Historical Events tagged with "nazism"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Politics & Government

Nuremberg Trials Executions of Key Defendants

October 16th, 1946 78 years ago

Ten prominent Nazi leaders were executed by hanging following the Nuremberg Trials, where they were found guilty of war crimes. The trials, held in Nuremberg, Germany, represented a pivotal moment in the accountability for actions during World War II. The defendants included notable figures such as Hermann Göring and Joachim von Ribbentrop. In total, twelve individuals were sentenced to death by hanging, but two men did not meet the same fate, one died before execution and the other was acquitted. The executions were carried out at the Nuremberg Prison.

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Politics & Government

Hitler Marries Eva Braun in Berlin Bunker

April 29th, 1945 79 years ago

Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun in a private ceremony in his Berlin bunker. The marriage took place just one day before their deaths, marking a significant moment in their tumultuous relationship. The ceremony was attended by close associates, and Hitler also named Admiral Karl Dönitz as his successor, signifying his planned leadership transition in the imminent aftermath of the war.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Turin's Pre-Insurrectional Strike Against Fascism

April 18th, 1945 79 years ago

In Turin, a large pre-insurrectional strike began, showcasing the resilience of the Italian resistance movement against Nazi-fascist repression. Workers from various sectors united in defiance, demanding better conditions and an end to the fascist regime. This strike was marked by solidarity and determination, reflecting the growing unrest among the populace. The Nazi-fascist forces attempted to suppress the movement with force, but the determination of the strikers prevailed, setting the stage for future actions in the struggle for liberation.

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Military & Warfare

Rudolf von Gersdorff's Assassination Attempt on Hitler

March 21st, 1943 81 years ago

Rudolf von Gersdorff, a Wehrmacht officer, devised a plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler with a concealed suicide bomb during a visit to Berlin's Museum of Technology. On the day of the planned assassination, von Gersdorff disguised the bomb under his uniform, attempting to detonate it as Hitler arrived. However, intense feelings of loyalty and foreboding led him to defuse the bomb just in time, avoiding detection and possible execution.

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Politics & Government

Completion of Kraków Ghetto Liquidation

March 14th, 1943 82 years ago

The Kraków Ghetto was completely liquidated by March 1943, following a brutal campaign to remove its Jewish inhabitants. Nazi forces systematically rounded up the remaining residents, deporting them to concentration camps. This operation marked the end of the ghetto's existence, which had been established in 1941 to segregate Jewish people from the rest of the city. The liquidation was executed amidst growing anti-Jewish policies, with the intention of erasing Jewish life in Poland.

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Crime & Law

First Jews from Lvov Ghetto Gassed in Belzec

March 17th, 1942 82 years ago

In March 1942, the Nazis commenced mass killings at the Belzec death camp, targeting Jews primarily from the Lvov Ghetto in Poland. This action marked one of the earliest implementations of extermination techniques involving gas chambers. The victims, many of whom were recently transported from the ghetto under the guise of labor relocation, faced immediate execution upon arrival. Belzec, as part of Operation Reinhard, aimed to eliminate the Jewish population in occupied Poland, contributing to the broader agenda of the Holocaust.

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Military & Warfare

Witold Pilecki's Capture for Resistance Reporting

September 19th, 1940 84 years ago

Witold Pilecki, a Polish Army officer, volunteered to be captured by the Nazis in order to gather intelligence from Auschwitz concentration camp. This daring plan was aimed at reporting the atrocities occurring there and aiding the Polish resistance against the oppressive regime. Pilecki, under the guise of a homeless individual, allowed himself to be arrested during a round-up in Warsaw. His remarkable resolve and bravery would lead him into one of the deadliest places of the Holocaust, enabling him to document the horrific conditions inside and organize efforts for escape and resistance from within the camp.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Czech Students Executed Amid Anti-Nazi Protests

November 17th, 1939 85 years ago

In response to anti-Nazi demonstrations sparked by Jan Opletal's death, nine Czech students were executed. This led to the closure of all Czech universities and the detention of over 1,200 students, who were sent to concentration camps. The event highlighted the fierce opposition to Nazi occupation in Czechoslovakia.

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Politics & Government

Kristallnacht: Coordinated Attack Against Jews

November 9th, 1938 86 years ago

In a wave of organized violence, the Nazis instigated Kristallnacht as a reaction to the assassination of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath by Herschel Grynszpan. Over the course of this night, Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were systematically vandalized and destroyed across Germany and Austria. This nationwide pogrom resulted in widespread terror among the Jewish community, with thousands arrested and sent to concentration camps. The event marked a significant escalation in the Nazis' anti-Semitic policies.

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