1933: Boycott of Jewish businesses; Jews removed from civil service; Dachau opened
1935: Nuremberg Laws — Jews stripped of citizenship; marriage with Germans banned
1938: Kristallnacht — 91 Jews killed; 30,000 arrested; 7,500 businesses destroyed; 1,400 synagogues burned
1939: War begins; T4 euthanasia programme starts; ghettos established in Poland
1941: Invasion of USSR; Einsatzgruppen begin mass shootings; Babi Yar (33,771 killed in 2 days)
January 1942: Wannsee Conference — "Final Solution" coordinated; death camps operational
1942-1945: Industrial-scale genocide — 6 million Jews murdered in death camps by May 1945
This causation covers The Escalation to Holocaust: A Timeline of Persecution within Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 for GCSE History. Revise Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 in Component Group 5 — World Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 9 of 18 in this topic. Use this causation to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945
Describe two features of the Enabling Act of March 1933.
Write a clear and organised summary that analyses how the Night of the Long Knives helped Hitler consolidate his power in 1934.
Quick recall flashcards
How did Hitler become Führer in August 1934?
On 2 August 1934, President Paul von Hindenburg died. Hitler immediately combined the offices of Chancellor and President into the single role of Führer (Leader). He required the German Army to swear a personal oath of loyalty — not to Germany or its constitution, but to Adolf Hitler personally. This made military resistance a violation of a solemn oath, helping explain why many officers refused to act even when they opposed Hitler.
How did Goebbels use radio as a propaganda tool?
Goebbels produced the cheap Volksempfänger ('People's Receiver') radio set at 76 Reichsmarks, making radio affordable for ordinary workers. Radio sets rose from 4 million (1933) to 16 million by 1939 — over 70% of German households. Hitler's speeches, Nazi music, and anti-Semitic content were broadcast directly into homes. Radio was Goebbels' most powerful propaganda tool, creating a sense of shared national community around Nazi values.