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Date Event Details
April 20, 1889 Adolf Hitler is born Born in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary, to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl.
1907 Hitler moves to Vienna Attempts to enter the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts but is rejected twice. Lives in poverty and develops his anti-Semitic views.
1913 Hitler moves to Munich Moves to escape Austrian military service. Works as a painter and develops an interest in German nationalism.
1914-1918 World War I Hitler serves in the Bavarian Army. Awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. Germany's defeat deeply affects him.
September 12, 1919 Hitler joins the German Workers' Party (DAP) Sent to spy on the DAP, Hitler instead finds himself agreeing with their nationalist and anti-Semitic views. Becomes member #55.
February 24, 1920 DAP renamed to National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP or Nazi Party) Hitler helps draft the party's 25-point program, which includes nationalist, anti-Semitic, and socialist elements. The swastika is adopted as the party symbol.
July 29, 1921 Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party Threatens to resign unless given total control. Becomes party chairman with dictatorial powers. Begins to develop his skills as an orator and propagandist.
November 8-9, 1923 Beer Hall Putsch Hitler and the Nazis attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government in Munich. The coup fails, leaving 16 Nazi supporters and 4 police officers dead. Hitler is arrested two days later.
April 1, 1924 Hitler sentenced to prison Tried for treason, Hitler uses the trial as a propaganda platform. He's sentenced to 5 years in Landsberg Prison but serves only 9 months.
December 20, 1924 Hitler released from prison During his imprisonment, Hitler dictates "Mein Kampf" to Rudolf Hess. The book outlines his political ideology and future plans for Germany.
February 26, 1925 Hitler re-founds the Nazi Party With the ban on the Nazi Party lifted, Hitler rebuilds the organization. He focuses on legal means to gain power and expands the party's influence.
1925-1929 Nazi Party growth Hitler builds a national party organization. Establishes the SS as his personal bodyguard. The party grows but remains relatively small.
October 1929 Wall Street Crash The global economic crisis hits Germany hard, leading to mass unemployment and social unrest. This creates fertile ground for extremist politics.
September 14, 1930 Nazi Party gains in Reichstag elections The party wins 18.3% of the vote, becoming the second-largest party with 107 seats. This is a significant increase from their previous 12 seats.
July 31, 1932 Nazi Party becomes largest in Reichstag Winning 37.3% of the vote (230 seats), the Nazis become the largest party but lack a majority. Hitler demands to be made Chancellor, but President Hindenburg refuses.
November 1932 Nazis lose votes in new elections The Nazi Party loses 2 million votes and 34 seats but remains the largest party. Many believe this marks the beginning of the party's decline.
January 30, 1933 Hitler appointed Chancellor President Hindenburg, advised by ex-Chancellor von Papen, appoints Hitler as Chancellor. They believe they can control Hitler by surrounding him with conservative cabinet members.
February 27, 1933 Reichstag fire The German parliament building burns down. A Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, is caught at the scene. Hitler uses this as a pretext to crack down on communists and other opponents.
February 28, 1933 Reichstag Fire Decree This emergency decree suspends most civil liberties in Germany, including habeas corpus, freedom of expression, and the right of assembly.
March 5, 1933 Last multi-party elections The Nazis win 43.9% of the vote. With their nationalist allies, they secure a majority in the Reichstag.
March 23, 1933 Enabling Act passed This act allows Hitler's cabinet to enact laws without the consent of parliament for four years, effectively establishing his dictatorship.
April 1, 1933 Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses The first coordinated action against Jews in Nazi Germany. SA members stand outside Jewish-owned stores to discourage customers from entering.
May 2, 1933 Trade unions banned All trade unions are dissolved and their leaders arrested. The German Labour Front is established as the only legal labor organization.
July 14, 1933 Nazi Party declared only legal party All other political parties are banned. Germany becomes a one-party state under Nazi rule.
June 30, 1934 Night of the Long Knives Hitler orders a purge of the SA leadership and other political opponents. This action consolidates his power and gains the support of the regular army.
August 2, 1934 Hitler becomes Führer and Reich Chancellor Upon President Hindenburg's death, Hitler combines the offices of President and Chancellor, becoming the absolute ruler of Germany. The military swears an oath of loyalty to Hitler personally.
September 15, 1935 Nuremberg Laws enacted These racist laws revoke German citizenship for Jews and prohibit marriage between Jews and other Germans. They formalize Nazi racial theories into law.
March 7, 1936 Remilitarization of the Rhineland German troops enter the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties. France and Britain do not respond militarily.
August 1-16, 1936 Berlin Olympics Nazi Germany hosts the Summer Olympics, using them as a propaganda showcase for the Nazi state.
March 12, 1938 Anschluss with Austria German troops enter Austria unopposed. Hitler announces the reunification of Austria with Germany, his native country.
September 30, 1938 Munich Agreement signed Britain and France agree to let Germany annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of peace. Hitler pledges it is his "last territorial demand in Europe."
November 9-10, 1938 Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) A pogrom against Jews throughout Nazi Germany. Nearly 100 Jews are murdered, 30,000 are arrested and sent to concentration camps, and Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues are attacked.
March 15, 1939 Occupation of Czechoslovakia Breaking the Munich Agreement, Germany occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia. The country is divided into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the puppet state of Slovakia.
August 23, 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact, which includes secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
September 1, 1939 Invasion of Poland Germany invades Poland, triggering Britain and France to declare war on September 3, marking the start of World War II in Europe.