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In September 1939 the Yanek's world had changed when he heard the worst. From the book Prisoner B-3087, Alan Gratz wrote, "At first I thought the radio's vacuum tube had blown out, but then a man's voice came on the radio. 'Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt this broadcast with news that the German army has reached Krakow.' " (5) Yanek, and all of Krakow have just received heartbreaking information that Germany had arrived in his home city of Krakow. This matters because it is the new Yanek gets that will change his life, for the worst. This news marks the beginning of the difficulties and heartbreak Yanek would face for the years to come.

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On November 4th, 1939, during World War 2 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act, into law. The Office of the Historian says, "This Act lifted the arms embargo and put all trade with belligerent nations under the terms of 'cash-and-carry.' The ban on loans remained in effect, and American ships were barred from transporting goods to belligerent ports." This meant that all products, were not to be given to countries in war. This matters because it meant that they were not allowed to give merchandise/help to the British or the French, which hurt them against the fight with Nazi Germany. This Act, intended to have a positive outcome, although it had the opposite as it hurt the British and French in its fight against Nazi Germany.

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In 1939 the Germans destroyed something so holy to the Jew of Krakow. Yanek hears something and awakes during the night, “Late that night, long after curfew, cries of ‘Fire!’ woke us. I ran from my bedroom, frightened. ‘What is it?’ I cried when I saw my parents in the living room. ‘Is our building on fire? What do we do?’ ‘No father said. ‘It’s the synagogue.’ The synagogue was the place where we worshiped every Sabbath and where I was studying for my bar mitzvah. I leaned out the window and saw it down the street, engulfed in flames.” (12-13) This means that the Germans invading Krakow burned one of the most important places of Jewish culture to the ground, and they didn’t even care. This matters because it shows the depth of the hatred that the Germans felt towards the Jewish, so much that they would destroy something of such value to them.

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In France 1939, the guillotine was used for the last time, in public. Historic Newspapers explains, "Some of the major things that happened in 1939: Eugen Weidmann was the last person executed publicly by the guillotine in France." For the last time in history, the machine used famously to behead thousands of people in France and other parts of Europe was last used publicly to execute a man named Eugen Weidmann. This matters because it marks the start of France pushing out old practices and introducing more humane ways of dealing with criminals. This would be the start of a new France and its transition into modern times.

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During January 1941, the Germans ruled Krakow and they were segregating all of the Jews. The ghettos have been born, "I ran from gate to gate, taking it all in, Podgorze was now the Jewish ghetto. All the Poles there who weren't Jews had to move out and all the Jews that lived outside the ghetto in Krakow had to move in." (15) This meant that all the Jew were to be moved from their hopes, and were forced to be separated from non-Jews. This matters because it sets up the stage for the discrimination the Nazi's had against the Jews. What Yanek sees really opens up his eyes to the life he is about to endure while living under the Nazi's.

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In December, 1941 the United States of America declared war on Japan, after Japan had attacked them. The National WWII Museum states, "December 7, 1941, Japan staged a surprise attack on American military installations in the Pacific. The most devastating strike came at Pearl Harbor, the Hawaiian naval base where much of the US Pacific Fleet was moored." This meant that Japan had forcefully pulled the US into WW2 by attacking Pearl Harbor. This matters because after the attack it left many victims, and after the US entered it would later leave 416,800 American service member dead, in the war. Ultimately Japan's decision to attack Hawaii led to death and took away the US's decision to be involved in WW2 all together.

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1942: In 1942 Yanek found a place to hide from the Nazis with his family where they could no longer find them. The Grueners find a sanctuary, “‘There,’ I told my mother. ‘No one will be able to break in ever again.’ The pigeon coop became our, and no Nazi was the wiser.” (36-37) After the Nazi’s broke in their home and stole all their valuables the family wanted to make sure this never happened again so they lived on the roof, in a pigeon coop, to be safe. The discovery of this pigeon coop lets their family have a safe place, one that does not get barged into, and for a while saves them from the Nazi’s. Yanek finally sees hope, that he will make it through this nightmare.

