SS: Holocaust Midterm Quizlet

Theodosian Code

Define: Compilation of laws under the Roman Empire that made Christianity the official religion, while outlawing all other religions. They can be tolerated, however, they were barred from all other aspects of life (Jews in no public office, don't bother Christians)
Time: 438 CE
Location: Roman Empire
Significance: Intolerance for Jews has always been present. Religion and the division of so rose in power. Jews depended on the goodwill of Christians. Highlights a social and psychological shift and division.

Deicide

D - the death of God. Jews were the killer of Jewish.
T - accusation technically started as soon as Christ died, but did not become so overarching until the 4th century when religion became a uniting force
L - accused Jews of doing so across Roman empire
S - amplified hatred towards the Jews. Augustine used this reasoning to create a policy that Jews should survive, but not thrive. Christians justified that God had allowed Jews to survive but must be dispersed.

Pope Gregory I

D - leading pope in the Middle Ages. Claimed that Jews should be persecuted but not killed off
T - 600 CE
L - Roman empire
S - Was a leader that encouraged a lot of conversions. Though that this policy would finally allow Jews to see the light and convert. Believed Jews did not deserve to enjoy the rights others could. Reinforced antisemitic and an "us vs them" mentality.

Fourth Lateran Council

D - Jews must wear distinctive clothing to prevent sexual relations. Banned Jews from public office.
T - 1215
L - all over empire (France and Germany notably)
S - Papacy reached the height of its power. Laws were necessary in order for the Christians to maintain their feudal system. Didn't want Jews to blend in and religion to be tarnished (not race -- differs from Hitler)

1144 Norwich

D - little boy William goes missing. Body found in the woods. Blamed on Jews. There was no evidence, but the accusation took off
T - 1144
L - Norwich
S - Merged with the idea of blood libels. Story got warped into "blood used for matzahs". Positioned Jews as murderers. Accusations have followed Jews for centuries.

Host Desecration

D - accusation that Jews defiled Christian holy wafer. Jewish community were stabbing eucharist wafers as if to torture Jesus
T - 1290
L - Passau
S - Accusation of being the Christ killer and torturers follows them everywhere. Christians literally grieved this myth.

Expulsion from England

D - Edict of expulsion issued by Edward I. Jews were forced to leave England, and give all their resources to the state. English knights were getting in to debt, blamed Jews as they were the money lenders. Thousands of Jews left England
T - 1290
L - England
S - Created the trope of moneylending --> Jews were deceptive. Additionally, in England, Jews had established themselves as money lenders, and with high interest rates, became very rich. The British monarchy was struggling financially after waging war abroad, so they needed a way to take the Jews property and money.

Expulsion from Spain

D - Alhambra decree issued that Jews had three months to leave Spain. issued by King Ferdinand and Isabella
T - 1492
L - Spain
S - Spain had originally had great working relations with Jews. However, as it became progressively more Christian, and a Christian ruler came into the power, the role of the Jews became less significant. 1492 is fairly late, many people had been ingratiated in Spain for years, however, they were being kicked out

Judensau

D - sculptures of Jews in contact with a pig, portraying Jews as pigs, villianized Jews via medieval sculptures
T - 13th century
L - European countries, though, notably, Germany
S - antisemitic iconography littered the streets, it was hard to avoid, and further reinforced to even the commoner, who wasn't very educated, that Jews were the enemy. Hatred in Plain Sight. Comparing Jews to pigs humiliated Jews, dehumanized them.

"On Jews and their lies"

D - piece of literature written by Martin Luther, an affluent priest. Originally tried to befriend Jews, so that they would convert to Christianity. However, after he realizes this is futile, he starts hating the Jews. Gives license to enact violence against Jews: suggests robberies, burning down synagogues etc. T - 1543 L - Germany S - Nazis used Luther's teachings for their guidelines.

Redemptive Antisemitism

D - born from fear of a racial war. Belief that Jews were the root of all evil and that Germany could be saved from collapse only by total removal of the Jew
T - late 1800s
L - Germany
S - first time religion wasn't used as the basis of antisemitism. Other racial and power/fear components drove the hatred.

