Events Leading to the Holocaust Anne Frank Unit

Hitler’s Rise to Power World War I (1914-1918) is a disaster for Germany They enter the war as the strongest nation in the world; at the end they lose everything. Germans though the war was lost due to internal treason because the government hid the truth about the war. 80% of all men in Germany between the ages of 18-30 were killed, maimed, or “shell-shocked” during WWI

Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles- the peace treaty that ends WWI Limit army- German army can not have more than 100,000 men. No manufacture of items needed for war (tanks, guns, etc.) Germany must make reparation payments.

Results of Treaty Germans hated this treaty because it blamed Germany for WWI. Treaty resulted in anger, revolts, and Germany felt humiliated

Postwar Conditions in Germany High Inflation Unemployment Great political unrest and rioting Jewish people were blamed for Treaty of Versailles (scapegoats)

Adolf Hitler Born April 20,1889 in Austria Austrians speak German Not a German citizen until 1930 Dropped out of school at age 16 Wants to be an artist-fails entry exam at Vienna Academy of Fine Arts

Adolf Hitler Did not hold a permanent job Joined German army in WWI and served as a message runner (a dangerous position) Wounded twice during the war Reached rank of corporal

1919 National Socialist German Workers Party = NAZI Anti-democratic Racist against Jews Nationalistic- believe their country is the best Nazi party was formed by 7 members who met in beer halls 1920-Hitler joins to find meaning in his life

1924 Beer Hall Putsch (takeover) Met in beer hall, planned armed rebellion to take over Germany and put in their own president Hitler goes to prison for treason for 5 years Used the publicity of the trial to preach Nazi ideas and compromises

Mein Kampf While in prison Hitler writes Mein Kampf, or “my struggle,” about his life and Nazi philosophy Introduces the idea of a master race Sells millions of copies By 1933 it outsells all books except the Bible December 20- Yuletide Amnesty- all prisoners set free Hitler only serves 10 months of a 5 year term

1925-1929 1925- only 27,000 dues-paying members in Nazi party 1928- 4 times that number even though government banned the party because of Beer Hall Putsch 1929-Great Depression in USA caused depression in Germany 1930: 30% of Germans unemployed 20% of Germans under-employed Hitler tells people they were betrayed by Jewish bankers and moneylenders The Depression was the single greatest reason for Hitler’s rise to power Hitler set up soup kitchens, hired his own troops, and bought a national newspaper

1933 January 20- Hitler is elected Chancellor (vice-president) of Germany under Hindenburg Tears up the Treaty of Versailles February 27- Reichstag Fire-claims Communists are attacking the government March 24- Enabling Act- gave Hitler legal dictatorship; allows him to pass laws without legislature People lose freedom of speech, press, and civil rights; can only agree with Nazi ideas

1933 Ignores Treaty of Versailles Hitler creates jobs and brings people out of the depression Because he is able to restore the economy, people love him Dachau- builds first concentration camp for political prisoners (people who break Nazi laws) Begins removing rights: people need to register as Jews, boycott of Jewish shops

1934 August 2- President Paul von Hindenburg dies; Hitler takes over powers of presidency Office of presidency is now eliminated; Hitler becomes dictator of Germany Army swears allegiance to him Germany is now a police state Begins murdering mentally challenged and the ill

Nuremberg Laws Nuremberg Laws- laws of race and citizenship against the Jews No Jew could be a citizen No Jew could marry a non-Jew No Jew could hold position or job in military, universities, or government Not welcome to see doctors or lawyers

1937 Hitler goes to war Hitler invades Austria on basis that all German-speaking countries were one country. Hitler’s expansion could have stopped at this point if Britain, France, and the USA had intervened because Hitler did not have the military power to pull it off.

1938 (July) Evian Conference- 42 countries met abut Jewish immigrants. They waited for the U.S. to decide to take Jews in- only 26,000 Jews were allowed in. November 7= Kristallnacht ( Night of Broken Glass) An organized pogrom against Jews (mass violence, homes and businesses destroyed, synagogues destroyed, Jews beaten) Turning point in the extermination of the Jews

Images of Kristallnacht

1939 Jews were forced to carry ID cards, they were rounded up and sent to ghettos World War II begins Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact- they will divide Poland between them Invade Poland, which has a large Jewish population and no army Hitler issues sterilization

1939 Basis for “Final Solution” begins Practiced gassing in vans- people learned to be desensitized to this type of killing and were brain-washed into believing they were doing the right thing Hitler called this a “scientifically clean, productive way of killing” Targeted victims included political leaders and religious leaders of opposing groups

1940 “Final Solution” Hitler conquers Holland, Belgium, and France “Final Solution” begins to get rid of all Jews Concentration camps were created (considered labor camps as opposed to death camps, but food and living conditions were inhumane and people, of course, did die 6 specific death camps created- all in Poland, did not want them in Germany because of task of burying the dead, too much bloodshed, and growing of new crops might be affected

Concentration Camps (Poland) 1. Auschwitz- Birkenau 2. Belzec 3. Chelmno 4. Maidanek 5. Sobibor 6. Treblinka

Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Day of Infamy Japanese attack Pearl Harbor Lasts 10 minutes 7:55-8:05 am December 7- USA declares war on Japan December 11- US declares war on Germany

Wannsee Conference January 20, 1942 Meeting between the SS and the German government agencies Come up with “Final Solution” to murder 11 million Jews, even in non-occupied countries of Ireland, Sweden, Turkey, and Great Britain Plan to murder them all in death camps

D-Day June 6, 1944 USA and Allies land in Europe on Normandy Beach (France) Known as D-Day Major step in the defeat of the Axis powers

1945 Hitler and close officers had been holed up in underground bunkers in Berlin April 30- Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide together- bodies burned to prevent recognition Hitler was 56 Russians secretly had bodies exhumed

VE Day May 7- VE day- Victory in Europe- when Germany surrendered and WWII ended in Europe! August 6 and 9- USA drops the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan August 14- Japan surrenders and WAR IS OVER!!!!