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1942 marks a devastating day in Singapore, when the Japanese are victorious in capturing Singapore. The British Broadcasting Corporation elaborates, "Singapore falls to the Japanese in February - around 25,000 prisoners taken." During this fateful year, Singapore had officially collapsed and was handed over to the Japanese, the Japanese at that time had gotten a hold of 25,000 hostages. This led to the Japanese ruling over for 3 years. This catastrophic event was the last thing the Japanese needed to kick start their further plans of making sure they got the southern resources area.

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In 1942 Yanek would have his 13th birthday and under Jewish religion finally become a man. Alan Gratz depicts a joyous celebration, of a boy becoming a man, “‘Yanek, my son,’ he said, looking back at me solemnly, ‘you are a man now, with all the duties of an adult under Jewish law. You are now responsible for your own sins, but also for your own goodness. Remember what the Talmud teaches: life is but a river. It has no beginning, no middle, no end. All we are, all we are worth, is what we do while we float upon it - how we treat our fellow man. Remember this, and a good man you will be.’ ‘I will, Father,’ I said. I had waited for this day, and looked forward to it for years, suddenly it didn't matter that we weren't in a synagogue, that we didn't have a feast waiting for us afterwards. The smile on my father's face filled me with pride.’” (46-47) Although all the chaos happening with the Nazi’s and the violence, Yanek had finally gotten his bat mitzvah. This day held significance because it was the day he became a man, and from now on he would be recognized as a man, no longer a boy.

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In India on August 8th, 1942, the Indians called for a major change in their country. The Open University describes, "On 8 August 1942 at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi launched the 'Quit India' movement." In India the "Quit India" movement was started, the movement was a cry to the British to withdraw from their country. They would be no longer under British rule. This was a significant historical event because it showed the world that India could not be ruled without the Indians having a say. This encouraged independence in their country and helped the British realize the need for decolonization.

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Yanek was totally alone in the world, no one to protect him, and no one to love. Yanek becomes an orphan, “I was 13 years old, and my parents were gone. I was all alone in the world, but I would survive on my own.” (59) At the age of 13 Yanek’s parents were taken by the Nazi’s and he was utterly devastated, but he knew he had to keep living, and nothing would get in his way. This shows maturity, because although everything in his life was falling apart he chose to live, even with his parents gone, he wouldn’t let that stop him. At the beginning of this nightmare he was a boy, but he was now a man.

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1942 is the year when the US had an important victory. HISTORY explains the battle, "In 1942, the U.S. Navy defeated the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway, a turning point of the war in the Pacific." At the Battle of Midway fought in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the US Navy won against the Japanese Navy. This was a tremendous victory to the US because it showed the world the weakness of the Japanese. As well worked as a spirit booster for the Allies during WWII.

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In the Summer of 1942, Yanek was taken from the ghetto to work in a labor camp. Yanek starts his imprisonment, “The Nazis snatched me up one day when I was at work. I was still working at the tailor shop in Krakow, hoping that would save me from the deportations, but my work there ended up being the reason I was taken. The tailor shop, at Plaszow, a nearby labor camp, needed more workers, we were told. So we were taken.” (62) Just like everyone in his family, Yanek was taken and put in a labor camp. This matters because although everything Yanek did, in the end, he still got captured, and put in a camp. This is the start of Yanek’s new life, the first camp he goes to, followed by many more.

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During the 1942 plans for an ultimate weapon began, that would change the course of history. National Park Service explains, "Officially lasting from June 18, 1942 to August 25, 1947, the Manhattan Project employed over 130,000 people throughout the United States. The top-secret project to develop the atomic bomb." During WWII all the while the Holocaust was happening, the US made a plan to build an atomic bomb, and this plan was called the Manhattan Project. The bomb in question caused a big turning point in the war latter on. This bomb was kept a secret from Germany and Japan, in order to gain the advantage of when they did deploy it.

