Timeline of events that lead to the holocaust

Follow the path to the Holocaust in a concise timeline, from the rise of Nazi Germany to the genocidal ‘Final Solution.’ This overview highlights key events, underscoring the dangers of intolerance and the imperative of remembrance.

1873
1873

Anti-Semitism Starts

German journalist Wilhelm Marr coins the term "anti-Semitism" to describe hatred and prejudice against Jews.
1881-1884
1881-1884

Impact of Russian Pogroms

Pogroms in Russia lead to mass Jewish migration, sparking fear and resentment in Europe.
1894-1906
1894-1906

Unveiling Anti-Semitism

The Dreyfus Affair in France exposes deep-seated anti-Semitic sentiments within French society.
1919
1919

Hitler's Entry into the Nazi Party

Adolf Hitler joins the German Workers' Party, which later becomes the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).
September 16, 1919
September 16, 1919

The Jewish Question

Adolf Hitler issues his first written comment on the “Jewish Question” in which he defines Jews as a race and not a religious community. He states that Jews are a “race-tuberculosis of the peoples” and the goal is to remove them altogether. The “ultimate goal must definitely be the removal of the Jews altogether.” 
1919-1920
1919-1920

The Dearborn Independent

Manufacturing mogul Henry Ford publishes a series of antisemitic articles in The Dearborn Independent based on the a 1903 antisemitic publication from Russian written to deceive people about a Jewish conspiracy to dominate the world.
1920's
1920's

Rise of Nazi Anti-Semitism in Germany

Nazi Party gains traction in Germany, propagating anti-Semitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories.
1924
1924

Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' and Its Anti-Semitic Ideology

Publication of "Mein Kampf" by Adolf Hitler, which espouses virulent anti-Semitic ideology.
January 30, 1933
January 30, 1933

Hitler Appointed As Chancellor

Following inconclusive elections, President Hindenburg invited Hitler to become chancellor of Germany.
March 22, 1933
March 22, 1933

Dachau Is Established

The first Nazi concentration camp was established in Dachau. Until its liberation in 1945, more than 188,000 prisoners were incarcerated here, at least 28,000 of which died.
April 1, 1933
April 1, 1933

Boycott Of Jewish Businesses

The Nazis carried out a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses and shops. This was the first mass action the regime took against the Jews of Germany.
April 7, 1933
April 7, 1933

The Law For The Restoration Of The Professional Civil Service

The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service banned Jews and dissidents from the Civil Service. As a result, Jewish teachers, professors, judges and other civil servants lost their jobs.
May 10,1933
May 10,1933

Book Burnings

University students publicly burned books that were considered ‘un-German’ or written by Jewish authors in Berlin. In the following days, similar burnings were held in several German cities.
October 4, 1933
October 4, 1933

The Editorship Law Is Passed

The Editorship Law was passed. This law imposed strict rules on what newspapers were allowed to publish. Non-‘Aryans’ were banned from working in journalism.
August 2, 1934
August 2, 1934

The Death Of Hindenburg

The German President Paul von Hindenburg died. Following Hindenburg’s death, Hitler merged the positions of President and Chancellor.
1935
1935

Nuremberg Laws Strip Jewish Rights

Nuremberg Laws are enacted, stripping Jews of citizenship and legal rights in Germany.
1938
1938

Night of Anti-Jewish Violence

Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass") sees widespread violence against Jews, their homes, businesses, and synagogues across Nazi Germany.
1939
1939

Nazi Invasion of Poland and Jewish Ghettoization

Nazi Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II; ghettos are established for Jewish populations in occupied territories.
1941
1941

Einsatzgruppen and the Final Solution

Einsatzgruppen begin mass shootings of Jews in Eastern Europe; the Wannsee Conference lays out plans for the "Final Solution," the systematic genocide of European Jews.
1942
1942

Intensified Deportations to Extermination Camp

Systematic deportation of Jews to extermination camps like Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Sobibor intensifies.