Holocaust Timeline

Hitler Appointed Chancellor January 1933 As head of government, Hitler can now begin to carry out the anti- Semitic policies of the Nazi Party.

Boycott of Jewish Shops April 1, 1933 A small, nonviolent act that focuses on the targeted community of the Jews.

The Gestapo is created. April 1933 The Gestapo and the SS are the secret police of Nazi Germany and will carry out many of the attacks against the Jews.

The Nuremberg Race Laws September 1935 Formalizing earlier laws concerning race and citizenship in Germany.

Jews banned from professional occupations January 1937 The Germans continue to increase the restrictions and persecutions of the Jews in Germany.

“The Eternal Jew” Exhibition November 1937 The Nazi sponsored art collection exhibitions promoting the stereotypes of the Jews and how they are defiling the blood of the Aryans.

League of Nations Meeting July nations meet, including the USA, to determine what can be done to help the Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. The meeting ends with no action as no country will take them in.

Kristallnacht  Night of the Broken Glass (Major turning point in the treatment of Jews in Germany) November 1938 Following the assassination of a German official in Paris by a Jew, the Nazi unleash incredible acts of violence and destruction against Jewish businesses and synagogues Jewish businesses were destroyed. 267 synagogues were burned down and about 25,000 Jewish men imprisoned. (Jews were fined 1 billion marks for the damages.)

World War II Begins September 1939 Germany invades Poland, which has Europe’s largest population of Jews.

Transportation of Jews At the beginning of the war, Jews are rounded up and moved to various locations, usually in Poland. Most Jews are confined to “ghettos” and kept under guard by the SS. As Germany occupies more land, Nazi policies against the Jews are enforced across Europe, Africa and Asia.

Auschwitz 1940 Auschwitz, the most infamous, but by no means the only, slave labor/death camp is created near Krakow, Poland.

The Final Solution July 1941 Herman Goring orders the commander of Auschwitz to begin to make preparations for the final solution, or the extermination of Jews.

Wannsee Conference January 1942 At this meeting top Nazi (SS) officials meet to work out the details of the Final Solution.

Krakow Ghetto March 1943 The Krakow Ghetto is liquidated and the Jews removed to the camps.

Preparing Auschwitz March-April 1943 Three new massive gas chambers and crematoriums are constructed and put to immediate use.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising April 1943 Jews confined to the ghetto in Warsaw, knowing that liquidation is coming, stage an uprising and fight the Germans for 28 days. In the end, 56,000 Jews are killed, survivors are sent to the death camps.

Auschwitz is liberated January 1945 Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz. Roughly 2 million people were murdered at this one death camp.

Nuremberg Military Tribunal November 1945 Former Nazi leaders are placed on trial by an international court for “Crimes against Humanity”.