Wilhelm Marr

D - coined the term antisemitism. Wrote "The victory of Judaism over Germandom". Claims Jews are not racially German and hence threatening. Jews are not weak, they are racially strong and will be victorious in a battle
T - 1879
L - Germany
S - Holocaust was not Hitler's sole invention, other people picked up his ideas. While it inspired Germans, most German Jews didn't leave, weren't so afraid of this document. Develops a kill or be killed concept, that Hitler would later adopt. His teachings were read, and appreciated by Hitler, especially in school

Verjudung

D - Jewification, Jews controlling certain industries -- especially commerce and academia
T - late 19th century, early 20th century
L - Predominant in Berlin (German term), but this occurred all over Europe
S - Antisemitism was now commercial: Jews were accused of exploiting commercial practices and moneylendings. Jews were highly concentrated here, since they were barred from trades. Jews had no territory, due to being forced to wander the land (expulsion), so these were the skills they picked up. This concentration in the industry would also lead to claims of cheaters, money-obsessed, filthy etc.

"The Jews in Music"

D - piece of writing published by Richard Wagner, a famous musician. He promoted many assumptions, claiming Jews were not creative in the arts and only tried to commodify music. Jews are not capable of being a part of the German race T - 1850 L - Vienna S - Hitler was obsessed with Wagner, and his antisemitic ideas inspired him (was his role model). Wagner was jealous of Mendelsohn, and hence, repositioned his jealousy into antisemitic views that he spewed. First time in a while that modern antisemitism resurfaced, tried to create an us vs them structure.

Adolf Stocker

D - German Protestant theologian that was highly educated. Leader of the Christian Socialist Workers Party. His platform was the first public antisemitic party created.
T - 1878
L - Germany
S - Blames Jews for German stock market crash in 1873. Thinks there should be quotas of Jews in certain professions. Wants to change Jewish influence. First time Jews are used as a scapegoat for Germany's issues in a non-religious context.

First Anti Semites' Congress

D - Conference held to safeguard non-Jewish interests. Here, antisemitism was largely redefined into racial and ethnic terms, rather than religious reasons. First time the idea had really been vocalized and officialize.
T - 1882
L - Dresden, Germany
S - This conference is very much held in public, no one is hiding the fact that they promote antisemitism. Despite having recently established good working relations with Jews, these people were not afraid to be associated with antisemitism

Thule Society

D - Society of right-wing extremist antisemites that travelled to Munich to try to surpass the Socialist revolution. Wanted to unify all German speaking individuals, and destroy all the Jews in Germany
T - 1919
L - Munich
S - association served as an umbrella category for antisemites to look up to, first time a group had united on antisemitic grounds, linked with NSDAP. Provided a space for the exchange of antisemitic ideas

Dietrich Eckart

D - Founder of the DAP, Hitler's first mentor, founder of German worker's party, participant in Beer Hall Putsch. published antisemitic pieces in newspapers
T - beginning of 20th century
L - Germany
S - Hitler's spiritual cofounder of the Nazi movement, Key influence on Hitler. Gave Hitler confidence that a party of this sort can work. Hitler learned from him

Lanz von Liebenfels

D - monk that got disappointed with the church and started publishing Ostara with his antisemitic views. Introduces the swastika. Anti-feminist, racist
T - lived in the early 20th century, most prominent in WWI-Interwar period
L - Austria
S - introduces the image of what an Aryan should look like. Defines gender roles within the Reich. Ostara was wildly successful, helping Hitler gain momentum

Ostara

D - magazine that highlights the race struggles the Germans face against the Jews and the impending war. Publishes Volkisch theories
T - 1905-1931
L - Vienna, then Germany
S - Influential Newspaper on Hitler, as well as the common pop. Swastika and fascist movements were offsprings of the teachings from Ostara. Hitler stole these ideas, but never gave Lans credit, even when asked

Karl Lueger

D - mayor of Vienna, pragamatic politician, leader of the Christian Socialist party -- believer of racial antisemitism
T - Early 20th century
L - Vienna
S - Lueger gave epic speeches. Hitler, who was in Vienna during his reign, learned from him how to captivate an audience and gain popularity, knows how to unite a group of people

Georg von Schonerer

D - leader of the Pan German movement. Fights for Jews being expelled from this area, wants German speakers in one big country, wants all minorities gone.
T - early 20th century
L - Vienna
S - Only gets 4% of the votes, not very successful. Hitler learns from him that you can't give people too many enemies (Von Schonerer tried to get people to unite against the Church, which was bad idea bc many people still followed religion). By providing one major enemy, this will allow a population to unite.

Battle of Tannenberg

D - led by Paul Von Hindenburg, future president. Fought between Russia and Germany, and Germany was victorious (Germany: 13,000 killed/wounded, Russia 30,000 killed/wounded).
T - August 1914
L - Prussia (present day Poland)
S - this battle emboldens the German nation, encourages more people to enlist. As well, Hindeburg would become the President 20 years later. It was a battle of great scale and significance.

