshal. Keywords: II World War, Karaims in France, Karaims in Lithuania, Karaims in Crimea; holocaust, Seraya Shapshal; German atrocities.