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In 1943 Yanek found that he was totally and utterly alone in the world, left all over again. Yanek is abandoned, “One evening when we returned to camp from cleaning the ghetto, I asked a boy in my barracks who worked inside Plaszow what the score was that day. He looked away and wouldn't answer me. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked him, but still, he said nothing. I spun him around. ‘Hey! Thomas, why won’t you tell me? What’s the score?’ ‘Just one,’ Thomas said, looking at his feet. ‘Who is it? Someone we know?’ ‘It was your uncle,’ he said at last.” (84) After finally someone in the camp, his uncle Moshe, he lost him. Just for saying the wrong thing he lost the only family he had left to Goeth. This matters because it shows that to the Nazis the Jewish were worthless, they didn’t matter, and they couldn’t care less if they died. This also meant that Yanek had no one else; he was completely alone in the world for good.

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During the year of 1943 the synthetic rubber was being produced on a massive scale. The Atlantic states, "Big factories are rapidly coming into production, and already the first of the five million “GR-S” tires to be produced in 1943, concocted by chemists from petroleum and farm alcohol, have been released to essential civilian drivers." Synthetic rubber was an essential resource to drivers in WWII, and in order to meet the needs large amounts of this product were being made and distributed. Due to WWII, natural rubber was not being brought in by the Far East, and were discontinued. The world still needed rubber so they turned to synthetic rubber from South America. This rubber was used to make all the tires for transportation, in WWII.

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In 1943 Yanek had been sent to another camp, the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Yanek starts a new camp, “One morning at roll call, I was one of fifty prisoners pulled out of the ranks and loaded onto a truck. The Nazis didn't tell us where we were going.” (96) Another year, another camp, this was the second concentration camp that Yanek would be sent to, and it wouldn’t be the last. This matters because it shows Yanek’s hope shrinking each time he goes to another camp. His hope is depleting and no good can come when it is gone.

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1943, was a major year for the US when the construction of a huge government building was done. According to Infoplease, "The Pentagon is completed and becomes the largest office building in the world." In 1943 the Pentagon was fully constructed, used as the headquarters of the US Navy, Army, and Air Force. The Pentagon is now the center of the country's armed forces, and one of the most important government facilities, and is the most secure government building in the USA. Everyday, the Pentagon serves as a reminder and symbol of American military strength.

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In 1944, Yanek was sent to the Trzebinia Concentration Camp, where he learned why the prisoners didn't revolt against the Germans. Yanek learns a valuable lesson, “I shook with helplessness and rage, but also with fear. This is what fighting back earned you. More abuse. More death. Half a dozen Jews would be murdered today because one man refused to die without a fight. To fight back was to die quickly and to take others with you.” (111) When someone tried to stand up to the Nazi’s they got punished, along with many others, just because one man did not take a beating. Although he had just wanted to stop the beating, he faced the consequence, and he dragged others with him to face those consequences, as well because of his actions. This matters because it shows that no matter what the prisoners did, the Germans would always win. The prisoners were too scared, and the Germans too powerful, they were no match against them.

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In the year 1944, a US president made history as the only president to be elected four times. The New York Historical society recalls past events, "On November 7, 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term as president." FDR was named 32nd president, serving four terms as president, which made history, as he was the only one to do this. Due to this event, the US Constitution's 22nd amendment was ratified. This made sure that no president could serve more than no terms, limiting their power.

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In 1944 Yanek was sent to the Birkenau Concentration Camp where he became branded by the Nazi’s becoming a number rather than a person. We learn the meaning of the title of Prisoner B-3087, “B-3087. That's what the Nazis carved into my skin. B for Birkenau, 3087 for my prisoner number. That was the mark they put on me, and a mark I would have for as long as I lived. B-3087. That was who I was to them.” (131) At the Birkenau Concentration Camp Yanek was tattooed with his prisoner number B-3087, this is what he would always be to the Nazis, not Yanek but B-3087, reduced to a number. This matters because it shows how Yanek was slowly losing parts of himself, starting with his name. Along with his name, he was also losing hope, hope that he would be free.

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In 1944 the game changing discovery was made by Otto Hahn. According to the Nobel Prize, "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1944 was awarded to Otto Hahn for his discovery of the fission of heavy nuclei." Otto Hahn received the Nobel Prize for discovering the fission of heavy nuclei, which revolutionized nuclear physics. This discovery would later help in the war, as it helped create the ultimate weapon, the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb would later be used as an essential piece to stopping the war.

