A photo album of jews life during world war 2
The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. “Holocaust” is a word of Greek origin meaning “sacrifice by fire.” The Nazis, who came to power in Germany in January 1933, believed that Germans were “racially superior” and that the Jews, deemed “inferior,” were an alien threat to the so-called German racial community. In 1933, the Jewish population of Europe stood at over nine million. Most European Jews lived in countries that Nazi Germany would occupy or influence during World War II. In Germany 500,000 of the population were Jews. They represented less than 1% of the population, 1/3 lived in Berlin. The Jewish residential district was centered on Oranienburger Strasse and the district of Schenenviertel. The Jewish population had in average higher education and income than the ordinary German. The German Jews were fully integrated into German society
Two German Jewish families at a gatheing before the war. Only two people in this group survived the Holocaust. Germany, 1928.
Recently appointed as German chancellor, Adolf Hitler greets President Paul von Hindenburg in Potsdam, Germany, on March 21, 1933.
Members of a Jewish family walking along a Berlin street wear the compulsory Star of David. Berlin, Germany, September 27, 194
Those who were political opponents of the Nazi policies, was in the early 1930s sent to the newly established labor and concentration camps. Discrimination and persecution of Jews began in 1933; it was SA (Sturmabteilung: Nazi Party uniformed support) who conducted terrorist acts against the Jewish citizens. Jewish stores was boycotted and painted with a Star of David. Several Jewish businessmen lost their high official positions. In 1933 there were 100,000 businesses in Germany, in 1938 the number had fallen to 40,000. Between 1935 and 1939 the Jews were stripped of their civil rights that would protect the German blood, race and honor. Additionally, in the period adopted other laws and regulations against the Jews. Jews were also excluded from schools, universities, cinemas, theaters and cinemas
Nazi propaganda poster warning Germans about the dangers of east European “subhumans.” Germany, date uncertain.
A motorcyclist reads a sign stating “Jews are not welcomed here.” Germany, ca. 1935.
SA men in front of Jewish-owned store urge a boycott with the signs reading “Germans Defend Yourselves Do not buy from Jews� Berlin, Germany, April 1, 1933
Windows of a Jewish-owned store painted with the word “Jude” (Jew). Berlin, Germany, June 19, 1938.
In 1938 it was legalized to discrimi� nate and persecute Jews because Grünspan Herschel, who was a Polish jew, murdered a German diplomat in Paris. The Nazis used the assassination as an excuse to devastate, destroy and terrorize Jewish buildings and shops. This happened at night between 9th and 10th of November, known as Kristallnacht because of the many shards of glass from broken windows.
JPassports issued to a German Jewish couple, with “J” for “Jude” stamped on the cards. Karlsruhe, Germany, December 29, 1938.
Portrait of Herschel Grynszpan taken after his arrest by French authorities for the assassination of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath.
Jewish-owned shop destroyed during Kristallnacht (the “Night of Broken Glass�). Berlin, Germany, November 1938.
The Boerneplatz synagogue in flames during Kristallnacht (the “Night of Broken Glass�). Frankfurt am Main, Germany, November 10, 1938.
A private Jewish home vandalized during Kristallnacht (the “Night of Broken Glass� pogrom). Vienna, Austria, November 10, 1938.
Jews arrested after Kristallnacht (the “Night of Broken Glass�) await deportation to Dachau concentration camp. Baden-Baden, Germany, November 10, 1938
Roll call for newly arrived prisoners, mostly Jews arrested during Kristallnacht (the “Night of Broken Glass�),at the Buchenwald concentration camp. Buchenwald, Germany, 1938
Members of the SS and police speak among themselves during a roll call at the Buchenwald concentration camp. Buchenwald, Germany, 1938-1940.
View of a section of the barbed-wire fence and barracks at Auschwitz at the time of the liberation of the camp. Auschwitz, Poland, January 1945.
In 1933, the Jewish population of Europe stood at over nine million. Most European Jews lived in countries that Nazi Germany would occupy or influence during World War II. By 1945, the Germans and their collaborators killed nearly two out of every three European Jews as part of the “Final Solution,� the Nazi policy to murder the Jews of Europe. To concentrate and monitor the Jewish population as well as to facilitate later deportation of the Jews, the Germans and their collaborators created ghettos, transit camps, and forced-labor camps for Jews during the war years. After the German occupation of Poland, many Jews were sent to Polish concentration camps, which were built to exterminate the Jews. The Jews were led into gas chambers, which were camouflaged as showers.
Prisoners at forced labor in the Siemens factory. Auschwitz camp, Poland, 1940-1944.
Prisoners at forced labor build the Dove-Elbe canal. Neuengamme concentration camp, Germany, 1941-1942.
Identification pictures of a Jewish inmate of the Auschwitz camp. Poland, between 1940 and 1945.
Hungarian Jews on their way to the gas chambers. Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland, May 1944.
In the final months of the war, SS guards moved camp inmates by train or on forced marches, often called “death marches� in an attempt to prevent the Allied liberation of large numbers of prisoners. As Allied forces moved across Europe in a series of offensives against Germany, they began to encounter and liberate concentration camp prisoners, as well as prisoners en route by forced march from one camp to another. The marches continued until May 7, 1945, the day the German armed forces surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. Six million Jews died during World War 2. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, many of the survivors found shelter in displaced persons (DP) camps administered by the Allied powers. Between 1948 and 1951, almost 700,000 Jews emigrated to Israel, including 136,000 Jewish displaced persons from Europe. Other Jewish DPs emigrated to the United States and other nations. The last DP camp closed in 1957.
