Download Chronology of the Holocaust

Chronology of the Holocaust
1933:
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Hitler becomes Chancellor
Heavy anti-Semitic propaganda is circulated
First concentration camp opened at Dachau—mainly for political prisoners
Jewish books burned publicly
Nazis order boycott of Jewish businesses
Jewish people begin to leave Germany (approx. 300,000 get out before it’s too late—
borders were sealed by 1940 and other countries wouldn’t accept Jewish refugees)
1935:
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Nuremberg Laws into effect: these laws established who is Jewish—a person with one
or more Jewish grandparents is considered Jewish. Marriages between Jews and nonJews are criminalized
All Jews must register
Curfews are established for Jews
Jews begin to leave Germany; 78k by end of year
1938:
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Kristallnacht: Nazis attack Jewish synagogues, homes, and businesses. Jewish books
are burned. Over 200 murdered, thousands sent to concentration camps
Jewish children expelled from German schools
Jewish doctors and lawyers are forbidden to practice
Jewish business owners forced to turn over businesses to Aryans
1939:
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The War officially begins with the Nazi invasion of Poland
Ghettos are established in Poland (Warsaw, Lodz…): Warsaw Ghetto is established in
100 city blocks, brick wall built- people crammed in, starvation/disease, can’t leave
Forced labor camps in occupied territory; life expectancy = 6 mos or less
1940:
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Jews no longer allowed to leave Germany or German-occupied countries
Jewish people in occupied territory must register and wear the Star of David on their
clothing. Many Jews go into hiding at this time—the penalty for helping or hiding Jews
is death
German Jews all deported to concentration camps
1941:
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First Death/Extermination camp is opened at Chelmno (others to follow soon…Sobibor,
Belzec, Treblinka, Auschwitz)
Mass deportation of Jews in Nazi-occupied territory to concentration camps
Germany invades the Soviet Union and begins systematic massacre of Jews in each
town and village (Einsatzgruppen)
1942:
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Wansee Conference: Authorities of Nazi Government meet in Wansee (suburb of
Berlin) and coordinate plans for the “final solution” to the “Jewish problem”
Extermination begins at Sobibor, Belzec, Treblinka
Jews in Ghettos and sent to death camps (6,000-10,000 per day)
All German Jews in concentration camps are sent to Auschwitz
Articles begin to appear in US newspapers about mistreatment of Jews; US govt. won’t
confirm/get involved
1943:
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Resistance by Jews in Warsaw Ghetto uprising, escape from Sobibor etc.
Nazis order Denmark’s Jews shipped to Poland. Danes help 8,000 escape to Sweden
1944:
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1945:
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Nazis begin attempt to hide evidence of death camps
As Allies close in, many Jews are forced on “death marches” out of camps and away
from Allies- 58,000 forced to march, 20,000 die on march
Hitler commits suicide
Germany surrenders
Camps liberated by Allies
Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals (over 22 men..)
Questions:
1. Why didn’t more Jewish families leave Germany in the 1930s?
2. The purpose of the Nuremberg Laws and the wearing of the Star of David was to
identify the Jewsih people. Why was this step so important in the Holocaust?
3. Why was resistance so difficult for both Jews and non-Jews during the holocaust
years?
4. Jews in Nazi-occupied countries were not all treated the same. For example, nearly
all the Jews of Denmark survived and nearly all the Jews of Poland perished.
Speculate why.
5. Six million Jews and four million others were killed during the Holocaust. Speculate why
this was allowed to happen.