The Crimes of Grindelwald

• Type: Global Wizarding War, Reign of Terror
• Primary Perpetrator: Gellert Grindelwald
• Time Period: c. 1899 – 1945
• Key Ideology: Wizarding supremacy over Muggles; “For the Greater Good”

The “Crimes of Grindelwald” refers to the decades-long reign of terror orchestrated by the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald across continental Europe, which culminated in his defeat in 1945. The ideological roots of his campaign began in the summer of 1899 in Godric's Hollow, where a young Grindelwald formed a close bond with Albus Dumbledore. Together, they developed a revolutionary plan to end the International Statute of Secrecy and establish a global wizarding order to rule over Muggles for what they termed “the Greater Good.” This alliance shattered following a three-way duel between Albus, his brother Aberforth Dumbledore, and Grindelwald, which tragically resulted in the death of their sister, Ariana Dumbledore. Following this incident, Grindelwald fled and began to amass power. A key step in his ascent was stealing the Elder Wand from the famed European wandmaker, Mykew Gregorovitch. With this incredibly powerful wand in his possession, Grindelwald began his campaign of conquest. He established a fearsome reputation, and his personal symbol—the mark of the Deathly Hallows—became synonymous with him and the Dark Arts. Viktor Krum noted that Grindelwald carved the symbol into a wall at the Durmstrang Institute and that his crimes included the murder of many witches and wizards, including Krum's own grandfather. Grindelwald built a fortress, Nurmengard, to imprison his enemies. The slogan from his youth, “For the Greater Good,” was chillingly carved over its entrance. While his power grew to dominate much of Europe, he notably never attempted to seize control of Britain, a decision later attributed to a lingering fear of or affection for Albus Dumbledore. The conflict reached its zenith in 1945 when Dumbledore, who had for years resisted confronting his former friend, finally engaged Grindelwald in a legendary duel. Dumbledore emerged victorious, ending Grindelwald's reign. Grindelwald was subsequently imprisoned in the highest cell of his own prison, Nurmengard, where he remained for over fifty years until he was sought out by Lord Voldemort in 1998. In a final act of what Dumbledore believed was remorse, Grindelwald lied to Voldemort about the Elder Wand's whereabouts and was killed for his defiance.

While the main events of Grindelwald's terror campaign occur long before Harry Potter's birth, his history is a cornerstone of the plot in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

• Backstory of the Deathly Hallows: Grindelwald's quest for power was intertwined with the Hallows. His theft and mastery of the Elder Wand are central to its history and Lord Voldemort's pursuit of it.
• Characterization of Albus Dumbledore: The revelation of Dumbledore's youthful relationship with Grindelwald is a critical part of his character arc. It exposes his past ambitions, his greatest regrets, and the immense personal burden he carried, providing a more complex and humanized portrait of the seemingly infallible headmaster.
• Historical Precedent: Grindelwald's reign serves as a historical parallel to Lord Voldemort's, demonstrating that the wizarding world has faced catastrophic threats from Dark Wizards before. This context helps frame the stakes of Harry Potter's own conflict.
• Harry Potter's Journey: Learning about Dumbledore's past forces Harry to confront the fallibility of his mentor, a crucial step in his maturation and his ability to lead the fight against Voldemort on his own terms.

• The phrase “The Crimes of Grindelwald” is the official subtitle of the second film in the Fantastic Beasts prequel series, The Crimes of Grindelwald (film), which depicts events during Grindelwald's rise to power in the 1920s.
• J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews that the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald was romantic on Dumbledore's side, which adds a layer of tragic complexity to his reluctance to move against Grindelwald for so many years (J.K. Rowling interview).
• The timeline of Grindelwald's rise and his ultimate defeat in 1945 is a direct parallel to the events of World War II in the Muggle world, a connection often noted by fans.