auschwitz

1939

Feb 19, 1939

Nazi Germany annexed in 1939 after invading and conquering Poland.

camp construction

May 16, 1940

Construction began in May 1940 in an abandoned Polish army artillery barracks, located in a suburb of the city.

SS authorities

May 19, 1940

The SS authorities established three main camps near the Polish city of Oswiecim: Auschwitz I in May 1940;

Gas

Jun 20, 1941

During the summer and autumn of 1941, Zyklon B gas was introduced into the German concentration camp system as a means for murder.

construction of auschwitz II

Oct 20, 1941

Construction of Auschwitz II, or Auschwitz-Birkenau, began in the vicinity of Brzezinka in October 1941.

"provisional" gas chamber

Jan 20, 1942

“Provisional” gas chamber I went into operation in January 1942 and was later dismantled.

inspectorate of concentration camps

Mar 1, 1942

the Inspectorate of Concentration Camps was an agency of the SS Main Office

Transports

Apr 20, 1942

trains arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau frequently with transports of Jews from virtually every country in Europe occupied by or allied to Germany.

independent concentration camps

Nov 1, 1943

the SS decreed that Auschwitz-Birkenau and Auschwitz-Monowitz would become independent concentration camps

deportation

Jul 20, 1944

Between late April and early July 1944, approximately 440,000 Hungarian Jews were deported, around 426,000 of them to Auschwitz

Prisoners

Oct 7, 1944

several hundred prisoners assigned to Crematorium IV at Auschwitz-Birkenau rebelled after learning that they were going to be killed

Auschwitz II

Nov 1, 1944

Auschwitz II was reunified with Auschwitz I