The systematic persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany began on the
April 1, 1933, with a national boycott of Jewish-owned shops,
doctor's offices and law firms. The boycott was ordered and
organized by the leadership of the NSDAP (National Socialist
German Workers' Party). In the course of the boycott many Jewish
shops were damaged and looted, and their owners were physically
attacked. This historical event, which is now often referred to
as the "April Boycott," was followed by many far more drastic
measures and laws in the period leading up to 1945. Their
purpose was to systematically destroy the foundation of Jewish
life in Nazi Germany. They culminated in the expulsion and
murder of around six million Jews from across Europe. An archive
is a place where records are stored. In most cases these records
consist of written documents, but there are also archives for
film, sounds, images and objects. Although some archives today
contain personal items such as diaries, letters and photo
albums, the first archives we