The phrase "history of the census in Nazi Germany serves as a chilling reminder" means that looking back at how the census was conducted during the time of Nazi Germany can be disturbing and alarming. It suggests that the census process in Nazi Germany was used to support and enforce the discriminatory policies and ideologies of the Nazi regime. The phrase implies that studying this history is a stark reminder of the dangers of using census data for oppressive purposes or for the targeting of specific groups based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics.