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In 1945 Yanek was sent to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp where he made a friend, only to lose him. Alan Gratz shares about Yanek's time in Aushwitz, “‘This man cannot do work,’ a Nazi told us. No, I thought. No, he can. He's a good worker. He's just sick. ‘Work makes you free,’ the Nazi told us. ‘But if you cannot work-’ The Nazis nodded to the kapos, and one of them kicked the chair out from under Fred. He lifted his head for just a moment, long enough for me to see his horrified face, and then I couldn't watch anymore.” (162-163) Yanek had finally made a friend in the camp, something he didn’t have for a long time, but as everyone else in his life he died. This matters because it shows that no matter how much Yanek survives, death is always waiting. As long as he is a prisoner he will never escape it.

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In 1945, they administered a shot to the world set to help protect them from the flu. As the World Health Organization put it, "With support from the US Army, the first inactivated flu vaccine was developed by Thomas Francis and Jonas Salk at the University of Michigan. The vaccine was tested for safety and efficacy on the US military, before being licensed for wider use in 1945." After a flu outbreak, 2 men created the first immunization shot to the flu, in order to prevent another epidemic. Based on a previous encounter with the flu, the people wanted to make sure their was no repeat of a major pandemic, like that of the Spanish Influenza. In order to do this they created a vaccine, that we still use to prevent sickness caused by the flu.

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In 1945 Yanek survived the death march and arrived at the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Hope is fading, “Three days later, I staggered through the gates of Sachsenhausen. I barely knew where I was, or who I was. All I remember of the last 3 days was an enormous radio tower in the distance, growing larger and larger as we marched. ‘That’s Berlin,’ someone had said. ‘That tower is in Berlin.’ The tower was in Berlin, but we weren’t; we were in Sachsenhausen, and I was so tired and hungry that I didn’t care if I lived or died. Death seemed like such a welcome release.” (188) Yanek was sent to yet another concentration camp, after surviving the death match, and at this point death looked better than the life he was living. This matters because as much as Yanek wanted to live, after everything he survived up to this point, it didn’t matter because he was losing hope and without hope he didn’t care about death, or life.

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In the year 1945, a devastating death occurred. The White House declares, "As the war drew to a close, Roosevelt’s health deteriorated, and on April 12, 1945, while at Warm Springs, Georgia, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage." Franklin D. Roosevelt died due to a type of stroke called cerebral hemorrhage which caused bleeding in the brain. After his death, on the same day vice president Harry Truman was sworn in to office. Harry Truman, then made the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan, which led to a change in the outcome of the war.

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In 1945 Yanek was sent to the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, where he was bullied by a kapo. Yanek experiences unjust treatment, “One day I was hard at work hauling boards for the walls of a barrack when one of our new kapos called me over. I studied him as I approached. He had a big, round face that was covered with acne pits and scars. without a word, he punched me in the face.” (199) Yanek was sent to Bergen-Belsen, a Concentration Camp, this is where he met Moonface, who made his life terrible, for just existing. This shows what the Nazi’s thought about the Jews. To the Nazis the Jews weren’t people, they were nothing but a disgrace, no one cared what happened to them. They got beat for nothing, and no one said anything.

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In 1945 the US used the ultimate weapon on Japan. Imperial War Museum explains, "At 8.15 on the morning of 6th August 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was devastated by the first atomic bomb to be used as a weapon of war. The bomb, nicknamed `Little Boy', was dropped from the USAAF B29 bomber `Enola Gay' and exploded some 1,800 feet above the city." The US launched the atomic bomb on Japan in order to force them into surrender. This plan worked, after the bomb fell on Japan the Japanese chose to surrender, as the war was coming to an end. Although the atomic bomb was a huge accomplishment that led to the surrender of Japan, it also led to the start of nuclear war fair.

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In 1945 Yanek was sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp with a zoo, where animals lived better than them. Yanek discovers a zoo, “The bears in the zoo were fed better than the prisoners. At roll call, we'd watch as big bloody steaks were fed to the bears. I was so hungry I would have fought one of the bears for the meat and eaten it raw - steak and bear.” (206) After being sent to another camp, he saw that this one was different, they had a zoo with animals that had better lives than the one Yanek was living. The Nazis fed the prisoner next to nothing, they were starved so much that they were capable of eating raw meat, to ease their hunger. The Nazis had no care for the prisoners, no matter if they were human.

