The+Holocaust+-+Origins

The Holocaust - Origins

**Hitler -** Hitler had a deep hatred for Jews and expressed openly in his book "Mein Kampf" that the Jews were responsible for all the bad things that happened in his life. Hitler became the leader of the Nazi Party in 1922 after WWI. And after becoming dictator decided that Germany had to purged of the Jews once and for all. The process began in 1934.

**The Nuremburg Laws -** In 1935, laws were passed that greatly restricted the rights of German-Jews. They were treated as non-citizens who were not allowed to raise the German flag. Also they could not marry German citizens. Jewish doctors and physicians were forced to resign and Jews were banned from any political participation. In 1937, Jews were restricted from obtaining passports and were no longer allowed to travel. Except for the about 15000 Jews that were relocated to Poland. In 1939, all jews were required to carry identification cards. Also all Jewish street names were renamed with German names.

**Kristallnacht** - November 9, 1938, Kristallnacht or "Night of Broken Glass" was the first major outbreak of violence against the Jews. On this night, storm troops and Gestapo dressed as citizens, ransacked, broke-into, and burned, many Jewish buildings. It was estimated that in that one night, 1300 synagogues and 171 homes were burned, 7500 shops were looted, and 91 jews were killed. The surviving Jews were then sent off to concentration camps.