Stage 3: Discrimination

When Hitler gained control of Germany, he wanted to make sure that only people he considered racially pure had the privileges and benefits of citizenship. Nazi lawyers studied the United States Jim Crow laws to enforce racial segregation. These Nazis thought Jim Crow laws didn't go far enough, and created laws that were even harsher and separated Jews more from German society.

1933–1934

Early on, the Nazi government passed laws to limit how much Jews could participate in German society, isolating them from others. Some of the effects of those laws are summarized below:

Banned all non-Aryan people from holding any civil service jobs, such as being secretaries in government offices. 

Limited the number of Jewish students at German public schools and universities

Made it almost impossible for Jews to become doctors

Made it almost impossible for Jews to become  lawyers

Banned Jews from the German army

Banned Jewish actors from performing in plays, movies, or TV shows

1935

At their annual party rally held in Nuremberg in September 1935, the Nazi leaders announced the "Nuremberg Laws." This made Nazi racism the law of the land. 

Jewish people were no longer considered German citizens

Jewish people could not marry or date any non-Jewish German person

Jewish people could no longer vote

Jewish people could no longer run for political office

Jewish patients were not allowed in public hospitals

Jewish soldiers who fought for Germany in WWI were no longer to be named among the dead in World War I memorials.

Jewish business owners had their businesses taken over by the Nazi government and sold cheaply to non-Jewish Germans to run. From April 1933 to April 1938, "Aryanization" effectively reduced the number of Jewish-owned businesses in Germany by approximately two-thirds.

Jewish workers gradually were fired and replaced by “Aryan” workers

1937–1938

Nazi laws during this time set out to make Jews poor and remove them from the German economy. All Jews were required by law to register their property, which was then often stolen by the Nazi government.

Completely banned Jews from public schools and universities

Completely banned Jews from cinemas, theaters, and sports facilities. 

In many cities, Jews were forbidden to enter designated "Aryan" zones. 

Jewish doctors were banned from treating "Aryan" patients

Jewish men and women bearing first names of "non-Jewish" origin had to add "Israel" and "Sara," respectively, to their given names. 

All Jews were obliged to carry identity cards that indicated their Jewish heritage

All Jewish passports were stamped with an identifying letter "J".