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1933 German Census
According to the 1933 German census, roughly 505,000 Jews lived in Germany, roughly .75% (less than 1) of the total population. Of this group, 160,000 lived in Berlin. *Picture shows a first grade class in a Jewish school, 1930. -
First concentration camp, Dachau, opens
Just as Adolf Hitler and the Nazis gain full political power, the first concentration camp is created in an old munitions facility. This camp is for political prisoners, initinally holding communists, Social Democrats, trade unionists, and other opponents of the Nazis. -
Hitler becomes dictator of Germany
German Reichstag (Parliament), passes Enabling Act, giving Hitler powers to make any law without needing the approval of Parliament. The Enabling Act passed 444 to 94, with only Social Democrats voting against the Bill. -
Jewish Boycott
Nazi's push for a natiowide boycott of Jewish stores. Stormtroopers stand in front of Jewish stores, and the Yellow star of David is painted on the front of Jewish buildings.
*Stormtroopers blocking a Jewish building with a sign that reads "Germans, defend yourselves, buy only at German shops." -
Burning of books
University students burn 25,000 "Un-German" books by authors such as Helen Keller, Jack London, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Mann. -
German laws
Throughout the year, Germany passed a series of laws or decrees that affected Jews. First, a decree was passed declaring a Non-Aryan to be anyone with a single Jewish parent or grandparent. Other laws pass making the Nazi party the ONLY political party, and preventing Jews from owning land or being newspaper editors. -
Nuremburg Racial Laws Passed
The Nuremburg Race laws of 1935 took away Jewish citizenship, instead making the subjects of Nazi rule. Jewish people were forbidden to marry or have relations with Aryans (blond haired, blue eyed Germans). The law created confusion as to who exactly was considered a Jew, so charts such as these were created to clarify the issue. -
Gestapo placed above the law
The Gestapo (Geheime Polizei Amt), Secret Police, are placed above the law. This allows the Nazis to arrest people, send them to concentration camps and/or execute them without any hearing or review in front of a court. The Gestapo becomes a highly efficient and organized unit that silences "enemies" of the state. -
Antisemitic Exhibition Begins
Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels and an Anti-Semitic Newspaper editor open an anti-jewish exhibition called "The Eternal Jew," at the German Museum in Munich, Germany. The exhibit moves throughout Germany, with over 400,000 people viewing it. -
Kristallnacht: The night of broken glass
The turning point in Jewish treatment in Nazi Germany, Kristallnacht is a night where Jewish synagogues, businesses, and cemetaries are destroyed by Nazi Party leaders and members of the SA and SS. Over 100 Jews die, and 25,000 are sent to concentration camps. Jews are billed for the damage of Kristallnacht in the coming days. -
Review of laws passed during the year
A series of Anti-semitic laws are passed throughout 1938. Among other things, these laws:
-order Jews to register all of their property
-require Jews over the age of 15 to have an ID at all times
-Jewish doctors are prevented from practicing medicine
-Jewish are banned from owning businesses, all Jewish businesses are either closed or taken over by Aryans.
*Picture shows a Jewish business being taken over by new, Aryan owners
