U. S. Government/WWII/Systematic Attempt to Rid Europe of All Jews

Boycott of Jewish stores

The first Nazi planned action against Jews was a boycott of Jewish businesses. Signs were posted saying, "Don't buy from Jews" and "The Jews are our misfortune". The nationwide boycott was not very successful and lasted just one day, but it marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign by the Nazi party against the entire German-Jewish population.

Threats and Violence

Because the boycotts were unsuccessful, many Nazis then threatened violence if Jewish businesses did not shut down. In two days, over 8 thousand Jewish businesses were trashed and looted. Dozens of Jewish people were killed. This attack became known as Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass", for the shattered glass from the store windows that littered the streets.

Segregation into ghettos

Segregation into ghettos Jews became totally segregated from the rest of the Germans after "Kristallnacht". The Nazis began to move the Jewish population by forcing Jews to live in marked-off sections of towns and cities called "ghettos". Curfews were placed on Jews; limiting the hours of the day they could leave their homes.

Imprisonment and killing of Jews and others

(in concentration camps) The Nazis entered the ghettos and rounded up all Jewish men, women, and children. From there, Jews were transported by train to concentration camps, where men were separated from women and children. A physician, looked quickly at each person to decide if he or she was healthy and strong enough for forced labor. Those who could not work at the camps (babies, young children, pregnant women, elderly, handicapped, sick) were told they were going to take a shower to rid themselves of lice, but instead were led to gas chambers to die.