Anniversaries in August: 23 events connected with Nazism, the Second World War, the Holocaust, occupation, resistance, liberation and the accountability of perpetrators. Each entry leads to an institutional source and, where the connection is documented, also to profiles in the Nazi Report archive.
01
1 August
1 August1936Origins of NazismBerlin, Germany
Berlin Olympics as a cover for the Nazi regime
The opening of the Olympic Games in Berlin allows the regime to conceal its racism and militarism.
The sporting spectacle helped the authorities hide the state's racism and militarism from an international audience.
The Berlin Games are an early example of using sport to improve the image of a repressive regime.
The Home Army begins the Warsaw Uprising against the German occupation.
The history of the uprising encompasses fighting against the occupier, German crimes against civilians, expulsions and subsequent remembrance of the event.
The uprising is a key point in the history of occupied Warsaw and German violence against its residents.
Related profiles (7)
Erich von dem Bach-Zelewskidirect or functional connection: Head of anti-partisan formations in the East; commander of the forces that suppressed the Warsaw Uprising.
Heinz Reinefarthdirect or functional connection: Commander of a combat group during the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising.
Oskar Dirlewangerdirect or functional connection: Commander of the SS penal unit known as the Dirlewanger Brigade; perpetrated crimes in Belarus and Warsaw.
Bronislav Kaminskidirect or functional connection: Commander of the RONA Brigade used to suppress the Warsaw Uprising.
Paul Otto Geibeldirect or functional connection: SS and police leader in the Warsaw District.
Ludwig Hahndirect or functional connection: Commander of the Sipo and SD in the Kraków District and later the Warsaw District.
Alfred Spilkerdirect or functional connection: Commander of Sonderkommando Spilker in Warsaw.
2–3 August1944 / remembrance dayRemembranceAuschwitz-Birkenau / Europe
Liquidation of the Roma and Sinti family camp at Birkenau
The SS liquidates the Roma and Sinti family camp at Birkenau, murdering approximately 4,300 people; 2 August is the European day of remembrance of their genocide.
The crime committed on the night of 2–3 August is commemorated by the European day of remembrance of the genocide of Roma and Sinti.
The anniversary restores the history of Roma and Sinti to its rightful place in the remembrance of Nazi persecution and genocide.
Bishop von Galen's public protest against the murder programme
Bishop Clemens August von Galen publicly condemns the Nazi programme to murder people with disabilities.
The speech in Münster revealed both the possibility and the limited reach of public opposition in the Third Reich.
The protest is an important point of reference for assessing German society's response to the murder of people with disabilities.
Related profiles (7)
Karl Brandtdirect or functional connection: Hitler's personal physician and co-director of Aktion T4; executed in 1948.
Philipp Bouhlerdirect or functional connection: Head of the Führer's Chancellery of the Nazi Party and co-organiser of Aktion T4.
Viktor Brackdirect or functional connection: Office head in the Führer's Chancellery and organiser of the Aktion T4 “euthanasia” killings.
Paul Nitschedirect or functional connection: Psychiatrist, chief assessor and, from late 1941, head of the medical division of Aktion T4.
Werner Heydedirect or functional connection: Medical director and first senior assessor of Aktion T4; co-organiser of the “euthanasia” murders.
Richard von Hegenerdirect or functional connection: Official in the Führer's Chancellery and deputy head of the Reich Committee, responsible for the administrative organisation of the murder of children and patients.
Adolf Hitlerdirect or functional connection: Dictator of the Third Reich; principal architect of the war of aggression, the Holocaust and other genocides.
9 August1944Ghettos and deportationsŁódź / Auschwitz
Beginning of the final liquidation of the Łódź ghetto
The SS and police begin the final liquidation of the Łódź ghetto.
The liquidation encompassed the last major ghetto still existing in the occupied Polish territories and led towards Auschwitz.
This date closes the principal stage in the history of the Łódź ghetto and its residents.
Related profiles (7)
Hans Biebowdirect or functional connection: German head of the Ghetto Administration (Gettoverwaltung) in Łódź (Litzmannstadt).
Arthur Greiserdirect or functional connection: Gauleiter and Reich governor of the Wartheland; responsible for expulsions of Poles and mass murder at Chełmno.
Adolf Eichmanndirect or functional connection: Head of RSHA Section IV B4 and a principal organiser of the logistics of deporting Jews to be murdered.
Günter Fuchsdirect or functional connection: Head of the Łódź Gestapo's Department II B, responsible for Jewish affairs.
Otto Bradfischdirect or functional connection: Head of the Gestapo office in Łódź and former commander of Einsatzkommando 8.
Wilhelm Koppedirect or functional connection: Higher SS and Police Leader in the Wartheland and the General Government.
Hans Bothmanndirect or functional connection: Second commandant of the Kulmhof extermination camp.
12 August1944Ghettos and deportationsWarsaw / Auschwitz
Deportation to Auschwitz of Poles arrested after the Warsaw Uprising began
Deportations to Auschwitz begin for approximately 13,000 Poles arrested after the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising.
The transports connected repression after the uprising began with the Auschwitz concentration camp system.
The event shows that the fate of civilians arrested in Warsaw was part of the broader apparatus of German terror.
Related profiles (6)
Erich von dem Bach-Zelewskidirect or functional connection: Head of anti-partisan formations in the East; commander of the forces that suppressed the Warsaw Uprising.
Heinz Reinefarthdirect or functional connection: Commander of a combat group during the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising.
Paul Otto Geibeldirect or functional connection: SS and police leader in the Warsaw District.
Ludwig Hahndirect or functional connection: Commander of the Sipo and SD in the Kraków District and later the Warsaw District.
Alfred Spilkerdirect or functional connection: Commander of Sonderkommando Spilker in Warsaw.
Rudolf Hössdirect or functional connection: Commandant of Auschwitz; creator of its industrial machinery of mass murder; executed in 1947.
23 August1939 / remembrance dayRemembranceMoscow / Europe
Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the division into spheres of influence
Germany and the USSR sign the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, including a secret division into spheres of influence; the date is now the European day of remembrance for victims of totalitarian regimes.
The secret arrangements between Germany and the USSR provided the direct context for the later invasion of Poland from two sides.
The anniversary connects the origins of the war with European remembrance of the victims of totalitarian regimes.
24 August1941Camps and the HolocaustGermany and annexed territories
Formal suspension of the T4 programme does not end the killings
Hitler officially suspends the centrally coordinated phase of the T4 programme after protests; the killings continue in decentralised form.
After Hitler's official decision, the centrally coordinated phase of the programme ended, but the killings continued in decentralised form.
This date cautions against confusing a formal order with the actual end of a criminal practice.
Related profiles (7)
Adolf Hitlerdirect or functional connection: Dictator of the Third Reich; principal architect of the war of aggression, the Holocaust and other genocides.
Karl Brandtdirect or functional connection: Hitler's personal physician and co-director of Aktion T4; executed in 1948.
Philipp Bouhlerdirect or functional connection: Head of the Führer's Chancellery of the Nazi Party and co-organiser of Aktion T4.
Viktor Brackdirect or functional connection: Office head in the Führer's Chancellery and organiser of the Aktion T4 “euthanasia” killings.
Paul Nitschedirect or functional connection: Psychiatrist, chief assessor and, from late 1941, head of the medical division of Aktion T4.
Werner Heydedirect or functional connection: Medical director and first senior assessor of Aktion T4; co-organiser of the “euthanasia” murders.
Richard von Hegenerdirect or functional connection: Official in the Führer's Chancellery and deputy head of the Reich Committee, responsible for the administrative organisation of the murder of children and patients.