Declaration of War
Great Britain and France declared war on Germany.
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.
Following the Munich Pact, 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.
A law was passed stating that all Jews in Germany were required to adopt a new middle name; ‘Israel’ for men and ‘Sara’ for women. The names had to be registered at the registry office and be used on all official documents.
Representatives of 32 states and 24 voluntary organisations met in Evian, France, to discuss the international refugee problem.