History of the Holocaust
The Holocaust (also called Shoah in Hebrew) refers to the period from January 30, 1933, when Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany, to May 8, 1945 (VE Day), when the war in Europe ended. During this time, Jews in Europe were subjected to progressively harsh persecution that ultimately led to the murder of 6,000,000 Jews (1.5 million of these being children) and the destruction of 5,000 Jewish communities. These deaths represented two-thirds of European Jewry and one-third of world Jewry. The Jews who died were not casualties of the fighting that ravaged Europe during World War II. Rather, they were the victims of Germany's deliberate and systematic attempt to annihilate the entire Jewish population of Europe, a plan Hitler called the “Final Solution†(Endlosung). |
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Events that Preceded the Holocaust
After its defeat in World War I, Germany was humiliated by the Versailles Treaty, which reduced its prewar territory, drastically reduced its armed forces, demanded the recognition of its guilt for the war, and stipulated it pay reparations to the allied powers. The German Empire destroyed, a new parliamentary government called the Weimar Republic was formed. The republic suffered from economic instability, which grew worse during the worldwide depression after the New York stock market crash in 1929. Massive inflation followed by very high unemployment heightened existing class and political differences and began to undermine the government. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler, leader of the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party, was named chancellor by president Paul von Hindenburg after the Nazi party won a significant percentage of the vote in the elections of 1932. The Nazi Party had taken advantage of the political unrest in Germany to gain an electoral foothold. The Nazis incited clashes with the communists, who many feared, disrupted the government with demonstrations, and conducted a vicious propaganda campaign against its political opponents-the weak Weimar government, and the Jews, whom the Nazis blamed for Germany's ills.
Timeline of Major Events
The Timeline section focuses on the history of the Holocaust, chronicling the years from 1918 to the present. Hitler's rise to power was the initiation of a period that wrought great fear and destruction. Millions were forced to live in ghettos, only to be deported later to the concentration camps. The tragic details remained obscure until the liberation of the death camps and the further revelations during the Nuremberg War Trials. The subsections below offer a simplified outline for thinking about how the Holocaust unfolded. However, it should be kept in mind that many of the categories overlap. Brief Timeline
- Rise of the Nazi Party (1918-1933). During the fourteen years following the end of World War I, the Nazi party grew from a small political group to the most powerful party in Germany.
- Nazification (1933-1939). Once Hitler became Chancellor and later Reichsführer, the Nazi party quickly changed Germany's political, social, and economic structure.
- The Ghettos (1939-1941). Confining Jews to ghettos was another critical step in Hitler's Final Solution.
- The Camps (1941-1942). The concentration camps were Hitler's final step in the annihilation of the Jews.
- Resistance (1942-1944). People resisted by any means possible, from stealing a slice of bread to sabotaging Nazi installations.
- Rescue and Liberation (1944-1945). Some survived through the heroics of neighbors; others were liberated by the Allies.
- Aftermath (1945-2000). After the war, Nazi perpetrators faced punishment for their war crimes and survivors began rebuilding their lives.
HISTORY OF THE HOLOCAUST - TIME LINE (More In-Depth)
1933
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.
1934
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.
1935
Jews are deprived of their citizenship and other basic rights.
- The Nazis intensify the persecution of political people that donХt agree with his philosophy.
1936
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.
1938
German troops annexed Austria.
- On Kristallnacht, the 'Night of Broken Glass,' Nazis terrorized Jews throughout Germany and Austria - 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's licenses and car registrations.
- Jews must be in certain places at certain times.
1939
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.
1940
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.
1941
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.
1942
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.
1943
February: About 80 to 85 percent of the Jews who would die in the Holocaust have already been murdered.
1944
Hitler takes over Hungary and begins deporting 12,000 Hungarian Jews each day to Auschwitz where they are murdered.
1945
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.
1946
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.
1947
The United Nations establishes a Jewish homeland in British-controlled Palestine, which becomes the State of Israel in 1948
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