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Holocaust
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Rise of the Nazi Party
Starting as a gang of unemployed soldiers, the Nazi Party would become the legal government of Germany. -
Armistice
The Armistice allowed the German Army to remain intact and was not forced to admit defeat. The German politicians who signed in it were considered the "November Criminals". General John J. Pershing thought it would've been better for the Germans to admit defeat so there wouldn't be any doubt. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to give territories to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, West Prussia and Upper. Article 231( or "War Guilt Clause") forcing the German nation to take resposibility for starting World War I. It also gave a limit to 100,000 army men and Navy Vessels to 100,000 tons. -
Comment on the Jewish Question
Hitler issued his first written comment on the Jewish Question, defining the Jews as race rather than a religious community. His ultimate goal was the removal of the Jews altogether. -
Mein Kampf publication
While Hitler was in prison he wrote the first volume of Mein Kampf (My Struggle). This book shows Hitler's ideas of German nationalism, antisemitism, and anti-Bolshelvism. -
Great Depression
Stock markets collapsed on Wall Street sending financial markets worldwide into a tailspin with disastrous effects. The German economy was vulnerable because of its dependence on foregin trade. -
Nazi Party for Reichstag seats
Heinrich Bruning, the first chancellor under the new presidental system, wasn't able to unify the government. In 1930 there were new elections. The Nazi Party won an important victory becoming the second largest party in the Reichstag. -
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Nazification
During the next six years Hitler was able to successfully transform Germany into a Police state. -
Hitler as Chancellor
Hilter had persuaded Hindenburg to back down from the position of Chancellor. A new chapter in German history began when Hitler exited the presidental palace as Chancellor of the German Nation. -
Reichstag in Flames
When the Reichstag buiding went up in flames Nazi's immediately said that this was the beginning of a Communist revolution. This incident made hitler convince Hindenburg to issue a Decree for Protection of People and State. -
Enabling Act
throught this Adolf Hitler obtained plenary powers and established dictatorship. This act granted Cabinet the authority to make laws without the Reichstag's permission. -
Nazi Boycott of Jewish stores
Hitler decared a one day boycott of all Jewish stores and products. A list of Jewish stores was created and Nazi pickets were posted outside stores and factories preventing anyone to enter. -
Book Burning
Wilhelm Humboldt Univeristy transported books to be burned. They proceeded to toss thousands of titles, by many types of authors into the bonfire. This lasted for hours, interrupted by only Nazi songs and a speech by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. -
Night of the Long Knives
This was the wiping out of SA's leaders and others that angered Hitler. After this the SS grew far more powerful in Germany. -
Hindenburg's Death
After Prestident Hindenburg died, Hitler combined the offices of Reich Chancellor and President, making himself Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor, or leader of the Reich. -
Nuremberg Laws
New laws set the racial policies that Hitler envisioned in his book Mein Kampf. "The Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor" forbade marriage or sexual contact between Aryans and Jews. Jews were taken of all basic civil rights, classifying them as subjects rather than citizens. Jews were defined as a separate race. -
Jewish Passports
It was issued that Austrian and German Jews had to have a 'J' stamped on their passports. -
Kristallnacht
"Night of Broken Glass" Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels gave a free-for-all against the Jews. Almost 1,000 Synogogues were burned, 100 Jews were killed and 30,000 more were sent to concentration camps and tortured. Jewish shops had their windows smashed. A small time after this Jews were forced to give up their businessess and Jewish children were taken out of public schools. -
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The Ghettos
Although the ghettos weren't Hitler's creation, Nazi's turned them into a preliminary step to the extermination of the Jews. -
World War II
After securing the neutrality of the Soviet Union, germany started World War II by invading Poland. France and Britain's responce was declaring war on Germany on September 3rd. -
Ghettos
Reinhard Heydrich told several SS commanders that all jews must be placed in speacial areas in cities and towns. These ghettos were surrounded by brick walls, barbed wire and armed guards. Conditions in the gettos were so bad that thousands died of starvation and disease. -
Segregation
General Governor Hans Frank made an ordinance that any Jew ten years or older living in the General Government must wear the Star of David. -
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The Camps
The camps were a critical part of the Nazi's systematic mass murder of the Jews and other undesirables. -
Night and Fog
"Nacht und Nebel" This decree directed that people in occupied territories engaging in activities that undermined the security of the German troops were captured and brought to Germany for trial by special courts. -
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Resistance
The resistance against the Nazi's took many forms through out World War II. For most, the resistance was a struggle for physical existance. -
Wannsee Conference
This meeting marked the turing point of the Nazi policy toward Jews. It was set to plan the "final solution" of the "Jewish question." The plan was to round up the Jews in Europe and transport and organize them into labour gangs. They never said anything about extermination, but a few moths later the first gas chambers were installed. -
Gypsies
An order was issued that Gypsies would also be sent to consentration camps. -
Warsaw Revolt
This was the begining of an armed revolt by a determined group of Warsaw ghetto dwellers. The ZOB (Jewish Fighter Organization) battled for months. The Nazi acted by bringing machine guns, tanks, destoying the ghetto and ultimatly killing the last of the 60,000 residents. -
More Uprisings
After the Warsaw uprising there were many others. In Treblinka seven hundred Jews torched the death camp. Jews in the Bialystok ghetto attacked the German army, and on September 1 ghetto dwellers in Vilna revolted. Despite their determination only a few of the rebellions escaped. -
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Rescue and Liberation
Many courageous citezens successfully hid and protected Jews until the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of the death camps. -
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Aftermath
Even today there are many unresolved issues from the holocaust. -
Death Marches
Many of the remaining camps were closed and destroyed to cover up evidence. Those people who had survived the camps were taken and forced to go on Death Marches. -
Discovery of the Concentration camps
Allied troops stumbled upon the consentration camps and saw the brutality of the Germans. General Eisenhower insisted on documenting all of this so the world doesn't ignore the past and make the same mistake. -
In Nuremburg..
In Nuremburg, 22 high ranking Nazi officials were named and brought to trial for the world to see. Robert Jackson addressed the International Military Tribunal the first day in court. -
Verdict at Nuremburg
The International Military Tribunal (IMT) announces its verdict to impose the death sentence to 12 of the 22 Nazi officials. -
Arab and Jewish state
United Nations General Assembly came up with a plan that split Palestine into a Arab state and Jewish state, with Jerusalem under international control. -
Israel
The Jews claimed the independent state of Israel theirs. The next day though, Arab nations attacked Israel.
