History of the Holocaust
Understanding the events that led to one of the darkest periods in human history.
The Rise of Nazi Germany
The Holocaust was a direct result of the Nazi regime's ideology of racial purity and anti-Semitism. The Nazis came to power in 1933 and began to implement policies aimed at isolating and persecuting Jews and other minority groups.
The Nazis' anti-Semitic policies escalated into violence with the November 1938 pogrom, known as Kristallnacht. The invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the beginning of World War II and the start of the systematic persecution and murder of Jews and other minority groups.
Timeline of the Holocaust
1933: Nazi Party Comes to Power
The Nazi party, led by Adolf Hitler, comes to power in Germany.
1938: Kristallnacht
The Nazis launch a wave of violence against Jews and Jewish-owned businesses across Germany.
1939: Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II.
1942: Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials meet to discuss the "Final Solution," a plan to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe.
1945: Liberation of Concentration Camps
The Allies liberate the concentration camps, revealing the full extent of the Nazi atrocities.
Survivor Testimonials
I was just a child when I was forced to flee my home. I never thought I'd see my family again.
- Survivor
The Holocaust was a time of unimaginable horror. I lost everything, but I never lost hope.
- Survivor
I was separated from my family, but I was lucky to have found a safe haven.
- Survivor