Bombing raid over part of the Auschwitz camp. Auschwitz, Poland, August 1944
Soon after liberation, surviving children of the Auschwitz camp walk out of the children’s barracks. Poland, after January 27, 1945.
Soon after liberation, a Soviet physician examines Auschwitz camp survivors. Poland, February 18, 1945.
American military personnel view corpses in the Buchenwald concentration camp.This photograph was taken after the liberation of the camp. Germany, April 18, 1945.
A girl in the Kloster Indersdorf children’s center who was photographed in an attempt to help locate surviving relatives. Such photographs of both Jewish and non-Jewish children were published in newspapers to facilitate the reunification of families. Germany, after May 1945.
THE HOLOCAUST AND WORLD WAR 2 TIMELINE 1933
January the 30th: April the 1st: April the 25th:
1935 July the 14th to 18th: November the 14th:
1936
January the 6th: April the 3rd:
1937 February the 13th: May the 8th: November the 4th:
President Hindenburg appoints Adolf Hitler Chancellor of Germany First nationwide boycott of Jewish shops and institutions. A law against overcrowded schools is adopted. The number of Jewish and female teachers is limited.
Anti-Jewish demonstrations toke place in Berlin Jews denied the right to vote and to hold public office
Jewish tax advisers are denied permission to work. Jewish vets are denied the right to practice
Prohibition of Jewish notaries. Jews are denied the opportunity to take medical exam. Jewish citizens are prohibited from using the German greeting: Heil Hitler.
1938
April the 26th: July the 25th: July the 31st: September the 27th: October the 5th: November the 9th and 8th: November the 12th: November the 15th: December the 3rd: December the 6th: December the 8th:
Jewish fortunes of more than 5000 Reichsmark are made notifiable. Jewish doctors are stripped of their authority Jews are forbidden to receive Aryan heritage. Prohibition against hiring Jewish lawyers. Law on involvement of the Jew passport. All newly passports to Jews are marked with a J. Kristallnacht Jews are imposed a collective fine of one billion Reichsmark because of Kristallnacht. Jewish children are denied access to public schools. Jews are stripped of their license and is prohibited from driving vehicles throughout Germany. Jews are denied access to certain neighborhoods in Berlin. Jewish students are thrown out of universities and higher education institutions.
1939
January the 17th: January the 30th: February the 21st: March the 11th: April the 30th: September the 1st: September the 30th:
1940 January the 23rd: February: April the 9th: July the 29th:
1941 July the 12th to 13th: September the 18th: September the 19th: October the 1st: December the 7th: December the 12th:
Jewish dentists, dental technicians, veterinarians, pharmacists, medical practitioners and nurses are denied work permit. In the Reichstag Hitler declares “extermination of the Jewish race in Europe” in the event of war. Jews who own precious metals, pearls and precious stones are forced to hand over their property. Jews are excluded from military service. Jewish housing tenants are forced to move out of Aryan houses and are forced to move to “Jew Houses”. September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland, starting World War II in Europe Jews must hand in their radios Jews do not any more receive rationing tickets for clothes. Jews from the “Jew Houses” are transported to Polish ghettoes. Germany invades Denmark and Norway Jews are not allowed to have a telephone.
British aircraft throws 82 tons of explosives bombs over Berlin. Jews are only permitted to use public transport with special permission. Jews have to from the age of 6 years wear the Star of David with the scripture Jew on the left chest side. Jewish citizens are denied emigration from Germany. Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declares war the next day Jews are denied to use public telephones.
1942 January the 20th: February: June the 30th: September the 27th: October the 5th:
1943 April the 30th: December the 31st:
On a conference in Wannsee it is decided that all Jews must be executed. The Nazis calculated the number to be around 11 million Jews. The Jews lose their rights and have to mark their houses with the David-Star. All Jewish schools are closed down. On the English radio station BCC the emigrant writer Thomas Mann reveals the Nazi mass murder of Jews. Germans heard the broadcast. Heinrich Himmler, head of SS (Schutzstaffel) and Minister of the Interior, commanded that all Jews in the German concentration camps are to be deported to Auschwitz.
Jews are deprived of German nationality. Germany is in war with 43 countries.
1944 June the 6th:
D-Day: Allied forces invade Normandy, France
1945 January the 27th: April the 14th: April the 15th: April the 22nd: April the 25th: April the 30th: May the 2nd: May the 7th: May the 9th:
Soviet troops liberate the Auschwitz camp complex Himmler commands that no prisoners may be alive when the concentration camps are vacated. British troops liberate the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. Soviet and Polish troops liberate concentration tenant Sachsenhausen. The red army surrounds Berlin. 1500 combat aircraft attacks Berlin. Hitler commits suicide. Berlin capitulates. Germany surrenders to the western Allies Germany surrenders to the Soviets
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sources Det Tredje Rige: Fælleskab og Forbrydelse af Peter Frederiksen: Kapitel 9 og 13. Hitlers Tyskland: Dagligdag i Det Tredje Rige af Matthew Hughes & Chris Mann: Kapitel 8 og 15
made by 2. semester, gruppe 10: Frederikke Hald, Peter H.-Kristensen, Jimmi Nielsen & Daniel Weede KEA, Lygten 16, 2400 København N. Tlf: 27 82 30 07