We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies and the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of all donors.
Featured Article
Gleichschaltung: Coordinating the Nazi State
The Nazi Party came to power in 1933 and quickly began trying to control all aspects of society. This internal consolidation of power to remake Germany as a Nazi state was known as Gleichschaltung. The term is a German word that means “coordination” or “synchronization.” Under Gleichschaltung, German political, social, and cultural life were rearranged to serve Nazi goals.
Must Reads
![View of a section of the barbed-wire fence and barracks at Auschwitz at the time of the liberation of the camp. [LCID: 11058]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/389b1f5e-c012-466b-bed2-73111a783f19.jpg.pagespeed.ce.fePa0TRUgY.jpg)
![Adolf Hitler poses with his cabinet shortly after assuming power as chancellor of Germany. [LCID: 79487]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/1b9f0457-bda2-4b6f-8fae-9a13eff86f8b.jpg.pagespeed.ce.UYh6YATFdc.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)
![Jews are forced into boxcars destined for the Belzec killing center. [LCID: 63444]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/eae02616-41b4-4697-9938-c1648fb6ea14.jpg.pagespeed.ce.Ie88eOPs6G.jpg)
Explore the Encyclopedia
ID Cards
Explore the ID Cards to learn more about personal experiences during the Holocaust
Browse A-Z
Find articles, photos, maps, films, and more listed alphabetically
Discussion Questions
How and why was the Holocaust possible?