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Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Adolf Hitler became German chancellor on January 30, 1933, the Nazi state quickly became enforced by Hitler. -
Germany Reclaims Saar Region
To expand the Reich’s borders, the German government held an election where the local population voted to favor living under German rule. -
Homosexual Men Sent to Concentration Camps
men convicted under Paragraph 175 are sent to concentration camps, intending to stop the homosexual “contagion.” Between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 100,000 men will be arrested as homosexuals, of whom some 50,000 are officially sentenced. -
Beginnings of The Holocaust
The Holocaust began in the broader times of world war II. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Over the next year, Nazi Germany and its allies conquered much of Europe. -
The deportation of Polish political prisoners to Auschwitz concentration camp begins
The first prisoners arrive at the new concentration camp of Auschwitz I, established near the Polish city of Oswiecim. -
Germany Turns
Germany turned against its ally, the Soviet Union. Mobile killing units followed the German army and carried out mass shootings as it advanced into Soviet lands. -
Einsatzgruppe D begins operating in Bessarabia
Along with German army units and an Einsatzgruppe unit, this force murdered more than 160,000 Jews over the next two months. -
Killing operations begin at Chelmno (Poland) extermination camp
Chelmno is the first location outside of the Soviet Union where Jews are slaughtered en masse as part of the “Final Solution.” Chelmno is built to serve as the killing center for Jews in the Lodz ghetto (which is situated just 47 miles east of the camp) as well as those from the entire Warthegau region of occupied Poland. In all, some 170,000 people are murdered at Chelmno. -
The first mass killing of Jews in Sobibor extermination camp occurs
Most of the Jews brought to Sobibor are murdered immediately upon arrival. During its operation, an estimated 250,000 Jews will be killed there. -
Jews launch an armed resistance to deportations from the Warsaw ghetto
To their astonishment, young Jews offer armed resistance and drive the German forces out of the ghetto. -
Victory in Europe Day
Even after the liberation of Europe and the end of World War II, tens of thousands of Jewish survivors will remain in concentration camps and in hiding. -
President Roosevelt warns Hungary to refrain from anti-Jewish measures
Franklin D. Roosevelt condemns the Nazis and their accomplices for their despicable crimes during the war, but also warns the Hungarians to refrain from any atrocities against the Jews. -
An attempt to assassinate Hitler fails
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The Germans begin “Death March” from Auschwitz-Birkenau
Taking close to 60,000 prisoners on a forced march. Those who cannot keep up are killed and close to 15,000 die during the marches from Auschwitz -
Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide
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Germany surrenders to the Allies
General Alfred Jodl, representing Germany, signs the letter of surrender in the war room of the Allied headquarters in Reims, France. Two days later, the general surrender will be formally ratified in Berlin, this time with the Soviets, as Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signs an identical document for General Georgi Zhukov. -
Paragraph 175 – criminalizing homosexuality – remains in effect
However, the 1935 revision of Paragraph 175–the law criminalizing homosexuality–remains in effect.
Until 1969, some members of the LGBTQ community will be forced to serve out their terms of imprisonment, regardless of the time spent in concentration camps. -
The Nuremberg Trials begin
leven subsequent trials will be held in Nuremberg between 1946 and 1949.
The Nuremberg Trials are the first trials in history meant to administer punishment by means of proper jurisprudence, including adequate defense for the accused, and not by executions or the summary verdicts of lightning trials. The court will declare that the following of superior orders is not justification for the perpetration of a crime.