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The mass murder of Europe’s Jews took place in the context of World War II. As German troops invaded and occupied more and more territory in Europe, the Soviet Union, and North Africa, the regime’s racial and antisemitic policies became more radical, moving from persecution to genocide. Explore a timeline of key events during the Holocaust and World War II.
Article
Introduction to the HolocaustArticle
AntisemitismArticle
The Nazi PartyArticle
The July 20, 1944, Plot to Assassinate Adolf HitlerArticle
Raoul Wallenberg and the Rescue of Jews in BudapestArticle
Deportations to Killing CentersArticle
MinskArticle
Nazi PropagandaArticle
The Holocaust and World War II: Key DatesExplore the ID Cards to learn more about personal experiences during the Holocaust
Find articles, photos, maps, films, and more listed alphabetically
How and why was the Holocaust possible?
![German infantry during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. [LCID: 15582]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/12365c0b-8268-422c-9cbb-9883df01bd43.jpg.pagespeed.ce.OF1nQ10MBb.jpg)
![Illustration from an antisemitic children's primer. [LCID: 10640c]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/4c6348d1-d3e6-4be3-aae5-b12761f4f20a.jpg.pagespeed.ce.ZYVA_641w6.jpg)
![Adolf Hitler stands with an SA unit during a Nazi parade in Weimar [LCID: 02286]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/1e5a14c5-9521-4637-845a-55f423097328.jpg.pagespeed.ce.nXwncuV_1R.jpg)
![Roland Freisler (center), president of the Volk Court (People's Court), gives the Nazi salute at the trial of conspirators in the ... [LCID: 82590]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/caa78dfd-dbea-4cfd-822c-0aa797202a82.jpg.pagespeed.ce.Bu31LrD_9k.jpg)
![Passport photograph of Raoul Wallenberg. Sweden, June 1944. [LCID: 06917a]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/f7f1c3fc-b269-4cb8-af16-4078822f25b4.jpg.pagespeed.ce.q52nE8Ziny.jpg)
![Jews carrying their possessions during deportation to the Chelmno killing center. [LCID: 10047]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/db07cf54-0dbe-4e18-89de-e672c1201ae7.jpg.pagespeed.ce.Eo2rx1MBLV.jpg)
![German soldiers parade three young people through Minsk before their execution. [LCID: 73742]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/e648a21c-251b-4d74-9e4c-a83594bcf0b5.jpg.pagespeed.ce.fQuSWmjh3q.jpg)
