1936

The German Gestapo (official Secret Police) is placed above the law.

The famed Death's Head Division is created to guard Concentration camps.

Hiller appointed Chief of German Police, with Reinhard Heydrich as second in command.

Opening of the Olympics Games in Berlin - with anti-Semitic posters temporarily removed for the event, and anti-Jewish activity halted.

1937

Buchenwald Concentration Camp opens in Germany.

Hitler declares the post-WW I Treaty of Versialles (demanding Germany's repayment for extensive war damages) void.

Guernica, Spain is bombed by the German Luftwaffe.

Germany and Japan sign an Anti-Comintern pact - which Italy soon joins.

1938

Germany annexes Austria.

Identity cards for Jews intoduced - to become effective January 1, 1939.

Jews now forbidden to attend cultural events, and all of their passports not confiscated are stamped J for Juden (Jew).
Jewish children are expelled from German schools.

SS mobs destroy Jewish businesses and synagogues in Kristallnacht riots.

1939

The Nazis require Jews to turn over all of their gold and silver.

The Ravensbruck concentration camp for women is established, north of Berlin.

Germany invades Poland, and World War II begins. Warsaw ultimately surrenders.

Curfews for Jews are enforced in Germany (8 pm winter, and 9 pm in the summer),
and all of their radios are confiscated.

Both Britain and France declare war on Germany.

Introduction of the wearing of the Star of David in the entire Generalgouvernement (government of occupied territories.)

1940

Auschwitz Concentration Camp opens, with the infamous Rudolf Hess chosen as commander.

May 10- Germany invades Holland, Belgium, and France.

The infamous Warsaw Ghetto is established in Warsaw, Poland.

Germany invades Denmark and Norway.

The Luftwaffe (Nazi Air Force) carries out an all-night bombing raid on London, beginning the Blitzkrieg.

Yugoslavia surrenders to the Nazi armies.

1941

Germany invades the Soviet Union, and declares war on the US.

Hitler assumes full personal control of all German Armed Forces.

Göring assigns Heydrich the task to begin implementing the "Final Solution" against the Jews;
all Jewish children aged 6 and up are now required to wear the Yellow Star.

1942

Famed SS Leader Reinhard Heydrich is mortally wounded by Czech commandos - and dies 8 days later.

The Jewish schools in Germany are officially shut down.

The Nazis order German concentration camps to be made "free of Jews"- with all Jewish inmates deported to Auschwitz.

1943

The Jews bravely revolt and cause widespread damage in the well-known Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

The Bermuda Conference is held, with representatives from both the US and Britain discussing the problem of
refugees from Nazi-occupied countries - but results in inaction concerning the plight of the Jews.

The infamous SS Dr. Josef Mengele arrives at Auschwitz.

The US Congress holds hearings regarding the U. State Department's inaction regarding European Jews, despite mounting reports of mass extermination.

1944

Adolf Hitler injured in assassination attempt.

Soviet troops reach former Polish border.

Anne Frank and family arrested by Gestapo in Amsterdam, then sent to Auschwitz. Anne and her sister Margot
are later sent to Bergen-Belsen where Anne dies of typhus on March 15.

Oskar Schindler saves 1200 Jews by moving them from the Plaszow labor camp to his hometown of Brunnlitz.

Seeing the potential writing on the wall, Heinrich Himmler orders the destruction of all crematories at Auschwitz.