timeline

  • The Nazi party takes power in Germany. Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor,or prime minister of Germany.- Nazis ‘temporarily’ suspend civil liberties

    – The Nazis set up the first concentration camp at Dachau. The first inmates are 200 Communists. – Books with ideas considered dangerous to Nazi beliefs are burned.
  • Hitler combines the positions of chancellor and president to become ‘Fuhrer’ or leader of Germany.’

    – Jewish newspapers can no longer be sold in the streets.
  • Jews are deprived of their citizenship and other basic rights.

    – The Nazis intensify the persecution of political people that donÕt agree with his philosophy.
  • Nazis boycott Jewish-owned business.

    – The Olympic Games are held in Germany; signs barring Jews are removed until the event is over. – Jews no longer have the right to vote.
  • German troops annexed Austria.

    – On Kristallnacht, the ‘Night of Broken Glass,’ Nazis terrorized Jews throughout Germany – 30,000 Jews are arrested. – Jews must carry ID cards and Jewish passports are marked with a “J.” – Jews no longer head businesses, attend plays, concerts, etc. all Jewish children are moved to Jewish schools. – Jewish businesses are shut down they must sell businesses and hand over securities and jewels. – Jews must hand over drivers licenses and car registrations.
  • Germany takes over Czechoslovakia and invades Poland.

    – World War II begins as Britain and France declare war on Germany. – Hitler orders that Jews must follow curfews; Jews must turn in radios to the police; Jews must wear yellow stars of David.
  • Hitler invaded Poland.

    Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. However, there was little fighting for the first six months of the war and this period is known as ‘the phoney war’.
  • Nazis begin deporting German Jews to Poland.

    – Jews are forced into ghettos. – Nazis begin the first mass murder of Jews in Poland. -Jews are put into concentration camps.
  • Germany invaded and occupied Denmark and Norway.

  • Hitler launched a Blitzkrieg against Holland and Belgium. Both countries were occupied.

  • British troops were pushed back to the beach at Dunkirk and had to be rescued by British boats.

  • France was occupied by Germany.

  • Germany attacks the Soviet Union.

    – Jews throughout Western Europe are forced into ghettos. -Jews may not leave their houses without permission form the police. -Jews may no longer use public telephones.
  • Germany and Italy attacked and had successes in Yugoslavia, Greece and North Africa.

  • Germany attacked Russia (Operation Barbarossa) and had made some gains.

  • Nazi officials discuss the ‘Final Solution’ – their plan to kill all European Jews – to the government officials.

    -Jews are forbidden to: subscribe to newspapers; keep dogs, cats, birds, etc; keep electrical equipment including typewriters; own bicycles; buy meat, eggs, or mild; use public transportation; attend school.
  • Japan took Singapore from the British.

  • February: About 80 to 85 percent of the Jews who would die in the Holocaust have already been murdered.

  • Hitler takes over Hungary and begins deporting 12,000 Hungarian Jews each day to Auschwitz where they are murdered.

  • Hitler is defeated and World War II ends in Europe.

    – The Holocaust is over and the death camps are emptied. – Many survivors are placed in displaced persons facilities.
  • An International Military Tribunal (Judicial assembly) is created by Britain, France,the United States, and the Soviet Union.

    – At Nuremburg, Nazi leaders are tried for war crimes by the above Judicial assembly.
  • The United Nations establishes a Jewish homeland in British-controlled Palestine, which becomes the State of Israel in 1948.