The first antisemitic statute was passed by the government of Vichy France – the ‘Statut de Juifs’. It defined any person with three Jewish grandparents or, if the spouse is Jewish as well, two Jewish grandparents, as Jewish.
The German army invaded France. After six weeks of battle, the French surrendered and signed an armistice with the Nazis.
Great Britain and France declared war on Germany.
Hitler authorised the euthanasia of adults as part of Operation T-4. The Nazis aimed to totally eliminate the disabled and mentally ill from the Third Reich. The order was actually signed in October 1939, but backdated to 1 September 1939 to suggest it was related to the war efforts.
German Forces invaded western Poland, breaching the non-aggression pact.
Nazi troops invaded Czechoslovakia and occupied Prague, breaking the Munich agreement which was agreed just six months prior.
A decree banning Jews from owning businesses and selling goods was issued.
Throughout Germany and Austria, a pogrom was initiated by the Nazis. Synagogues were destroyed and Jewish shops were looted and ransacked. 91 Jews were killed and thousands of Jewish men were taken to concentration camps. This event became known as the November Pogrom or Kristallnacht.
After the Munich Pact was signed on 30 September 1938 by Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, the Sudetenland was occupied by the German ‘Wehrmacht’ and annexed by Germany.
Passports of Jewish citizens began to be stamped with a large ‘J’ for Jew. This was implemented to prevent Jews from emigrating to Switzerland by pretending to be Christians.
