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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
The Nazi party takes power in Germany. Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor,or prime minister of Germany.- Nazis 'temporarily' suspend civil liberties -
The Burning of Reichstag
Nazis burn the Reichstag building in order to create a crisis atmosphere. -
Powers Granted To Hitler
Emergency powers are granted to Hitler as a result of the Reichstag Burning. -
First Concentration Camps Built
Nazis open Dachau concentration camp near Munich, to be followed by Buchenwald near Weimar in central Germany, Sachsenhausen near Berlin in northern Germany, and Ravensbrück for women. -
Period: to
Holocaust
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Boycott of Jewish Businesses
Nazis boycott Jewish services and businesses. -
Period: to
Jewish Segregation
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First Gestapo Establishment
The first Gestapo station created in the German country of Prussia. -
Nazi Establishment and Jewish Citizenship
The Nazis became the only legal party in Germany. Nazis pass laws to strip Jews of their German citizenship in Poland. -
Law Against Habitual and Dangerous Criminals
Nazis pass a Law against Habitual and Dangerous Criminals, which allows beggars, the homeless, alcoholics and the unemployed to be sent to concentration camps. -
The Night of Long Knives
The Night of Long Knives occurs as Hitler, Göring and Himmler conduct a purge of the SA (storm trooper) leadership. -
Hitler Assume Leadership as Fuhrer.
German President von Hindenburg dies. Hitler becomes Fuhrer. -
Olympics In Berlin
Olympic games begin in Berlin. Hitler and top Nazis seek to gain legitimacy through favorable public opinion from foreign visitors and thus temporarily refrain from actions against Jews. -
Nazi Invasion of Austria
Nazi troops enter Austria, which has a population of 200,000 Jews, mainly living in Vienna. Hitler announces Anschluss (union) with Austria. -
Jewish Synagogue Razed
Nazis destroy the synagogue in Nuremberg. -
Jews Arrested and Left for Dead
Nazis arrest 17,000 Jews of Polish nationality living in Germany, then expel them back to Poland which refuses them entry, leaving them in 'No-Man's Land' near the Polish border for several months. -
The Night of Broken Glass
A massive, coordinated attack on Jews throughout the German Reich on the night of November 9, 1938, into the next day, has come to be known as Kristallnacht or The Night of Broken Glass. -
Nazi Invasion of Poland
Nazis invade Poland (Jewish pop. 3.35 million, the largest in Europe). Beginning of SS activity in Poland. -
Europe Declares War
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. -
Aushwitz Concentration Camp Established
Nazis choose the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland near Krakow as the site of a new concentration camp. -
Nazi Invasion of Denmark and Norway
Nazis invade Denmark (Jewish pop. 8,000) and Norway (Jewish pop. 2,000). -
Nazi Invasion of France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg
Nazis invade France (Jewish pop. 350,000), Belgium (Jewish pop. 65,000), Holland (Jewish pop. 140,000), and Luxembourg (Jewish pop. 3,500). -
Axis Powers Created
Tripartite (Axis) Pact signed by Germany, Italy and Japan. -
Nazi Invasion of Russia
Nazis invade Russia (Jewish pop. 3 million). -
Jews Forced to Wear Stars of David
German Jews ordered to wear yellow stars. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor -
Declaration of War Against America
Hitler declares war on the United States. President Roosevelt then asks Congress for a declaration of war on Germany saying, "Never before has there been a greater challenge to life, liberty and civilization." The U.S.A. then enters the war in Europe and will concentrate nearly 90 percent of its military resources to defeat Hitler. -
First Surrender By the Nazis in War
Germans surrender to Russian troops at Stalingrad in the first big defeat of Hitler's armies. -
D-Day
D-Day: Allied landings in Normandy on the coast of northern France. -
Liberation of Majdanek
Russian troops liberate the first concentration camp, at Majdanek where over 360,000 had been murdered. -
Liberation of Auschwitz
Russian troops liberate Auschwitz. By this time, an estimated 2,000,000 persons, including 1,500,000 Jews, have been murdered there -
The End of World War 2
