Holocaust Timeline Events (PDF)

May 7th, 1919
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles saw the end of World War I, which was between the German Empire and the Allied and Associated Powers. The "War
Guilt Clause" found in the treaty forced the German nation to accept complete responsibility for initiating World War I. Germany was required
to make enormous reparation payments and the German military became severely limited. This caused years of social, economic, and political
chaos in Germany. Radical German right wing parties, which included Hitler’s Nazi Party, began to appeal to mainstream voters in the late
1920’s and early 1930’s. They Nazi Party made promises to rearm the German military, reclaim German territory in the East, and regain
prominence as a world power. Inspired by an ultranationalist sentiment, average Germans overlooked the extreme ideology of Hitler and his
Nazi Party.

September 16th, 1925
“The Jewish Question”
Hitler issued his first written comment on the so-called Jewish Question. He defined the Jews as a race, not a religious
community and characterized their presence as a “race-tuberculosis of the peoples.” Hitler identified his initial goal of getting the
German government to pass legislation that was discriminatory against the Jewish people. In addition, he declared his “ultimate
goal must definitely be the removal of the Jews altogether”.

February 27th, 1925
Adolf Hitler Becomes Leader of the Nazi Party

Hitler declares himself as leader (Führer) of the Nazi Party and begins campaigning to win votes in German democratic elections.

January 30th, 1933
Nazi Party Gains Control of Germany

The Nazi Party gains control of Germany and Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany.

February 28th, 1933
"Reichstag Fire Decree"
"Hitler used this event to declare a state of emergency. The decree suspended individual rights and due process of law. It also
permitted the regime to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations, and to
suppress publications. It gave the central government the authority to overrule state and local laws and overthrow state and local
governments. The decree was a key step in the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship. Germany became a police state, the SS
gained complete authority, and no citizen was guaranteed basic rights."

March 22nd, 1933
Dachau Camp Established
The SS established the Dachau Camp, the first concentration camp that imprisoned political opponents. Dachau was the only
concentration camp to remain in operation during the entire period of Nazi power.

April 1st, 1933
Boycott of Jewish Businesses
The Nazi Party organizes a nation-wide economic boycott of Jewish businesses. This was viewed as an act of revenge for the
bad international press against Germany since the appointment of Hitler’s government. The Nazi’s xlaimed that foreign Jews
were spreading “atrocity stories” that damaged Germany’s global reputation. Many Germans ignored the boycott and this event
marked the Nazi Party nationwide campaign against the Jews.

April 7th, 1933
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
The German government issues the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service. Jews and the Nazi Party’s political
opponents are banned from civil service positions. All non-”Aryan” lawyers are also disbarred from practicing law in Germany. On
April 25, 1933, the German government issued the Law against Overcrowding in Schools and Universities. This law was put in
place to severely limit the amount of Jewish students attending public schools in Germany. At the same time, public schools were
playing an important role in spreading Nazi ideology to German youth.

July 14th, 1933
Law For the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases
New German law mandates the forced sterilization of certain individuals with physical and mental disabilities. This new law was
the basis for Nazi eugenics and the involuntary sterilization of people with physical and mental disabilities, mental illnesses,
Roma (Gypsies), “asocial elements,” and Afro-Germans.