Paul von Hindenberg

D - Notorious army leader in Battle of Tanenburg, one of Germany's most successful battles. Last president of the Reich before Hitler's reign. Appointed Hitler as German chancellor. Died August 1934
T - 20th century (army leader 1914-1918, president of Germany 1932-1934)
L - Germany
S - after immense pressure from Von Papen, he appoints Hitler. This was the beginning of the end, because Hitler would then abuse his power to create the enabling act, allowing him to make sole decisions without others' input. Hindenburg effectively becomes powerless. Some blame Hindenburg's lack of a backbone and mental fortuity for WWII and the Holocaust.

Dolchstoss

D - "stab in the back" theory. Antisemitic theory that blamed Jews for the loss of Germany in WWI. Thought Jews wanted to profit off the war.
T - 1918
L - Germany
S - shows how quick Jewish sentiment can change. Accused of agitating the nation, sabotaging Germany etc. Propaganda gets posted to show Jews aren't loyal and patriotic. Proves to Hitler that people can, and will, unite against the Jews if given a substantial reason

Kurt Eisner

D - prominent Jewish leaders. First Jewish PM of Bavaria. Assassinated soon after for being Jewish
T - WWI period
L - Bavaria
S - Antisemitism is still present. First Jew to hold such a position of power in Germany. Declared Bavaria a free state, basically led the German revolution, which is crazy to think that only 15 years later, the thought of a Jew leading a German nation was absurd.

Jew Count

D - falsified lists and propaganda material posted around Germany to convince people that the Jews are not enlisting in proper proportions for the war
T - November 1916
L - Germany
S - this creates a scandal across Germany, and emboldens the antisemitic sentiment. By November 1916, the tides were starting turn for Germany, so now that people believed Jews were refusing to enlist, they had some concrete reason to believe that Jews were not patriotic and hence were trying to sabotage the war effort.

Versailles Treaty

D - controversial armistice treaties in history. Forced Germany to: give up all colonized territories, disarm/reduce military forces, and pay all reparation payments to Allied powers
T - June 1919
L - Versailles, France
S - this was the root cause for hyperinflation, and also consequently, the rise of Hitler. Germany was now a dire and risky place to live in. They had no money, no army, and no power within the global landscape. Hitler would break the Versailles treaty, officially in 1935, when he started to remilitarize the Rhineland. Led to the rise of Hitler and fascism.

Article 231

D - aka the War Guilt clause. Required Germany to accept responsibility for causing
T - 1919
L - Versailles, UN conference
S - while how Germany eventually would react to this is unreasonable, this accusation is a bit strong. Why did none of the other Triple Alliance members have to take the guilt? (Italy, A-H). In fact, it was all because of Austria-Hungary that WWI even began, so to blame Germany in an absolute manner is harsh. As well, this is significant as it dampens the mood of Germany, making people feel like they are the bad guys, when in actuality, most are victims of this mess of a war too. Hitler would leverage the statement in Article 231 in his platform, claiming this was incorrect, and in fact, it was the Jews' faults

February 24, 1920

D - German DAP leader, Hitler, unveils the NSDAP, and the platform of the Nazi party. The platform had 25 points, all relating to the segregation of German vs Jewish blood
T - February 24, 1920
L - Germany
S - now that Hitler was the leader, he would gain momentum fast with powerful speeches, empty promises, diverting blame, and the persuasive propaganda. First time ever in writing that there is a division between Jews and the Aryan society. Hitler would also ask, on this day, for Germany to reject the Versailles treaty, which many people wished to do, hence making Hitler so popular.

Landsberg

D - Prison Hitler was taken to after his failed attempt of a coup of the Weimar Republic (Beer Hall putsch)
T - November 9, 1923-December 1924
L - Germany
S - Hitler was LOVED in Landsberg. People would crowd around his cell just to listen to his ideas. He even had to shoo people away so he could work on his book, Mein Kampf (which is another reason why Landsberg is significant). He was supposed to serve five years, but instead, due to the popularity, he was released after just 13 months. His isolation, yet community in Landsberg, gave him the courage to continue the fight for power, even after his immense failures.

