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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip has long been accepted as the catalyst for World War I. -
Germany allies with Austria
Kaiser Wilhelm II promises to support Austria against Serbia.
Wilhelm will become the last Kaiser of Germany -
Austria declares war on Serbia
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Germany declares war on Russia
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Britain declares war on Germany
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Germany captures Warsaw from the Russians
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USA Declares War on Germany
America entered World War One on April 6th, 1917. Up to that date, America had tried to keep out of World War One – though she had traded with nations involved in the war – but unrestricted submarine warfare, introduced by the Germans on January 9th, 1917, was the primary issue that caused Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2nd. Four days later, America joined World War One on the side of the Allies. -
German-Russian Amistice Signed
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Britain Captures Jerusalem
Britain captures Jerusalem from the Turks.
In 1914, Turkey had entered the war on Germany's side. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is signed ending hostilities between Russia and Germany. -
Armistice Requested
Germany asks the Allies for an armistice. -
Nazi party issues a platform
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Beer-Hall "Putsch"
Beer-Hall PutschIn what is referred to as the Beer-hall Putsch, Adolph Hitler leads the Nazis in an attempt to takeover the Bavarian Government in Munich.This is a failed attempt. Hitler is jailed and serves five months of a five year sentence. While in jail he write his autobiography Mein Kampf. -
Hitler appointed Reich Chancellor
After receiving 33 percent of the vote, Adolpf Hitler is appointed Reich Chancellor of Germany by President Hindenburg -
Reichstag building destroyed by fire
Burning of the ReichstagThe Reichstag building is destroyed by fire setting off a national emergency leading to the suspension of the German constitution; the government takes away freedom of speech, freedom of asembly, freedom of the press, freedom from invasion of provacy, and freedom fom un-warranted searches of one's home. -
Inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States
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Dachau concentration camp is opened
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One-day boycott of Jewish businesses
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Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service excludes Jews and non-Aryans from government employment. Jewish professors and teachers are also fired. -
Gestapo formed
The Gestapo (Nazi Secret State Police) is given the power to arrest and interrogate citizens without requireing any other authority. -
Book burning
Books written by Jews and opponents of Nazism are burned throughout Germany -
Law allowing sterilization is passed
Forced sterilization of Gypsies, the mentally and physically disabled, African-Germans and others considered "inferior" or "unfit" permitted by law -
Germany withdraws from the League of Nations
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Germany and Poland sign a 10 year nonagression pact
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Night of the Long Knives
Hitler orders the murder of approximately 70 Nazi leaders and civilians. -
German President Paul von Hindenburg dies
Hitler declares himself Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, which are now required to swear an oath of loyalty to him. -
Homosexuals arrested throughout Germany
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Germany violates the Treaty of Versailles
German resumes military conscription.
There is no response from world powers. -
Jehovah's Witnesses are arressted
Jehovah's Witnesses are prohibited from religious activites, banned from publishing material, banned from civil service jobs, and arressted throughout Germany. -
Reich Citizenship Law is passed
The Reich Citizenship Law excludes Jews and other non-Aryans form Full citizenship.
The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor forbids marraige or sexual relations between German Aryans and Jews. -
Regualtion to the Reich Citizenship Law
The law defines "Jew" according to the number of Jewish grandparents one has -
Rhineland Crisis
German army enters an area of the Rhineland, thereby violating the Treaty of Versailles.
No response from world powers. -
German Gypsies are arrested and sent to Dachau
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Olympic Games
Antisemetic signs are removed until after the games are over. -
Rome-Berline Axis Pact is signed by Hitler and Mussolini
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Political pact signed between Germany and Japan
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Hitler withdraws Germany's signature from the Versailles Treaty by
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Buchenwald concentration camp is opened
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Jewish Passports are declared invalid for foreign travel
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Austria is incorporated into the Third Reich. Antisemitic laws are adopted.
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Evian Conference
USHMM - Evian ConferenceRrpresentatives from 32 countries meet in evian, France to discuss the refugee policies; most refuse to increase quotas for German Jews -
Munich Agreement is signed
Munich AgreementBritain, France, and Italy accept German incorporation of Sudentenland (formerly part of Czechoslovakia). Agreement is a form of "appeasement" drawn up by Brirtish Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. -
Assassination of Ernst vom Rath, Third Undersecretary of the German Embassy in Paris
Herschel GrynszpanThe assassin Herschel Grynszpan is seeking revenge for the deportation of Jews (including his parents,) from Germany to Poland -
KRISTALLNACHT
USHMM - KristallnachtNight of the Broken Glass: a pogrom (attack on Jews) begins in Germany -
Gypsies are required to register with the police
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Decree of "Aryanization"
Expropriation (confiscation) of Jewish industries, businesses, and shops -
HItler predicts the "annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe"
In a speech delivered to the Reichstage (German Parliament), Hitler declares thta in the event of a war the "Jewish race" will be annihilated in Europe. -
Germany occupies Czechoslovakia
Germany occupies Prague and the remainder of Czechoslovakia.
No response from world powers. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Nazi-Soviet Pact Non-Agression Pact is signed by between Germany and the Soviet Union i which they agree to the division of Poland -
Germany invades Poland signaling the beginning of WW II
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Britain and France declare war on Germany
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Soviet Union invades and occupies Eastern Poland
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Partition of Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union
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Doctors are allowed to kill institutionalized mentally and physically disabled persons
USHMM - Euthanasia ProgramThis secret decree extends the power of the T-4 (euthanasia) program and is dated September 1, 1939 so it appears to be linked with the war effort. -
Jews in Poland are forced to wear a Judenstern (6-pointed Star of David)
