The Interwar Years

By tou0004
  • Weimar democracy founded.

    Weimar democracy founded.

  • World War I concludes, the Allies are victorious.

    World War I concludes, the Allies are victorious.

  • The German Worker’s Party is founded.

    The German Worker’s Party is founded.

  • The League of Nations is founded.

    The League of Nations is founded.

  • Treaty of Versailles signed after six months of discussion at the Paris Peace Conference.

    Treaty of Versailles signed after six months of discussion at the Paris Peace Conference.

  • Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party, just one of many disgruntled former soldiers.

    Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party, just one of many disgruntled former soldiers.

    Exact day is unknown.
  • German Worker’s Party is renamed the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi Party or NSDAP for short).

    German Worker’s Party is renamed the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi Party or NSDAP for short).

  • Hitler becomes the leader of the NSDAP.

    Hitler becomes the leader of the NSDAP.

    Month and day are unknown.
  • Period: to

    Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch in Munich.

  • Hitler was arrested and jailed for high treason, he wrote ‘Mein Kampf’ while imprisoned.

    Hitler was arrested and jailed for high treason, he wrote ‘Mein Kampf’ while imprisoned.

  • The Dawes Plan is enacted.

    The Dawes Plan is enacted.

  • Hitler, who had been sentenced to 5 years in prison, was released after just one year.

    Hitler, who had been sentenced to 5 years in prison, was released after just one year.

  • Paul von Hindenberg is elected President of Germany.

    Paul von Hindenberg is elected President of Germany.

  • The infamous SS is founded.

    The infamous SS is founded.

  • 'Mein Kampf’ is published, later becoming the primary basis for the ideologies of the Nazi party.

    'Mein Kampf’ is published, later becoming the primary basis for the ideologies of the Nazi party.

  • Hitler Youth is founded.

    Hitler Youth is founded.

  • Germany is accepted into the League of Nations.

    Germany is accepted into the League of Nations.

  • During the Reichstag (parliamentary) elections the Nazi party won only 2.6% of the votes.

    During the Reichstag (parliamentary) elections the Nazi party won only 2.6% of the votes.

    Exact day is unknown.
  • The Great Depression begins.

    The Great Depression begins.

  • In another election the Nazi party wins 18.3% of the vote – becoming the second largest party in the Reichstag.

    In another election the Nazi party wins 18.3% of the vote – becoming the second largest party in the Reichstag.

    Exact day is unknown.
  • 1/3 German people are unemployed.

    1/3 German people are unemployed.

    Exact date and month are unknown.
  • At 84, a reluctant Hindenberg runs for president again, he succeeds in beating Hitler – who had received 37% of the votes.

    At 84, a reluctant Hindenberg runs for president again, he succeeds in beating Hitler – who had received 37% of the votes.

    Exact day and month are unknown.
  • 40000 SA and SS are sworn in as auxiliary police.

    40000 SA and SS are sworn in as auxiliary police.

  • Hitler is elected Chancellor by Hindenburg in an effort to staunch his influence.

    Hitler is elected Chancellor by Hindenburg in an effort to staunch his influence.

  • The Reichstag building is burnt down.

    The Reichstag building is burnt down.

  • Hitler is granted emergency powers due to the burning down of the Reichstag building.

    Hitler is granted emergency powers due to the burning down of the Reichstag building.

  • The Dachau Concentration Camp is opened, described by Heinrich Himmler as the “first concentration camp for political prisoners”.

    The Dachau Concentration Camp is opened, described by Heinrich Himmler as the “first concentration camp for political prisoners”.

    Exact day is unknown.
  • The Enabling Act is passed, providing Chancellor Hitler with the ability to pass laws without the involvement of the Reichstag.

    The Enabling Act is passed, providing Chancellor Hitler with the ability to pass laws without the involvement of the Reichstag.

  • There is a Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses.

    There is a Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses.

  • Nazi decree defining anyone who is non-Aryan.

    Nazi decree defining anyone who is non-Aryan.

    The Nazi’s issue a decree defining an individual who is non-Aryan as "anyone descended from non-Aryan, especially Jewish, parents or grandparents. One parent or grandparent classifies the descendant as non-Aryan...especially if one parent or grandparent was of the Jewish faith."
  • The Gestapo is founded by Hermann Goring.

