After Hitler took power, the approximately 525,000 Jews living in Germany were exposed to a series of discriminatory laws that drove them out of all spheres of public and economic life. Legislation barring Jews from particular professions (such as the “Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service” of April 7, 1933) was accompanied by other measures that aimed to impoverish, isolate, and demoralize the Jewish population. From 1934 on, signs proclaiming “Jews not wanted” [“Juden sind nicht erwünscht”] could be seen on the doors of public libraries, swimming pools, theaters, and cinemas, as well as certain restaurants and shops, and park benches like the one shown below bore the inscription “For Aryans Only” [“Nur für Arier”].