World War II & The Holocaust
Part I: Hitler’s Rise to power
1919 – WWI Problems Treaty of Versailles Took away land Forced Acceptance of Blame for WWI Limits on military Required reparations No occupation of Germany
1921 Political parties formed in the new German democracy - Weimar Republic One of these was the National Socialist Party (a.k.a. Nazi) led by Hitler
1923 Beer hall (Munich) putsch Hitler’s first attempt to take over part of the Weimar Republic. 5 year prison sentence, served 8 months
1929 Us Stock market crashes Causes a world recession making the Weimar Republic even poorer Makes U.S. become isolationist
1930 The Depression allows the growing Nazi party to win many elections
Part II: You Tricked Me Oops, I did it again
1933 President appointed Hitler Chancellor. Nazis organize Reichstag burning Hitler requests and is granted emergency powers. Book burnings begin
1934 Night of the long knives
1935 Hitler begins illegally rebuilding the German army
1936 Germany occupies the Rhineland (demilitarized zone taken during WWI)
1938 Hitler announces “Anschluss” (joining) with Austria German troops occupy the Sudentenland
1939 Nazis occupy Czecholslovakia Hitler signs pact with Soviet Union Nazis invade Poland and it is divided with the Soviet Union
1940 France signs armistice with hitler
1941 Nazis begin war in North Africa Nazis attack ?????
1942 U.S. finally enters the war after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor
Holocaust
1933 Jews prohibited from owning land Jews prohibited from newspaper editing First concentration camps open
1935 Jews prohibited from full citizenship
1938 Jews must register all businesses and property with authorities Jews must apply for identity cards Jews prohibited from medicine and law Jews expelled from regular schools
1939 Jews lose tenant rights and are moved into ghettos Curfews set at 8pm Wireless radios are forbidden
1939 Jews required to wear a yellow star Nazis begin euthanasia program for the sick and disabled
1941 Jews ordered into forced labor Einsatzgruppen begin mass murder 1st death camp opens