To many people, the Holocaust and Jewish persecution started in 1939, with the declaration of war. However, what people may not be aware of is the fact that German persecution of Jews started significantly earlier than that. Anti-Jewish laws and regulations were brought into Germany along with the Nazis in 1933. At first, the laws and regulations started out small.
I am unsure whether this was the full list but it is a comprehensive list of laws enacted...
Jewish Restrictions in WWII Germany
March 17, 1933 - Jewish physicians are forbidden practice.
April 4, 1934 - Jewish pupils are not allowed to attend higher schools anymore.
April 7, 1933 - "Gesetz zur Wiederherstellung des Berufsbeamtentums" (= Law for the reconstruction of the Civil Servant system); many Jewish Civil Servants are discharged.
April 21, 1933 - Ritual butcher of animals for nutrition purposes ("Schächten") is forbidden.
April 25, 1933 - Admission of "Non-Aryans" to schools and Universities is restricted. Jews may not participate in sports contests or be members of sports clubs anymore.
July 14, 1933 - "Undesired Persons" can be deprived of German citizenship.
August 22, 1933 - Jews are forbidden to use public beaches in numerous German cities, such as Berlin-Wannsee, Fulda, Beuthen, Speyer.
October 4, 1933 - "Schriftleiter-Gesetz" (= Editors Law). Jewish press editors may not practice anymore.
March 3, 1935 - Jewish children have to attend seperate primary schools.
May 21, 1935 - "Wehrgesetz" (= Conscription Law). "Aryan Descent" is mandatory for being allowed to serve in the armed forces.
August 31, 1935 - Jewish pupils may not get prizes in honor of extraordinary performances anymore.
September 6, 1935 - Jewish newspapers may not be sold in the streets anymore.
September 15, 1935 - "Nürnberger Gesetze" (= Nuremberg Laws), including the "Reichsbürgergesetz" (= Reich Citizen Law) and the "Gesetz zum Schutz des deutschen Blutes und der deutschen Ehre" (= Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor).
- Central content of the Reich Citizen Law: Jews can not be German citizens and can not claim equal citizen rights anymore. All Jewish Civil Servants are dismissed. The law includes a definition of who is considered a Jew by descent.
- Central content of the Law for Protection of German Blood: Jews and Non-Jews are forbidden to have non-conjugal sexual intercourse). Jews may not employ any Non-Jewish domestic servants.
September 30, 1935 - As demanded by the Nuremberg Laws, all Jewish Civil Servants are dismissed.
November 14, 1935 - 1st decree to the Reich Citizen Law: Jews are forbidden to hold public offices and to participate in any political voting.
- 1st decree to the Law for Protection of German Blood: Jews and Non-Jews are not allowed to marry anymore. Jews are restricted to a small number of professions; Jewish pupils may not use the same sporting grounds and locker rooms as Non-Jewish pupils anymore.
March 7, 1936 - Jews have no Reichstag (= Reich Diet) franchise anymore.
June 12, 1937 - Secret decree: "Schutzhaft" (= Protective Arrest) for "Rassenschänder" (= those having sexual relations forbidden by the Nuremberg Laws) after trial.
July 2, 1937 - Jewish pupils who are still in public schools may not participate in school events anymore.
November 16, 1937 - Jews get travel passports only "in special cases".
February 2, 1938 - Jewish households are cut off from electricity and gas.
April 26, 1938 - Jews have to report fortunes of more than 5000 Reichsmark.
June 14, 1938 - Decree on registration and public marking of Jewish-owned businesses. Lists of wealthy Jews are being collected at revenue offices and police stations.
June 15, 1938 - "Asozialen-Aktion" (= Action against Anti Socials): All previously convicted Jews (including those with traffic offenses and similar records) are arrested and brought to Concentration Camps.
July 6, 1938 - The list of professions Jews may not practice anymore is extended; they can not work as brokers, matrimonial agents and tourist guides anymore, to name but a few.
July 23, 1938 - Decree that Jews are required to have special identification cards with them from Jan. 1, 1938.
July 26, 1938 - Decree on cancelling the approbations of all Jewish physicians from Sept. 30, 1938. After that date, Jewish physicians are only allowed to work as "Krankenbehandler" (a newly invented term, meaning 'Person treating the ill') for Jews.
July 27, 1938 - All street names with any Jewish background are changed.
August 17, 1938 - Decree on the Realization of the Law on Change of Family Names and Given Names: From Jan. 1, 1939, all Jews are required to carry "Israel" or "Sara" as additional given name.
September 27, 1938 - Jewish lawyers may not practice anymore.
27.09.38 Jüdische Rechtsanwälte dürfen ihren Beruf nicht mehr ausüben.
October 5, 1938 - Decree on Travel Passports: All passports belonging to Jews are drawn in and under intentional difficulties newly issued with a "J" (for Jude, Jew) stamped into them.
October 28, 1938 - Between 15,000 and 17,000 Jews with Polish citizenship are expelled.
November 7, 1938 - Herschel Grynszpan, whose parents were afflicted by the expelling of Polish Jews, shoots the German Diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris. As a result, the nationwide pogrom of November 9 is arranged.
November 11, 1938 - Jews are not allowed to own neither to carry arms anymore.
November 12, 1938 - Jews may not attend cinemas, theaters, concerts and exhibitions anymore and are also forbidden to manage shops and workshops.
Jews may buy food in special shops only.
November 15, 1938 - Jews may not attend German schools anymore.
November 23, 1938 - All Jewish-owned businesses are dissolved.
November 28, 1938 - Jews may at certain times not stay in specified areas open to the public anymore.
December 3, 1938 - Driving licenses and vehicle registration documents owned by Jews are drawn in. Jews are forced to sell their businesses and to deliver all jewellery and securities to the authorities.
December 6, 1938 - "Judenbann" (= Ban of Jews) in Berlin: Jews are prohibited to enter specified streets, squares etc.
December 8, 1938 - Jewish professors who have been practicing as private persons at the universities after their dismissals are forbidden any kind of work at higher schools.
December 13, 1938 - Jews are forced to sell houses, shops and factories for extremely low prices to Non-Jews.
December 31, 1938 - Jews may not possess automobiles anymore.
January 1, 1939 - All male Jews are forced to carry the additional given name "Israel", all female Jews the name "Sara".
February 21, 1939 - Jews have to deliver all items of value to the authorities without any compensation.
To be continued...