Holocaust - Timeline - 1938
March 13
“Annexation” (Anschluss)
of Austria and start of persecution of Austrian Jews.
March 28
Law pertaining to the
legal rights of Jewish cultural (ethnic) organizations. Jewish
communities are no longer legal entities enjoying civil rights; instead,
they can only be legally created associations.
April 22
Decree against the
“camouflage of Jewish industrial enterprises.”
Decree requiring the
declaration of all Jewish property greater than 5,000 Reichsmarks
(approx. $1,190).
May 30
Hitler announces to his
general staff that he has decided to destroy Czechoslovakia.
June 9
Destruction of the
Munich Synagogue.
June 14
Decree requiring the
registration and identification of Jewish industrial enterprises.
Creation of lists of wealthy Jews at treasury offices and police
districts.
June 15
“AsocialAction”: Arrest
of all “previously convicted” Jews, including those prosecuted for
traffic violations, and committing them to concentration camps (approx.
1,500 persons).
July 6-15
International conference
held in Evian, France, attended by delegates from 32 countries,
including the United States, Great Britain, and France, to discuss the
problem of Jewish refugees from Germany, results in no effective help
for Jewish refugees.
July 21
Introduction of identity
cards for Jews effective 1139.
July 28
Decree for the
cancellation of the medical certification of all Jewish physicians
effective September 30. Thereafter, Jewish physicians are only allowed
to function as nurses for Jewish patients.
August 10
Destruction of the
synagogue in Nuremberg.
August 17
Decree to carry out the
law pertaining to the change of first and last names. Effective 1139,
all Jews must add to their name either “Israel” or “Sara.”
September 3
Prime Minister
Chamberlain proclaims his mission to secure peace with Hitler over the
crisis in Czechoslovakia.
September 12
Jews forbidden to attend
public cultural events.
September 27
Decree for the
cancellation of the license to practice for all Jewish lawyers,
effective November 30. Thereafter, Jewish lawyers can only practice in
special instances as “Jewish Consultants for Jews.”
September 29
Munich Agreement:
Britain and France accept German annexation of Sudentenland, part of
Czechoslovakia.
October 1
German troops enter the
Sudetenland.
October 5
Passport decree issued
resulting in the confiscation of passports held by Jews. Procedure for
reissuance of passports made more complicated. Newly issued passports
stamped “J,” designating Jewish ownership.
October 15
German troops occupy the
Sudetenland.
October 28
Expulsion of 15,000 to
17,000 Jews who were of Polish origin to Zbaszyn on Polish border.
November 2
Germany announces the
"Vienna Award" in which Germany cedes large parts of Czechoslovakia to
Hungary and Italy.
November 7
Hershel Grynszpan, whose
parents were affected by the aforementioned expulsion, assassinates
German consular aide, Ernst Vom Rath, in Paris.
November 9-10
Kristallnacht:
Government-organized pogrom against Jews in Germany. Destruction of
synagogues, businesses, homes. More than 26,000 Jewish men arrested and
committed to concentration camps — Dachau, Buchenwald, and Sachsenhausen.
At least 91 Jews are killed, 191 synagogues destroyed, 7,500 shops
looted.
November 12
Decree for the
“atonement payments” by German Jews in the amount of one billion marks.
Decree for the
elimination of German Jews from involvement in the economy.
Decree for the
reconstruction of the facades of all Jewish shops. Jews have to pay for
all damage caused during Kristallnacht.
Jews prohibited from
attending movies, concerts, and other cultural performances.
November 15
Jewish children expelled
from German schools.
November 25
The SS transfers 500
male concentration camp prisoners to the village of Ravensbrück, north
of Berlin, Germany. The prisoners begin the construction of the
Ravensbrück concentration camp. Ravensbrück will serve as the main camp
for women prisoners in Germany.
November 28
Police decree pertaining
to the appearance of Jews in public: Restrictions in the freedom of
movement and travel, etc.
December 3
Confiscation of drivers'
licenses. Creation of a “Ban Against Jews” in Berlin.
December 3
Decree pertaining to the
forced disposal (Aryanization) of Jewish industrial enterprises and
businesses.
December 14
Hermann Goring takes
charge of resolving the “Jewish question.”
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