Assassination of Nazi diplomat in Paris
17-year-old Herschel Grynszpan, distraught son of Polish deportees, shoots Ernst vom Rath to death in the German Embassy in Paris in retaliaton for the explusion of Polish-born Jews from Germany.
Polish-born Jews are expelled from Germany
Approximately 17,000 Jews born in Poland are forced from Germany in the first mass deportation. Jewish deportees are stripped of their citizenship, forced across the frontier, endure months of hardship on the Polish border.
Annexation of Austria: the "Anschluss"
In what is known as the "Anschluss," Germany enters neighboring Austria and declares its annexation to the “Third Reich.” A few weeks later, the Nazi-occupied government holds a referendum on joining the Reich, which about 99% of the Austrian public supports.
Establishment of Buchenwald concentration camp
One of the largest concentration camps established within Germany's pre-war borders, Buchenwald at first primarily imprisons non-Jewish political prisoners and criminals. Later, following increased Nazi repression, Jews are detained in the camp, as well as Jehovah's Witnesses, Roma and German military deserters.
Pope Pius XI critical of Nazis
Pope Pius XI rejects the Nazis' treatment of Catholic religious activities. The pontiff is silent about Nazi treatment of the Jews.