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Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party in Germany. Hitler's rise to prominence was sparked by German people's frustration with current economical conditions and their recent defeat in the Great War. It ws easy for them to trust Hitler when he said he could make Germany great again. -
Reichstag Fire
The Reichstag Building fire was portrayed as the Communist's attempt to overthrow the government. Although, it was truly the Nazi party though they tried to blame the communists. -
German Parliament passes Enabling Act giving Hitler dictatorial powers.
When the Enabling Act was passed, Hitler had immense power and could practically control Germany like a puppet. Anything he wanted, he now had the power to make it happen. When the Reichstag building burned down, Hitler saw the disaster as an opportunity for a communist takeover. -
Hitler becomes Führer
Folllowing the death of Germany's former leader, Hitler became the absolute dictator of Germany. He went by the title of Führer which means leader. -
Nuremberg Race Laws
The Nuremberg Race Laws were passed which prohibited Jews from marrying or being in any sort of relationship with "people of German blood". Along with the restrictions, the Nuremberg Laws changed who was identified as a Jew. Rather than a Jew being simply one with those religous beliefs, you could be identified as a Jew if three of four of your grandparens had Jewish beliefs. -
Identity Cards
Nazis order Jews over age of 15 to apply for identity cards from the police, to be shown on demand to any police officer. This is simply one of an endless list of rights Jewish people were denied from. Having to be labeled like this was very degrading for anyone of the Jewish religion or descent. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor killing over 2,000 Americans. For the U.S, this was the final straw and we made the decision to enter World War 2. We fought on the side of the Allied powers. -
Mass killing of Jews begins
In early January of 1942, the massive killing of six million jews, genocide, began. The killings first took place at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Nearby, the victims were being buried in mass graves. -
Madison Square Garden rally
In an attempt to pressure the U.S. government into helping the European Jews, American Jews held a mass rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. They were sick of the way European Jews were being treated and wanted to help as much as they possibly could. -
Hitler commits suicide
Hitler commited suicide in his bunker in Berlin by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Shortly after his death, Germany surrendered to the Allied forces. Hitler's dreams of a 1,000-year Reich quickly vanished.