    The Gestapo is founded by Hermann Goring.

  • Book burnings take place in Berlin and other areas of Germany; prompted by a speech made by Joseph Goebbels.

    Book burnings take place in Berlin and other areas of Germany; prompted by a speech made by Joseph Goebbels.

  • The Nazi party passes a law that allows forced sterilizations to be performed on individuals that are found to have genetic defects by a Hereditary Health Court.

    The Nazi party passes a law that allows forced sterilizations to be performed on individuals that are found to have genetic defects by a Hereditary Health Court.

    Exact day is unknown.

  • A law is passed stripping Polish-born Jews in Germany of their citizenship's.

  • The Nazi party is declared the only legal party in Germany.

    The Nazi party is declared the only legal party in Germany.

  • The Nazi party founds the ‘Reich Chamber of Culture’, excluding Jews from the arts.

    The Nazi party founds the ‘Reich Chamber of Culture’, excluding Jews from the arts.

    Exact day is unknown.
  • Jews are prohibited from owning land.

    Jews are prohibited from owning land.

  • Jews are prohibited from being newspaper editors.

  • Germany leaves the League of Nations.

    Germany leaves the League of Nations.

  • Nazi’s pass a law against “habitual and dangerous criminals”, which allows beggars, the homeless, alcoholics and the unemployed to be sent to concentration camps

    Nazi’s pass a law against “habitual and dangerous criminals”, which allows beggars, the homeless, alcoholics and the unemployed to be sent to concentration camps

  • Jews are banned from the German Labour Front (DAF).

    Jews are banned from the German Labour Front (DAF).

    The DAF replaced trade unions.

  • Jews are prohibited from having national health insurance.

  • Period: to

    The “Night of the Long Knives” takes place; Hitler, Goring, and Himmler purge the SA’s leadership.

  • The SS is made an independent organisation, separate from the SA.

    The SS is made an independent organisation, separate from the SA.

  • Jews aren’t allowed to get legal qualifications.

  • Paul von Hindeburg dies and Hitler becomes the Fuhrer – combining the roles of president and chancellor; giving him ultimate power over Germany.

    Paul von Hindeburg dies and Hitler becomes the Fuhrer – combining the roles of president and chancellor; giving him ultimate power over Germany.

  • Hitler disregards the Treaty of Versailles by implementing military conscription.

    Hitler disregards the Treaty of Versailles by implementing military conscription.

  • Jews are banned from serving in the German military.

  • The Nazi party passes a law that allows non-consensual abortions to be performed on women to prevent them from passing hereditary diseases onto their children.

  • Jewish artists and performers are forced to join isolated cultural unions.

    Jewish artists and performers are forced to join isolated cultural unions.

  • The Nuremberg Race Laws are enacted, stripping German Jews of many of their basic rights.

    The Nuremberg Race Laws are enacted, stripping German Jews of many of their basic rights.

  • The Great Depression ends in Germany.

    The Great Depression ends in Germany.

    Only year is known.
  • The Gestapo is placed above the law.

    The Gestapo is placed above the law.

  • Nazi soldiers occupy the Rhineland – which had been demilitarised by the Treaty of Versailles.

    Nazi soldiers occupy the Rhineland – which had been demilitarised by the Treaty of Versailles.

  • Heinrich Himmler is appointed chief of the German police.

    Heinrich Himmler is appointed chief of the German police.

  • The Olympic Games are held in Berlin; causing anti-Semitic activities to be briefly halted (in certain areas of Berlin).

    The Olympic Games are held in Berlin; causing anti-Semitic activities to be briefly halted (in certain areas of Berlin).

  • Hitler reveals his plans to wage war during the Hossbach Memorandum.

    Hitler reveals his plans to wage war during the Hossbach Memorandum.

  • The ‘Eternal Jew’ travelling exhibition opens in Munich, helping to cement anti-Semitic stereotypes.

    The ‘Eternal Jew’ travelling exhibition opens in Munich, helping to cement anti-Semitic stereotypes.

