May 21, 1942
First Roundup Begins in the Chełm Ghetto
On this day, May 21, 1942, the eve of Shavuot, the first roundup of Jews in the Chełm ghetto began. The Aktion lasted through May 23.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
Monday, October 5, 2026
Explore Jewish history.
Search published stories by person, place, topic, or verified Gregorian date.
Public archive
66 stories
Sorted by historical date, newest first
March 17, 1942
Deportations from Lublin to Bełżec Begin
On this day, March 17, 1942, German authorities began mass deportations from the Lublin ghetto to the Bełżec killing center.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
February 12, 1942
Avraham Stern Is Killed
On this day, February 12, 1942, British police shot Avraham Stern, founder of Lehi, in a Tel Aviv apartment. The circumstances of the shooting remain disputed.
Zionism · Israel · Holocaust · World War II
Europe
January 20, 1942
Wannsee Conference
On this day, January 20, 1942, Reinhard Heydrich chaired a meeting at a villa on the Wannsee in Berlin to coordinate the already-decided mass murder of European Jews.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
December 27, 1941–January 7, 1942
The Kharkiv Ghetto Is Liquidated
From 27 December 1941 to 7 January 1942, the Kharkiv ghetto was emptied and its people were killed at Drobytsky Yar.
Holocaust · Ghettos · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
December 11, 1941
Hitler Declares War on the United States
On this day, December 11, 1941, Germany declared war on the United States, four days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
December 8, 1941
Killing Operations Begin at Chełmno
On this day, December 8, 1941, the SS and police murdered the first transport of Jews at Chełmno in gas vans.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
December 8, 1941–December 9, 1941
German and Latvian Forces Murder Jews at Rumbula
On 8–9 December 1941, German SS and police and Latvian auxiliaries carried out the second mass shooting of Riga Jews at Rumbula.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
October 22, 1941–October 26, 1941
A Bombing in Odessa Becomes the Pretext for a Massacre
From 22 to 26 October 1941, after a bomb destroyed Romanian headquarters in Odessa, Romanian forces killed at least 25,000 to 30,000 Jews.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
October 1941
Himmler Assigns Globocnik the Murder of the General Government’s Jews
In October 1941, Heinrich Himmler assigned Odilo Globocnik to murder the Jews of the General Government, the program later called Operation Reinhard.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe
September 29, 1941–September 30, 1941
Massacre at Babi Yar
On 29–30 September 1941, German SS and police units murdered 33,771 Jews at the Babi Yar ravine outside Kyiv.
Holocaust · Antisemitism · World War II
Europe
September 6, 1941
Nazis Establish the Vilna Ghetto
On this day, September 6, 1941, German authorities forced Vilna’s remaining Jews into two ghettos in the old Jewish quarter.
Holocaust · World War II · Antisemitism
Europe