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Adolf Hitler Appointed Chancellor of Germany
In November of 1932, the Nazi party won 33 percent of the vote, which was more than any other party, in the German Election. Due to this, President Paul von Hindenbrug appointed Adolf Hitler, who was the head of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NAZI Party), the new chancellor of Germany. This shows persecution against the disabled as this was the start of all of the changes that were occurring in their lives. -
Reichstag Fire Decree
This law, put into place by President von Hindenburg. took away freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right for people to assemble. The government now could control what was being published to citizens of Germany. This shows persecution against people with Physical and Mental Disabilities because it wasn’t truly publishing what was happening to people with disabilities and people, including those who were disabled, were allowed to really know what was going on. -
Burning of “Un-German” Books
Books were burned in Germany that were anti-Nazi. This shows persecution against the diabled as they were not allowed to read books that they possibly could have wanted to. -
Sterilization Law
The law allowed the government to forcibly sterilize people with physical or mental disabilities so they could not have children. This shows persecution against the disabled as their chance to have children was taken away from them. -
Press Censorship Law
They could only publish information that was positive for the Nazis. This shows persecution because people with disabilities weren’t allowed to know what was really happening in the country. -
Hitler Becomes Fuhrer
Hitler became the ultimate ruler of Germany. This shows persecution against the disabled as Hitler now was able to pass anything he wanted that included many laws and decrees that were harmful to people with disabilities. -
Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor
This law made it so mixed race couples were illegal. This shows persecution against the disabled because if they wanted to marry someone from a different race, they were not allowed to. -
Euthanasia Decree
Euthanasia Decree or Operation T-4, was an authorization to protect Nazi doctors who euthanized disabled and mentally ill patients. This shows persecution against the disabled and doctors could kill disabled people without any consequences. -
Alfred Wodl
Determined he was mental disabled, had to move into a psychiatric clinic, homes were being emptied, not allowed to go home, transferred to Spiegelgrund Institution, and was killed while there. -
Germany Invades the Soviet Union
With this invasion, SS officers began experimenting with Gas vans and killed many disabled people. This shows persecution against the disabled as disabled people were killed for no reason. -
Mass Murder Begins at Chelmno
The SS (Schutzstaffel) and police authorities opened the Chelmno killing center. This shows persecution against the disabled as many of them were killed in the killing center for no reason.