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In the year 1945, one of the most important international organizations was founded. The United Nations, states, "Four months after the San Francisco Conference ended, the United Nations officially began, on 24 October 1945, when it came into existence after its Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories." After WWII the United Nations were formed in an attempt to prolong peace throughout the world, after the devastating tragedies of WWII. For many years this solution has worked to ensure there would be no repeat of WWII. This organization is currently working, it has prevented conflict between others, maintaining security and tranquility for the entire world.

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In 1945, Yanek was sent to the Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp where he received unjust treatment in the form of a cruel punishment. Yanek is punished, “‘Where is your button?’ he asked me. I blinked. I had no idea what he was talking about. Dully, I look down at the ragged, dirty shirt I wore. The top button was missing. I hadn't even noticed. ‘I don’t know,’ I said. My voice surprised me. It was nothing more than a croak. I hadn't spoken a word to anyone for days. I liked my lips and tried again. ‘I must have lost it.’ ‘You know what the penalty is for losing a button, don't you?‘ The kapo said ‘Twenty lashes.’” (215) Yanek was brutally punished because of something so insignificant as losing a button. The Nazis took every little chance they got into punishing the Jews. No matter how tiny the slip up the Nazis found a way to hurt them.

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In 1945 the person who caused the Holocaust, makes an important decision that will change lives. Britannica shares, "Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945, in his underground bunker." Hitler dies on this day, via suicide, a gun shot to the head. His death was what ultimately caused the Nazi's to surrender. Hitler was being hunted and decided to take his life rather than own up to his choices. His death led the Nazi's without a leader, and without a leader, the Nazis were unable to execute their plans, leading to the end of the Holocaust.

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Shortly after arriving at the Dachau Concentration Camp the prisoners along with Yanek were finally freed. Yanek's time in the concentration camps comes to an end, “An American Soldier hurry to help me up, and ask me something in English I didn't understand. He tried again in German. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked me. ‘Yanek,’ I told him ‘My name is Yanek.’ ‘Everything’s going to be all right now, Yanek,’ he told me, and for the first time in six years, I believed he was right.” (245) At last after so much death, destruction, and suffering Yanek was finally free of the Nazis. He was hopeful now that he was going to have a better life, one where he could finally be in control of. He was no longer a prisoner, he was a survivor. He finally had hope for what the future could bring.

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1945 marks one of the most important years in world history as a war ends. The Library of Congress says, "The Second World War came to an end. The war cost the lives of more than 330,000 American soldiers. Many more were permanently injured or maimed." After the nonstop violence for 6 years, one of the greatest wars in history, WWII, ends, as the Allies win the war. The succession of the war, led to the liberation of thousands of labor workers, in many camps. Although the was ending, it left millions of civilians and military lives dead, and caused major destruction all over the world.

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In 1948 Yanek went to America to start a new life, and be free from his past. Yanek is free from his past, “It had almost been a decade since the Nazis had rolled into Krakow. And almost that long since I’d last seen my mother and father, my uncles and aunts, and other cousins. But they were gone now. I would always yearn for them and remember them, but there was nothing left for me in Europe but ghosts. I had said goodbye to all of them long, long ago. I stepped on board the train and didn't look back. For 9 years I had done everything I could to survive. Now it was time to live.” (256) Yanek was moving to America, he was done letting his past dictate his life. He was going to live his life the way he wanted, and nothing was going to get in his way. After everything he went through Yanek was finally getting the life he deserved.

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In an unexpected turn of events, the symbol of peace in India had been murdered. The Guardian explains, "Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by a young Hindu extremist while walking to his prayer meeting in the lawn of Birla House, New Delhi, yesterday." Only a year after Gandhi freed India of British colonial rule he was murdered on the way to a prayer meeting. The news of his death grew, spreading to all of India. This caused people to become unsure and worried, because the man they thought of as their strongest authority of peace, was murdered and now gone forever. This caused unruly behavior, as people turned to violence, the very thing Gandhi was against.