Nazi Anti-Semitism

March 1933

Post-election SA anti-Jewish violence, random acts of terror, gradual persecution not new

1 April 1933

One day boycott of Jewish shops, not universally accepted, Hitler restricted it to one day under conservative pressure

7 April 1933

Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service bans Jews from employment in the Civil Service, Hindenburg clause exempted war soliders

22 April 1933

Decree Regarding Physicians' Services bans Jewish doctors from state healthcare, Hindenburg clause applied

25 April 1933

Law Against Overcrowding of German Schools restricted Jewish students to 5% of total school

July 1933

Law for Compulsory Sterilisation

September 1933

Entitled Farm Law: Bans Jews from owning farms

1934

SD propose emigration of Jews

1935

Resumption of unofficial attacks leads to formal action

15 September 1935

At Nuremberg Rally Hitler announces: Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour, Reich Citizenship Law, Law for the Protection of the Genetic Health of the German People, depriving rights to citizenship and marrying or employing Aryan women

August 1936

Anti-Jewish signs in Berlin removed for Olympics, Himmler in charge of emigration

Autumn 1937

Radicalisation of the regime, Goring pursued 'Aryanisation' confiscating economic assets, capitalists able to buy out rivals, register property over 5000 marks

September 1937

Nuremberg rallies, Hitler makes fierce speech attacking Jews

November 1937

Schact, critical of anti-Jewish economic measures, resigns

March 1938

Anschluss gives Germany 150000 more Jew, Eichmann forces 45000 to emigrate through 1938 Central Office for Jewish Emigration in Vienna, religious congregations deprived legal protection

April 1938

Decree on the Registering of Jewish Property, valued at over 5000 Reichmarks

June - October 1938

Series of decrees: Jewish doctors, dentists, lawyers forbidden to have Aryan clients, Jews excluded from some commericial activities, Jews must add Sarah or Israel to their names, identity cards to be stamped with a J

9-10 November 1938

Kristallnacht, 17 year old Jew shot German diplomat presented in Der Sturmer as outburst of anger, 8000 shops and homes set on fire, forced payment toward damage, surrender jewellery, enforced adoption of Jewish names

November 1938

Decrees excluding Jews from economic life: public business contracts of Jews banned, banned from trades, shops, businesses, Jews excluded from schools, universities, cinemas and sports facilities

January 1939

Reich Central Office for Jewish Emigration set up to promote emigration, Hitler refers to annihilation of Jews in Reichstag speech, Hitler tells Czech Foreign Minister that he is going to destroy Jews, major emigration wave

September 1939

War against Poland, Einzatzgruppen murder thousands of civilians, German Jews placed under curfew, radios confiscated

21 September 1939

Heydrich tells SS all Jews to be confined to special areas

October 1939

Himmler made Reich Commissioner for Strengthening Germanismm, Polish Jews resettled and moved into first Ghettos, Euthanasia programme begins

July 1940

Plan to transport 4 million Western Jews to Madagascar showed farcical nature

1940 - August 1941

70000 mentally ill people gassed

June 1941

War against USSR, political killings ordered, half a million Jews shot

July 1941

Decision to embark on 'Final Solution' (possibly October)

September 1941

German Jews ordered to wear the Star of David

October 1941

Emigration banned, mass deportation of German Jews to the East begins

December 1941

Soviet resistance blocks plans to move Jews to beyond the Urals, mass gassing of Jews at Chelmno begins

January 1942

Wannsee Conference plans Final Solution, beginning of systematic round up of all Jews under German control

February 1942

Belzec, first month 75000 killed, use of carbon monoxide during Final Solution under Operation Reinhard

December 1942

German gypsies moved to Auschwitz

1943

Expansion of extermination camp system

November 1944

Himmler orders end of gassing of inmates and destruction of Auschwitz, remaining inmates evacuated West away from advancing Soviet troops

January 1945

Red Army reaches Auschwitz

April 1945

American and British troops reach concentration camps

The Holocaust

Number of Jews under Nazi control increased, population brutalised, invasion of Poland, Jews singled out, intensified paranoia about enemy within