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1929-1932: The Nazi Party Receives More Attention
Support increases for parties with extreme solutions to Germany's political and economic problems. The Nazis are seen as the strongest group capable of preventing threats of things such as communism. The political system makes it difficult for democratic parties to keep governments in power. People began blaming these political parties for their problems. Therefore, extremist groups are more appealing. -
The Nazis is the Largest Party
The Nazis is the largest party in the Reichstag.
After WWI, political and social chaos in Germany leads to the rise of Hitler's political group, along with other violent and extreme political groups. Hitler used this to this devastation from WWI to his advantage. Hitler's time in the military is appealing to many Germans.
The Nazis use propaganda tactics of patriotism and fear to get more supporters. -
Nazi Party Takes Power
The Nazi party takes power in Germany. Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany. He suspends civil liberties to citizens.
Hitler established a Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. The Nazis use propaganda to further their power and ideologies. The Nazi message was communicated through films, books, radio, educational materials, press, etc.
The first concentration camp is established at Dachau. The first inmates are 200 communists.
Books with opposing beliefs to Hitler are burned. -
Hitler becomes “Fuhrer"
Hitler combines the positions of chancellor and president to become 'Fuhrer' (leader of Germany).
Jewish newspaper can no longer be sold in the streets. -
Rights of Jews are Eliminated
Jews are deprived of their citizenship and other basic rights. -
More Restrictions are made
German troops takes over Austria
All Jewish children are segregated to Jewish schools.
Jews must carry id with them marked with a "J" at all times.
Jews are not allowed in certain public spaces. -
Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass)
Nazis in Germany and Austria attacks Jewish persons, businesses, synagogues, homes, and schools. Nearly 100 Jewish people are killed and 30,000 are arrested. This is seen as a turning point in the history of Nazi Germany. While the boycotting of Jewish run businesses, the teaching of antisemitism in schools, and removal of Jewish people's civil liberties were all violent, Kristallnacht shows that Nazis only main goal is to harm Jews. -
World War II Begins
Germany takes over Czechoslovakia and invades Poland
WWII officially begins: Britain and France declare war on Germany
Jews must follow curfews, wear yellow stars of David, and turn in radios to the police.
In Poland, Jews are rounded up and shot. This indicates the systematic mass murder that will follow.
Hitler approved a program that euthanizes people with disabilities and people with mental illness.
In Austria, a decree orders 2000 - 3000 Roma and Sinti to be sent to concentration camps. -
Nazis Begin Their First Mass Murder of Jews
Germany invades France, The Netherlands, and Romania.
German Jews are deported to Poland and forced into ghettos.
Nazis begin their first mass murder of Jews in Poland.
Jews are placed into concentration camps. The condition for Jews in concentration camps are far harsher than other camps. -
The “Final Solution"
Germany attacks the Soviet Union.
Jews throughout Western Europe are must live in ghettos
Jews are not allowed to leave their houses without permission from the police and cannot use telephones
The "final solution" is introduced: the Nazis' plan to kill all European Jews. Killing squads rounds up and shoot entire Jewish communities. The murders rapidly escalates.
By the end of the year, gas chambers and trucks murder greater quantities of people more quickly using fewer resources, like bullets. -
Murders Rise Exponentially
More Jews were murdered this year than any other year in the Holocaust, mainly using extermination/death camps. People over 50 years old, pregnant women, and children were the first to be sent to gas chambers.
80-85% of all Jews killed in the years of the holocaust was killed in this year. -
Signs of Defeat
Hitler is losing the war but the "final solution" does not waver -
Coming to an End
Hitler takes over Hungary and deports 12,000 Jewish people from there to Auschwitz.
Death marches are in full swing. Death marches are long, labourious walks in harsh conditions from one concentration camp to another. This was so that prisoners of concentration camps would not fall into the hands of Allied and Soviet liberators. During these marches, SS guards brutally mistreated people and shot those who collapsed from exhaustion or who could not keep to the pace of the march. -
End of World War II
Allied troops win WWII and the war ends on September 2.
Death camps are emptied and survivors are placed in displaced persons facilities.
The extent of the atrocities that occurred in the holocaust is finally revealed.
Hitler kills himself by gunshot. Heinrich Himmler, leading member of the Nazi Party, and Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany and close associate to Hitler, both committed suicide as well. -
Nuremberg Trials
International military tribunal makes its verdict on 21 leading Nazi officials. 18 were guilty and 3 were acquitted. The charges included crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to do so. Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels never stood trail because they all committed suicide before the end of the war.