SA

D - Known as the "brownshirts". Used violence as a form of intimidation. Functioned as a security force, intimidating people into conformity, or beating up Jews in the streets. Closely monitored for any political rift. Leader = Ernst Rohm
T - 1919-1934
L - Germany
S - Hitler realized these brownshirts were acting too aggressive, too much as thugs. They were causing public uprising in Germany for the shear amount of violence they caused. Additionally, they multiplied substantially, SA membership growing from 30k (1919) to 440k (1932). Therefore, Hitler purged them and disbanded them at the Night of Long Knives, opting to use the SS instead, a more centralized, organized and strategic power, one that can rise in power without scaring people so much.

Mein Kampf

D - Translating to "my struggle", Mein Kampf is the first book Hitler wrote whilst in Landsberg prison.
T - 1924 written, 1925 published, only gained in popularity after 1933, Hitler's appointment
L - Written in Landsberg, Germany
S - incredibly long book detailing Hitler's views on Jews and his antisemitic view. Said things like "Judaism = Marxism", Jews will lead to the end of the world, Jews are contaminating culture, Jews are defiling Aryans, Jews are parasites to nations. Ultimately, Soviet Union is the greatest threat to Germany, and since Jews are linked to communism, they are the present threat residing within Germany. Short-term = Jews, Long-term = USSR

Article 48

D - Weimar Constitution. This allowed Hitler to seize control of government after the Reichstag fire
T - late feb 1933/early March 1933 (Reichstag fire on Feb 27, 1933, clause was invoked soon after)
L - Germany
S - the conditions of this article included that if public safety is disturbed/endangered in Germany, the President can take necessary measures to intervene and restore order, to make decisions individually by himself, instead of waiting for council decisions. This gave Hitler a new dimension of power, effectively allowing him to use this at any time. This marked the collapse of the Weimar Republic, after a turbulent past decade.

Night of the Long Knives

D - Himmler and Heydrich plant a rumour that there will be an internal uprising within the Nazi party. Hence, Hitler goes ahead and invites all the high powered individuals in his party to a conference, and kills them all.
T - June-July 1934
L - Germany
S - first instance when Nazi opposition is eliminated within the Nazi party. Uses the hollow justification of that he is protecting against individuals who threatren existence of a German nation (false). Shows Hitler's irrational side, he makes a rash decision without doing proper research, which would be a trend. Also, this is significant as there is a significant purge which reduces the Nazi party, eliminating the final intelligent/educated person, Ernst Rohm. Intimidated by intellectuals (which in his eyes, Jews)

Hitler's Second Book

D - Zweites Buch. Further elaborates on how Jews' ultimate goal was denationalization. Jews want to breed a general inferior mismatch race.
T - written in 1928, but not published until after WWII (1961)
L - Germany
S - only published postmortem. Declares Jews are eternal threats. Unlike Mein Kampf, Hitler also goes ahead in this book in stating in the future, there will be a struggle for power between US and European alliance. In Mein Kampf, most threatening was USSR, in Second Book, USSR is. Hitler's secret book, never published since he didn't want to publicly admit his fear of the US, out of fear of creating more enemies

Enabling Act

D - act Hitler invoked that dissolved the Reichstag, gave Hitler full power as the Fuhrer, basically, became dictator. Hitler can make decisions with Parliament
T - March 23, 1933
L - Germany
S - This was not an independent decision on Hitler's behalf. Wasn't even a decision on NSDAP's behalf. At most, Nazis only had 43% of seats in Parliament. However, when proposing this idea (that ideas can be made by Hitler without parliament's approval), 2/3 of voters agreed. Most were intimidated and afraid of Hitler, so they allowed him to do this. Shows that Hitler was not this hated dictator initially, rather, this was a decision supported by the public. People decided to give him this power.

Dachau

D - First concentration camp. Place homosexuals, communists, prisoners
T - opened March 1933
L - Germany
S - opened for anyone of opposition. For the first five years it ran, no Jews were ever put there. However, in 1938, after Kristallnacht, German Jews were sent to Dachau. Camp was no secret, it was out in plain sight. Helps reinforce the idea in Germans minds that you do not want to go against the Nazis, become an opponent of them. The conditions were harsh in the camp, yet no one did (or could do) anything about it.

Nuremberg Laws

D - laws that defined the status of Jews based on blood, and a law that withdrew citizenship from individuals who did not possess this criteria of having German blood. Things forbidden included intermarriage, sexual relations with Jews, Jews employing female citizens.
T - September 1935
L - Germany (and would eventually expands to its conquered lands like Austria and Czech)
S - officially gave written criteria and legitimacy into who is an Aryan, and who is a Jew. These aren't just policies that a Jew can choose to avoid by claiming they "aren't very Jewish", these are laws that confine them based on incontrollable genetics. Stripped Jews of rights, and further wedged the divide between Aryans and Jews. Not just an idea anymore, but a policy.

