22 June 1941
The German Wehrmacht invades the Soviet Union. The campaign deliberately targets the civilian population. Immediately following the military operations, “Einsatzgruppen” of the German police, supported by the Wehrmacht, murder more than half a million Jewish people, as well as Sinti and RomaDuring National Socialism, Sinti and Roma were racially persecuted as “gypsies”., prisoners of war, and communist party officials.
8 July 1941
A decree of the Reichsfinanzministeriums (Reich Ministry of Finance) allows the household goods of Jewish refugees to be auctioned even without completed denaturalisation.
19 September 1941
Jewish people in the German Reich aged six and above must wear the “Judenstern” (yellow star) in public.
October 1941
Mass deportations of Jewish people from Germany begin. The first deportationForced removal of people by state authorities from their place of residence or origin to another state territory or to remote regions where they are detained. More train leaves Berlin on 18 October. Shortly afterwards, all Jewish people in Germany are forbidden to emigrate.
October 1941
The household furnishings left behind by those deported on the first transport are publicly auctioned inside the apartments by court bailiffs. Afterwards, retailers take over the sale of the remaining items.
4 November 194
The Reichsfinanzministerium assigns the local Oberfinanzpräsident(Senior Finance President) Until 1937, Landesfinanzämter (regional finance offices). OFPs were the highest regional authorities responsible for the Reich’s financial administration. From the end of 1941, they were tasked with planning and carrying out the theft of property from deported Jews. More (Senior Finance President(Senior Finance President) Until 1937, Landesfinanzämter (regional finance offices). OFPs were the highest regional authorities responsible for the Reich’s financial administration. From the end of 1941, they were tasked with planning and carrying out the theft of property from deported Jews. More) responsibility for organising and carrying out the plundering of the assets left behind by deported Jewish people.
Learn more about the Oberfinanzpräsidenten here
25 November 1941
With the Elfte Verordnung zum Reichsbürgergesetz (Eleventh Ordinance to the Reich Citizenship Law), all Jewish people abroad are stripped of their German citizenship. Their property becomes the immediate property of the Reich. This applies both to refugees and to deported individuals.
Learn more about the laws here
Circular from the Reich Association of Jews in Germany regarding the circular “Restrictions on the Disposal of Jewish Movable Property” dated 27 November 1941. Berlin State Archives, A Rep. 093-03 No. 54682, fol. 268
27 November 1941
Jewish people are forbidden to give away or sell their movable property without official permission.