July 1940
Max Bodenheimer Dies in Jerusalem
In July 1940, Max Bodenheimer died in Jerusalem. He had accompanied Theodor Herzl to Constantinople and Palestine in 1898.
Zionism · Israel · Jews in Politics
Europe
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Explore Jewish history.
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April 30, 1940
Nazis Seal the Łódź Ghetto
On this day, April 30, 1940, German authorities sealed the Łódź ghetto. About 160,000 Jews were already confined there.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
February 8, 1940
Order Establishes the Łódź Ghetto
On this day, February 8, 1940, German authorities in Łódź ordered Jews into a ghetto. The ghetto was sealed on May 1.
Holocaust · Antisemitism · World War II
Europe
November 23, 1939
Hans Frank Orders Jews in the General Government to Wear Armbands
On this day, November 23, 1939, Hans Frank ordered Jews in the General Government over the age of ten to wear a white armband with a blue Star of David.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
October 8, 1939
Nazis Establish the Piotrków Ghetto
On this day, October 8, 1939, German authorities ordered a ghetto in Piotrków Trybunalski, the first ghetto in occupied Poland.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
September 1, 1939
Germany Invades Poland
On this day, September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war on September 3.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
January 3, 1939
Arik Einstein Is Born
On January 3, 1939, Arieh Einstein was born in Tel Aviv. He became a pioneer of Israeli rock and died there in 2013.
Jews in Entertainment · Israel · Zionism
Israel
1939
Germany Organizes the Killing of Disabled Children
In 1939, German officials began a secret program to kill disabled children. Philipp Bouhler and Karl Brandt led it.
Europe
November 12, 1938
Göring Imposes an Atonement Fine after the November Pogrom
On this day, November 12, 1938, Hermann Göring imposed a one-billion-Reichsmark fine on German Jews after the November pogrom.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
November 9, 1938–November 10, 1938
The November Pogrom
On the night of 9–10 November 1938, Nazi leaders unleashed the November pogrom, known as Kristallnacht, across Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
after November 1938
Jewish Refugees Begin Reaching Shanghai after Kristallnacht
After November 1938, Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria began reaching Shanghai in large numbers. The movement followed Kristallnacht and is not dated as a single landing day.
Holocaust · Antisemitism · World War II
Asia
October 27, 1938
Germany Orders the Expulsion of Polish Jews
On this day, October 27, 1938, the Reich Security Main Office ordered the arrest of Jews with Polish passports. About 17,000 were expelled over the next two days.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe