The Final Solution

Zyklon B

Sep 3, 1941

Zyklon B is tested on prisoners. This was a vital step in the advancment of gassing. It made it easier and faster for the Germans. This experiment of Zyklon B occured in Auschwitz.

Majdanek

Oct 1, 1941

Majdanek begins construction, and in the entire time the camp is used it is under construction. The camp was built by Soviet war prisoners. A year later the camp would begin the use of Zyklon B. Tens of thousands were killed here.

First gassings

Dec 8, 1941

At Chelmo, one of the first mass killings using gas takes place. It is active until March 1943, and then briefly in June and July of 1944.

The Wannasse Conference

Jan 20, 1942

Held by Reinhard Heydrich in order to find a solution to the Jewish Question. This informed political leaders how the Germans were going to proceed and their plan of action. Beginning of Final Solution.

The Final Solution

Period: Jan 20, 1942 to May 7, 1945

The organized mass killings of millions of Jews and other hated groups of people of the German.

Auschwitz

Mar 1, 1942

This is when Auschwitz II or Auschwitz-Birkenau began to be used. This location was originally planned to hold war prisoners, but was used mainly as a concentration camp, and killing center from here until November 1944.

Belzec camp

Mar 17, 1942

Extermination begins at Belzec.

Treblinka

Jul 22, 1942

Treblinka camp is established.

Chelmno closed

Apr 7, 1943

Operations at Chelmno are stopped and the camp is abandoned. They leave no evidence of the awful crimes committed there.

Number dead

Jun 1, 1943

At this time the Germans have killed 1,340,000 million Jews and an unkonwn amount of Gypsies, etc.

Majdanek liberated

Jul 24, 1944

Majdanek is liberated. The Germans had already evacuated the prisoners farther west (closer to Germany). The camp was not completly destroyed, and journalists were invited to see the remains of the camp, and write about the horrors that occured here.

Beginning of an end to Auschwitz

Oct 7, 1944

Sonderkommandos put all corpses in crematorium, and then blow up crematorium IV. Many of the guards (sonderkommandos) are killed to hide the terrible crimes of the German.

End of Auschwitz-Birkenau

Nov 25, 1944

At Auschwitz-Birkenau the gas chamers and crematoriums are destroyed.

Evacuation of Auschwitz

Jan 27, 1945

As the allies approach Auschwitz, the remaining prisoners are forced to walk towards the interior of the German Reich. These walks are better known as "death marches".

Liberation of Auschwitz

Jan 27, 1945

Auschwitz is liberated by U.S. forces. Left behind are 7,000 prisoners.

Mauthausen

Apr 21, 1945

On April 21-25 SS functionaries kill 1,441 sick prisoners in the gas chambers at Mauthausen.

German Surrender

May 7, 1945

This day repersents the surrender of the Germans, and a victory in Europe for the Allies.