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Adolf Hitler Rises to Power
This is where it all begins. The Nazi party finally takes power and Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor, or prime minister of Germany. -
Period: to
The History of the Holocaust
The Holocaust History :
The Holocaust was a time of devastation and corruption. It was a time of cruelty and it was terribly inhumane. The Holocaust and its supporters tried vainly to make the world perfect, but only succeeded in killing millions. Unbelievably, some people think the Holocaust never happened, but it did. -
First Concentration Camp is Opened
The first concentration camp was opened at Dachau in Germany. The camp, initially utilizing an empty World War I munitions facility, was established in March of 1933. The first prisoners were political, Jews and non-Jews, primarily Communists and Social Democrats. In the following years other groups were sent there, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, gypsies, homosexuals and anyone considered an opponent of the Nazi regime. -
Jewish Shops are Boycotted
Adolf Hitler ordered a boycott of Jewish shops, banks, offices and department stores. But the boycott was mostly ignored by German shoppers and was called off after three days. However, the unsuccessful boycott was followed by a rapid series of laws which robbed the Jews of many rights. -
'Undesirables' sent to camps
Homeless, alcoholic and unemployed people were sent to the concentration camp that was opened in March. -
Jewish Persecution
An order was issued which prohibited Jewish people from having health insurance. -
Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg Laws were introduced. These laws were designed to take away Jewish rights of citizenship and included orders that: Jews are no longer allowed to be German citizens.
Jews cannot marry non-Jews.
Jews cannot have sexual relations with non-Jews. -
Austrian Jews persecuted
Following Anschluss which joined Germany and Austria, Jews in Austria were persecuted and victimised. -
Munich Synagogue Destroyed
The Jewish synagogue in Munich was destroyed. -
Jewish Passports Stamped With 'J'
The passports of all Austrian and German Jews had to be stamped with a large red letter 'J'. -
Kristallnacht
A night of extreme violence.
Approximately 100 Jews were murdered, 20,000 German and Austrian Jews arrested and sent to camps, Hundreds of synagogues burned, and the Windows of Jewish shops all over Germany and Austria were smashed. -
Jews Fined
Jews were made to pay one billion marks for the damage caused by Kristallnacht. -
Jewish Children Expelled From Schools
An order was issued that stated that Jewish children should not be allowed to attend non-Jewish German schools. -
Austrian and Czech Jews Deported
Jews living in Austria and Czechoslovakia were sent to Poland. -
Yellow Star Introduced
Jews in Poland were forced to sew a yellow star onto their clothes so that they could be easily identified. -
Auschwitz
A new concentration camp, Auschwitz, opened -
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto was sealed off. There were around 400,000 Jewish people inside. The Jewish ghetto in Warsaw was sealed off by a high wall. Its construction took many months to complete. The work was carried out by the construction firm Schmidt & Münstermann, based on 8/3 Mars Street, which later helped building the Treblinka death camp. The ghetto wall was 3.5 m high, topped by glass and barbed wire. -
Einsatzgruppen
The Einsatzgruppen (killing squads) began rounding up and murdering Jews in Russia. 33,000 Jews are murdered in two days at Babi Yar near Kiev. -
'Final Solution'
How to get rid of the Jews was a question answered by Adolf Hitler. His answer was to murder Jews throughout Europe along with other races that were believed to be sub-humans. This answer was called the “Final Solution,” a solution that started in the summer of 1941 and was believed to answer the “Jewish Question” and create an end to the Jews. -
First 'Death Camp'
The first 'Death Camp' was opened at Chelmno. -
Mass-gassing
Mass-gassing of Jews began at Auschwitz-Birkenau. -
European Jews gassed
Jews from all over occupied Europe were sent to 'Death Camps'. -
Gypsies Sent to Camps
An order was issued for gypsies to be sent to concentration camps. -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
An order was issued to empty the Warsaw Ghetto and deport the inmates to Treblinka. Following the deportation of some Warsaw Jews, news leaked back to those remaining in the Ghetto of mass killings. -
(Continued) Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
A group of about 750 mainly young people decided that they had nothing to lose by resisting deportation. Using weapons smuggled into the Ghetto they fired on German troops who tried to round up inmates for deportation. They held out for nearly a month before they were taken by the Nazis and shot or sent to death camps. -
Death Camps Are Closed
With the Russians advancing from the East, many 'Death Camps' were closed and evidence destroyed. -
Hungarian Jews sent to Auschwitz
440,000 Hungarian Jews were transported to Auschwitz. -
(Continuned) Hungarian Jews sent to Auschwitz
Auschwitz is a concentration camp that has not yet been closed. -
Auschwitz
The gas chambers at Auschwitz were used for the last time. -
Death Marches
Many remaining camps were closed and evidence of their existence destroyed. Those who had survived the camps so far were taken on forced 'Death Marches'. The germans hoping this would kill the last standing survivors seeing as they were barely able to walk and so fragile. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Faced with impending defeat, Hitler commits suicide. -
German Surrender
Germany surrenders and the war in Europe was over. The Holocaust also, was over.
