The Holocaust, 1939-1945 History Timeline and Biographies

Nazi Rise to Power

In January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. This marked the beginning of a series of laws that systematically marginalized Jews, culminating in the state-sponsored persecution that characterized The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Nuremberg Laws Enacted

In September 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed, which stripped Jews of German citizenship and prohibited marriages between Jews and non-Jews, laying the groundwork for further persecution during The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Kristallnacht - Night of Broken Glass

On November 9-10, 1938, a coordinated attack on Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues occurred across Germany, resulting in widespread destruction and the arrest of thousands of Jewish men. This event marked a significant escalation in the violence leading up to The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Invasion of Poland and Ghettos Established

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Following this invasion, the Nazis established ghettos to confine Jews, initiating the first stages of The Holocaust, 1939-1945, where Jews faced overcrowding, starvation, and disease.

Mass Shootings Begin

By 1940, Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing units) began mass shootings of Jews in the occupied Soviet territories, marking a shift towards more brutal methods of extermination during The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

The Final Solution Announced

In January 1942, during the Wannsee Conference, Nazi officials formalized plans for the "Final Solution," which aimed for the complete annihilation of the Jewish population in Europe, heralding a horrific phase of The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Extermination Camps Operational

By mid-1942, extermination camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau became fully operational, where mass killings were carried out systematically, marking the apex of The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

In April 1943, the inhabitants of the Warsaw Ghetto staged a brave revolt against the Nazis. Despite their ultimate defeat, the uprising became a symbol of resistance and defiance during The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Mass Deportations Intensify

Throughout 1944, mass deportations of Jews from Hungary and other countries escalated dramatically as the Nazis sought to implement their final extermination plans during The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

Liberation of Concentration Camps

In 1945, Allied forces liberated several concentration and extermination camps, revealing the extent of the atrocities committed during The Holocaust, 1939-1945. The horrors uncovered served as a stark testimony to the reality of the genocide.

Post-war Trials and Remembrance

Following the end of World War II, the Nuremberg Trials began in late 1945 to prosecute Nazi war criminals. These trials highlighted the crimes against humanity committed during The Holocaust, 1939-1945, and aimed to establish legal accountability.

Establishment of Yad Vashem

In 1953, the State of Israel established Yad Vashem as the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, dedicated to preserving the memory of the victims and educating future generations about The Holocaust, 1939-1945.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Opens

In 1993, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum opened in Washington, D.C. This museum serves to educate about the events of The Holocaust, 1939-1945, and honor the memory of its victims.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day Established

On January 27, 2005, the United Nations designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the victims of The Holocaust, 1939-1945, and promoting education to prevent future genocides.