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Appoitment of Adolf Hilter as chancellor
Hitler’s emergence as chancellor on January 30, 1933, marked a crucial turning point for Germany and, ultimately, for the world. His plan, embraced by much of the German population, was to do away with politics and make Germany a powerful, unified one-party state. -
Reichstag Fire Decree
The day after the German parliament (Reichstag) building burned down due to arson, President Hindenburg issues the Decree for the Protection of People and the Reich. -
Death of German President von Hindenburg
With the support of the German armed forces, Hitler becomes President of Germany. Later that month Hitler abolishes the office of President and declares himself Führer of the German Reich and People, in addition to his position as Chancellor. -
Buchenwald Concentration Camp Opens
Buchenwald was one of the largest concentration camps established within German borders. -
Exclusion of Jews from German Economic Life
On November 12, 1938, the German government issues the Decree on the Elimination of the Jews from Economic Life. The decree bars Jews from operating retail stores, sales agencies, and from carrying on a trade. The law also forbids Jews from selling goods or services at an establishment of any kind. -
Auschwitz Camp Established
The Auschwitz concentration camp complex was the largest of its kind established by the Nazi regime. It included three main camps, all of which deployed incarcerated prisoners at forced labor. One of them also functioned for an extended period as a killing center. -
Explosion of the SS Patria
The destruction of ship carrying 1,800 Jewish refugees. -
Jewish Badge
During the Nazi era, German authorities reintroduced the Jewish badge as a key element of their larger plan to persecute and eventually to annihilate the Jewish population of Europe. They used the badge not only to stigmatize and humiliate Jews but also to segregate them, to watch and control their movements, and to prepare for deportation. -
Operation Reinhard
The plan to annihilate Jews in occupied Poland will lead to the murder of some 1.7 million innocent people. -
Gassing Operations Begin at Treblinka
SS Special Detachment Treblinka begins gassing operations at the Treblinka killing center.