Rassenschande

D - form of crime invented by the Nazis: racial defilement again Aryan blood. Aryans cannot have sexual relations with Jews
T - 1935 (component of Nuremberg)
L - Germany
S - literally SCARED Germans into even being in the presence of a Jew, out of fear of being defiled by their blood. This was taken to new extremes. As well, if an Aryan was suspected to have relations with a Jew, they would be published on the Strumer Billboard (publicly) and be paraded in shame around the city. This evoked a new sense of fear in Germans.

Ritualization of Persecution

D - public acts of frequently persecuting Jews in Germany. Persecution took place wide open, transforming from policy to normalcy. Took place in everyday life, was not a unique and special act.
T - 1933-1945
L - Created psychological divisions in the minds of Germans. Made them callous to Jewish violence and torture, since they witnessed it so often. Because it was so frequent, everyone knew about it, including children. This would also have a ripple effect, with Jews (especially kids) being ostracized and excluded.

Poisonous Mushroom

D - Children's book released by the Nazi party (propaganda) that showed the Jews to be evil predators that kidnapped people.
T - 1938
L - Germany
S - Ritualization and commonality of antisemitic propaganda was embedded into all parts of life. Kids were taught these teachings at a very malleable age, so of course most of them are going to grow up believing this. Uniting a nation is a generational problem, so the goal of creating a Nazi propaganda children's book was to ensure the next generation had antisemitic views by the time they were old enough to truly form an opinion, hence continuing the cycle, supposedly, for the next year to come.

Munich Conference

D - France, UK and Germany met to decide to whom to allocate the Sudetenland. Hitler really wanted it, since it was ripe with resources and ethnic Germans. Finally, after Hitler argues and complains, France and UK decide that Hitler can take the Sudetenland
T - September 28, 29 1938
L - Munich
S - significant for many reasons. Firstly, Czech was not even involved in this agreement, this part of their land Sudetenland, was simply stolen from them. This also marks the first time Hitler officially and publically will break the Versailles treaty, since part of the clause was that he could not take territory, though especially from a land as coveted as the Sudetenland. Thirdly, this would lead to a ripple effect that would cause Kristallnacht. Many Jews were rerooted from their homes in Poland to poor tented camps --> Grynszpan mad and kills a German diplomat --> this gives Hitler the ammo to enlist violence on the Jews --> leads to unrest in Germany, and frankly all over Europe, showing the power and destruction capabilities the Nazis have. It was France and UK's lack of a backbone, and submission to Hitler and persuasion that started this snowball effect.

Evian Conference

D - conference held in France to decide what to do with the Jewish people. Since there was a mass demand for emigration of Jews, they needed to establish who would be willing to take the Jews. Out of the 32 powerful countries that attended, the only country willing to take the Jews was the Dominican Republic.
T - July 6-14, 1938
L - Evian, France
S - The issue of antisemitism and not wanting Jews in the country is not unique to Germany -- present all over the world. However, you can also argue that it's not that countries didn't want Jews, they simply couldn't afford it after the Great Depression, they were in economic ruin. PM King would also say after this "none is too many" proving that Canada is not this all accepting and merciful country, we too have a dark past. This also gives Hitler confidence to keep on persecuting the Jews, since this vote shows that no one wants them, they are undesirable creatures that should be expelled from the land.

Aryanization

D - confiscation of Jewish property, forcing Jewish businesses to elect Germans at successors, stealing houses, businesses, storefronts, synagogues
T - starts in 1933 as voluntary, forced in 1938
L - Germany
S - pure theft. Holocaust was not just about Jews being killed, but stripped of their physical resources and mental dignity.

Reichstag Fire

D - Reichstag burnt down, just four weeks after Hitler becomes chancellor
T - February 27, 1933
L - Berlin
S - allowed Hitler to dismantle any remnants of democracy, he would soon invoke the enabling act. As well, gave Hitler the ability to blame this fire on communists (which works out successfully, creates an enemy in them). This allowed Hitler to use enabling act, to seize absolute power in Germany, allowing for rise of Nazi regime. Used as evidence that communists were planning something against Nazis

Jozef Pilsudski

D - leader of the Polish socialist party, proponent of a multi-ethnic nation. Very anti-communism and disapproved of Dmowski's ideas. Was very politically influential. Seized power in 1926
L - Poland
S - he was a powerful head of state that garnered so many people's admiration, he would be voted in unanimously. Hitler was afraid of this, and didn't like it. Hitler didn't consider Poland a real country, rather the armpit and pseudo country of Russia. In 1934 the Pilsudski government signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler's Germany. This action left the Polish government unprepared for when Germany did invade 5 years later, as they naively thought nothing would/could happen.

