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Hitler Come To Power
The Nazi's rise to power was rapid during the time of economic depression because it offered hope. During the elections, Hitler received 36% of the vote, and during the time where many political parties came about this was major. As a result of his popularity, Hitler was appointed Chancellor and head of the German government. Soon after Hitler became the dictator of Germany after President Hindenburg's death. -
The Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg laws were antisemitic, and racist laws enacted in Germany. There was an instructional chart made to distinguish German blood, mixed blood, and Jewish blood, and the only requirement to be Jewish was if one of your Grandparents were Jewish. These laws deprived Jews of German citizenship, restricted them from many things, stated jews could only marry Jews, Jews could not write books practice medicine or law, and they could not attend German schools. -
The Concentration Camps
People who were seen as "enemies of the state" were taken to concentration camps. While Jews were the primary target for their hate, they also persecuted Gypsies, people with disabilities, and for other racial reasons. Millions more were also mistreated and suffered oppression and death. Germany often took land to gain more area to build concentration camps. Here people often died, were overworked, and faced horrible conditions and mistreatment. -
Night Of Broken Glass
On November 7th, 1938 a Jewish man shot a German Diplomat for mistreating his parents. Hitler started the Night Of Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht, in retaliation for that act. Through November 9-10, the Nazi-led mobs attack Jewish communities all over Germany. This was a symbol of widespread anti-Jewish violence and within the 48 hours synagogues were vandalized and burned, 96 Jews were injured, and nearly 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps. -
Resistance
In 1939, a Jewish activist established a secret archive to document Jewish life and death in the ghetto and the extreme conditions. This was to make sure their story was heard and no one could cover up what really happened to the Jews, and the mistreated during the holocaust. In 1942-1443 they buried these documents in mental containers to preserve these records so future generations could see them. -
Mobile Killing Squads
Mobile killing squads were units that carried out mass murders of Jews, Roma, and communist government officials. About a quarter of all Jews that perished in the Holocaust were shot and killed by these SS mobile killing squads. These killing were even made public to watch sometimes or to make a statement. -
Death Marches
As a result of the deteriorating military solution in 1944, and the advancing of the Allied troops to the interior of Germany, it was ordered by German authorities that the concentration camps' prisoners be evacuated. They were marched from one concentration camp to another and suffered from malnourishment, inclement weather, exhaustion, and mistreatment. SS guards were told to shoot prisoners who were too exhausted and could no longer walk or travel. -
The Liberation
When the United States successfully made it to interior Germany, General Eisenhower and others could see the prisoners killed by the concentration camps and the real horrors of what was going on. This was for evidence against the atrocities, and Eisenhower was shocked and disgusted and even urged others to see the camp. He did this so the stories of Nazi brutality were never forgotten, or dismissed as propaganda.
