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Sighetu Marmației, Romania
Sighetu is the birthplace of the author, Elie Wiesel. In 1928, there are approximately 15,000 Jews in the area. Presently, there are only a handful left. -
Leading up to the War 1933-1938
Adolf Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany. His Nazi Party, or the Third Reich, takes power and as a result, he is essentially the dictator of Germany. -
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
Adolf Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany. His Nazi Party, or the Third Reich, takes power and as a result, he is essentially the dictator of Germany. -
Hitler was elected, Dachau Camp opens
Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Dachau, a death camp, opens. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy form the Rome-Berlin Axis treaty. -
Anti-Comintern Pact
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. This was a pact against communism and Russia. -
Buchenwald camp opens
Buchenwald concentration camp opens. -
Hitler's war plans
Hitler reveals war plans during Hossbach Conference. -
Annexation of Austria into Germany
Hitler annexes the country of Austria into Germany. This is also called the Anschluss. -
Beginning of World War II
Germany invades Poland. World War II begins. -
War declared on Germany
France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. -
Britain and France declare war on Germany
Britain and France declare war on Germany -
Germany captures Norway and Denmark. Auschwitz camp opens.
Germany captures Norway and Denmark. Auschwitz concentration camp opens. -
Germany captures Norway and Denmark. Auschwitz camp opens.
Germany, captures Norway and Denmark, Auschwitz concentration camp opens. -
Germany invades and takes control
April 9, 1940-June 9, 1940 Germany invades and takes control of Denmark and Norway. -
Germany uses tactic Lightning war
May 10-June 22, 1940 Germany uses quick strikes called blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war, to take over much of western Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. -
Leader of British government
Winston Churchill becomes leader of the British government. -
Italy as member of Axis powers
Italy enters the war as a member of the Axis powers. -
Germany against Great Britain
Germany launches an air attack on Great Britain. These attacks last until the end of October and are known as the Battle of Britain. -
Tripartite Pact
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact creating the Axis Alliance. -
Moishe the Beadle
Elie Wiesel meets Moishe the Beadle. "Physically, he was awkward as a clown. His waiflike shyness made people smile. As for me, I liked his wide, dreamy eyes, gazing off into the distance" (Wiesel 3). He was almost thirteen when he met him. "By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple." -
Attack on Russia
Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia with a huge force of over four million troops. -
Pearl Harbor attack
The Japanese attack the US Navy in Pearl Harbor. The next day the US enters World War II on the side of the Allies. -
WVHA decree
A WVHA decree of March 31, 1942 established a minimum working day of eleven hours in all concentration camps. -
Battle of Midway
The US Navy defeats the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. -
Island of Sicily
The Allies invade and take the island of Sicily. -
Italy surrenders
Italy surrenders to the Allies, however Germany helps Mussolini to escape and set up a government in Northern Italy. -
splendid news from Russian front.
Jewish people are hopeful that the war will end -
Jews forced to relocate to ghettos
The Jews including Weisel and his family are forced to relocate to ghettos in their cities. -
Jew forced to travel in cattle cars when being relocated
Jews are forced to travel in cattle cars. They are unaware that they are being relocated to concentration camps they believe they are being moved away from the war and dangers of the war. When they leave hungary they soon realize they cannot trust the Germans and they know you the real enemy is. -
Wiesel family arrives at Birkenall, Poland
Wiesel family arrives at Birkenall, Poland -
D-Day
D-day and the Normandy invasion. Allied forces invade France and push back the Germans. -
Elie and his father were sent to Auschwitz
Elie and his father were sent to Auschwitz -
Liberation of Paris
Paris is liberated from German control. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launch a large attack in the Battle of the Bulge. They lose to the Allies sealing the fate of the German army. -
Russian forces liberated Auschwitz
Russian forces liberated Auschwitz -
Island of lwo Jima
US Marines invade the island of Iwo Jima. After a fierce battle they capture the island. -
American troops free inmates at Dachau and Buchenwald
American troops free inmates at Dachau and Buchenwald -
President dies, another rules
US President Franklin Roosevelt dies. He is succeeded by President Harry Truman. -
General Patton
The US Third Army under General Patton crosses the Rhine River. -
Adolf Hitler commits suicide
Adolf Hitler commits suicide as he knows Germany has lost the war. -
Gernany surrenders
Germany surrenders to the Allies. -
Two atomic bombs dropped on Japan
The United States drops the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The city is devastated. 3 days later, another atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. -
Japan surrenders
Japan surrenders to US General Douglass MacArthur and the Allies. -
The United Nations is born
The United Nations is born. -
War trials
Nuremberg war crimes trials begin.