Roman Dmowski

D - Polish politician, father of Polish nationalism. Argued that Poland should not be a multi-ethnic state. Wrote "Jews on the War" - claiming that Zionism was only a cloak to disguise the Jewish ambition to rule the world
T - 1914-1939
L - Poland
S - Dmowski wanted to get rid of all the Jews within Polish parameters. Saw the presence of other nations in Poland (Germanization of Polish territories and else) to be troublesome, a threat to Polish independence. Was very antisemitic and keen on removing Jews. This is an influence on Hitler, showing that other nations also found the Jews undesirable.

Kulturbund

D - Organization created for dual purposes: to employ the German Jews who were no longer allowed to partake in mainstream entertainment and two, provide brief relief for Jews who were unable to attend public events anymore if integrated with Germans
T - April 1933
L - Germany
S - served as a microcosm of Jewish entertainment. Shows the resiliency of the Jews: if life gives you lemons, make lemonade mentality. They took a poor situation, being fired from their jobs, having their enjoyment taken away, and used it to create an organization that united the Jewish nation in a fun and light hearted manner in a time they needed it, all the while employing up to 2500 German Jews.

Leo Baeck

D - final German Jewish rabbi, ever. He represented the German Jews in the Nazi era. Liberal Jewish leader
T - 1930s/1940s
L - Germany
S - focused on finding an internal voice within the Jewish population, instead of trying to be ingratiated in German society. He also was a large player in facilitating emigration. He ensured people had where to go, and the skills and resources to be set up for success. While he was offered numerous times the opportunity to leave, being such a big leader, he refused so that he can help his vulnerable community and ensure the longevity and success in the long-term. Being a Jew in Germany was immensely hard, as they faced persecution longer than any other group. 1943, he was deported to Theresienstadt, and became a prominent figure, being protected/better accommodations.

Anschluss

D - Reunification of Austria with Germany. Germany merged with Austria, there was a lot of support for this decision
T - March 12, 1938
L - Austria
S - expanded the Reich substantially, but also the number of Jews in the Reich. Now, there were approximately 750,000 Jews under the Nazi regime (200k Austria, 500k German). As well, this is significant because it's not like Hitler barged his way into this territory, there was a referendum, and with an overwhelming majority (99.7% of the vote, with 90% voters turnout), Austria elected to merge with the Third Reich. Austria would later act as victims when in actuality, this was their choice

Kristallnacht

D - Literally translates into the Night of Broken Glass. After a German diplomat in France is killed by the hands of Grynszpan, Nazis use this as ammo to go after Jews in Germany. They invaded/damaged/destroyed Jewish houses, synagogues, businesses. Arrested as many Jewish men as they could (approx 30,000), sending them to Dachau, and set the city into shambles.
T - November 9-10, 1938
L - Germany
S - German Jews, who had previously been reluctant to emigrate, thinking this wouldn't snowball into a big problem, felt insecurity for the first time. After this one day, almost every single Jew in Germany wanted to leave. This proved there was no future for Jews in Germany. Additionally, Jews were forced to pay for the clean up and aftermath of Kristallnacht, despite losing properties, and some people, their husbands. This confiscated Jewish rights and resources even more. Scale of violence was so immense. Also, this was STATE sponsored, meaning no public services could help, there was no escape.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

D - non-aggression pact between Germany and USSR (namesake is for the ambassadors who signed it). Established right before Hitler invades Poland. They decide to secretly divide Poland up into a German sphere and Soviet sphere
T - August 1939
L - Moscow, Soviet Union
S - Hitler is the most anti-communist person ever, however, he realizes that in the short-term, Russia is not the enemy (contrary to what he said in Mein Kampf). This agreement gave Hitler the go ahead to attack Poland, hence officially starting WWII in the eyes of many.

September 1, 1939

D - Germany invades Poland. Hitler breaks all promises and treaties he had previously made with Britain/France/Versailles
T - lol
L - Poland
S - significant for many reasons. In some people's eyes, this marks the start of WWII, the official date. As well, it shows that for the time being, Hitler has chosen to side with USSR, which is insane considering his hatred for communism. This date also marks the leap from antisemitic hatred and persecution bubbling in a city, to a full blown global war.