  • The Office for Jewish Emigration is established in Vienna, and soon after the Mauthausen concentration camp is opened near Linz.

    The Office for Jewish Emigration is established in Vienna, and soon after the Mauthausen concentration camp is opened near Linz.

    Exact day is unknown, occurred over a period of days/weeks.
  • Period: to

    Germany enters Austria and announces ‘Anschsluss’ with Austria (claiming Austria as part of its territory), soon after Nazi’s began to arrest and publicly humiliate Austrian Jews.

  • Jewish people are ordered to register their wealth and property.

    Jewish people are ordered to register their wealth and property.

    Date is uncertain.

  • Jewish people are ordered to register their businesses.

  • Jews are prohibited from trading and supplying a certain specified commercial services.

  • Nazi’s order Jewish people over the age of fifteen to apply for identity cards that are to be shown on demand to any police officer at any time.

    Nazi’s order Jewish people over the age of fifteen to apply for identity cards that are to be shown on demand to any police officer at any time.

  • It is illegal for Jewish doctors to practice medicine.

  • German military begins final mobilization.

    German military begins final mobilization.

  • Jewish women are required to add “Sara” and men “Israel” to their names on all legal documentation.

    Jewish women are required to add “Sara” and men “Israel” to their names on all legal documentation.

    This was done so that if a Jewish individual did not have a clearly Jewish name they could still be recognised as being a Jew.

  • The Nazi’s prohibit Jews from practicing law.

  • A law is established wherein all Jewish passports are required to be stamped with a large red “J”.

    A law is established wherein all Jewish passports are required to be stamped with a large red “J”.

  • The German army occupies Sudetenland and the Czech government resigns.

    The German army occupies Sudetenland and the Czech government resigns.

  • 17,000 Polish Jews living in Germany are arrested and expelled by the Nazi’s back to Poland – Poland then refuses them entry and leaves them in ‘No-Man’s Land’ near the Polish border for months.

    17,000 Polish Jews living in Germany are arrested and expelled by the Nazi’s back to Poland – Poland then refuses them entry and leaves them in ‘No-Man’s Land’ near the Polish border for months.

    Herschel Grynszpan’s family were among those deported.
  • Jewish-Polish refugee Herschel Grynszpan assassinates Nazi diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris in retaliation for the deportation his family by Germany.

    Jewish-Polish refugee Herschel Grynszpan assassinates Nazi diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris in retaliation for the deportation his family by Germany.

  • Period: to

    The Night of Broken Glass (otherwise known as Kristallnacht) takes place, caused by Herschel Grynszpan’s assassination of Ernst vom Rath.

    Mob violence broke out – synagogues were burnt down while Jewish people were beaten and at least 91 were killed.
  • Nazi’s fine the Jews 1 billion marks for the damages caused by Kristallnacht.

    Nazi’s fine the Jews 1 billion marks for the damages caused by Kristallnacht.

  • Jewish students are expelled from all non-Jewish German schools.

    Jewish students are expelled from all non-Jewish German schools.

  • A law is put into place enforcing the Aryanization of all Jewish businesses.

    A law is put into place enforcing the Aryanization of all Jewish businesses.

    Aryanization is the forced expulsion of Jews from business life and certain territories.
  • Hermann Goering is tasked with resolving the “Jewish Question”.

    Hermann Goering is tasked with resolving the “Jewish Question”.

  • Hermann Goering orders SS Reinhard Heydrich to speed up Jewish emigration.

  • Jews are ordered to hand over all the gold and silver items that they own to the Nazi’s.

  • Period: to

    The Nazi’s seize Czechoslovakia.

  • Period: to

    The St. Louis, a ship carrying at least 930 Jewish refugees is turned away from Cuba, the United States, and other countries, and is forced to return to Europe as a result.

  • The Nazi’s invade Poland.

    The Nazi’s invade Poland.

  • A compulsory curfew is implemented for Jews in Germany.

    They are forbidden from going outside after 8pm in Winter and 9pm in Summer.
  • Jews are required to wear yellow stars of David.

    Jews are required to wear yellow stars of David.

    Exact day unspecified.
  • World War II begins as the UK and France declare war on Germany.

    World War II begins as the UK and France declare war on Germany.