Timeline by

1.) In September 1939,

ynv7cdcyvw — 2024-11-13 12:10:09 UTC

Yanek and his family listen to a radio broadcast announcing that the German army has reached Krakow while Polish forces pull back to Lodz and Warsaw. The text reads, "Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt this broadcast with the news that the German army has reached Krakow" (pg. 5). Yanek's family reacts with sadness, showing how crucial radios were for staying informed about critical events.

2.) In September 1939,

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Germany invaded Poland. The author writes, "Germany launched the unprovoked attack at dawn on September 1, 1939." Nazi propaganda falsely accused Poland of mistreating ethnic Germans and claimed that Poland, along with its allies Great Britain and France, was plotting to isolate and divide Germany, marking the start of the war.

3.) In January 1941,

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the Nazis began walling off Podgórze, Yanek's neighborhood, creating a Jewish ghetto. The text states, "I went out to see it. It was nearly three meters tall and made of brick" (pg. 14). This meant residents inside could not leave, effectively isolating them, while also serving as a defensive measure for the Nazis against potential attacks.

4.) On June 22, 1941,

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Hitler initiated Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which would become a decisive event in World War II. The text notes, "Hitler regarded the Soviet Union as his natural enemy," reflecting his aim to destroy its military, seize its resources, and enslave its people. Despite the Soviet army's lack of training and poor leadership, Hitler was ultimately defeated.

5.) Early 1942

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In early 1942, Germany was at its peak of power and also killed many Jews. The text states, "The SS had established special killing centers with large gas chambers, expanding the 'Final Solution,' the mass murder of European Jews." This indicates that around 6 million Jews were killed in total. By the end of the Holocaust, approximately 11 million people were killed, including 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jewish victims.

6.) In 1942, Natzis invade Yanek’s house

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In 1942, Yanek was listening to the radio when a Nazi burst into their flat, taking valuables but sparing Yanek and his family. The text states, "The other families in our flat scrambled to give the Nazi officer everything they had squirreled away" (pg. 29), implying the officers left them with few belongings and warned them to open the door quickly. This also showed that they went through each room demanding valuables and took many people away.

7.) Yanek’s Birthday (-1942)

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Yanek is about to turn 13, marking his transition from childhood with a bar mitzvah. On page 43, it states, "Tonight, Father told me, 'go to sleep in your clothes,'" indicating that Yanek will have a quiet bar mitzvah with 10 men to avoid being caught. It also reflects how caring Yanek's father is towards him.

8.) 1942, January 25

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At the start of 1942, an SS chief instructed the concentration camp inspector to transport many Jewish men and women. According to the text, "SS chief Heinrich Himmler informs Richard Gluecks, the Inspector of Concentration Camps, that 100,000 Jewish men and 50,000 Jewish women would be deported from Germany to Auschwitz as forced laborers." This suggests that the Jewish people were unaware of their fate, and many would die due to sickness, infection, being killed by guards, or exhaustion.

9.) General Henri Giraud escaped, On April 17, 1942

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On April 17, 1942, General Henri Giraud escaped from a castle prison in Königstein by climbing down the east wall and jumping onto a moving train, which carried him to the French border. Hiver had wanted Giraud killed if caught, but Giraud managed to survive by being picked up by a British submarine. As a result, Hitler was unable to capture Giraud, and he lived to escape.

10.) Plazow labor camps, 1942

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In 1942, Yanek was sent to the Plaszow labor camp. On page 62, it mentions that the workers at Plaszow's labor camp were told they needed more workers, but this was a lie. The Nazis actually aimed to bring more prisoners into their concentration camps. The people who were taken were unaware of their fate and believed they were being brought in for decent work.

11.) Wieliczka Salt Mine - 1943

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In 1943, Yanek was sent to the Wieliczka Salt Mine to work. The author describes, "The kapo showed us the room where we would be working, along with the picks and shovels we would use" (pg. 99). This indicates that Yanek, along with the other prisoners, would labor endlessly mining salt, spending long periods underground without seeing daylight.

13.) The Battle of the Bismarck Sea - March 1943

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In March 1943, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea took place at sea. The text notes that the Allies planned to stop enemy troops from reaching their goal by launching air attacks. This highlights the dominance of air power in the Pacific during this battle, as many ships were sunk, making aerial attacks more effective.

14.) Trzebinia Concentration Camp -1944

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The guards were tormenting the prisoners by forcing them to move rocks back and forth. On page 108, it says, "Wieliczka had been tough, but Trzebinia was worse, because at Trzebinia the Nazis played games." This suggests that the Nazis were indifferent to the prisoners' suffering and found amusement in their pain. They intentionally made the prisoners endure hardship by having them carry large, heavy rocks without any wheelbarrows or gloves.

15.) D-Day - June 6, 1944

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On June 6, 1944, D-Day occurred, resulting in the deaths of many people from various nations. The text states, "On that day, 156,000 troops from the United States, Britain, and Canada attacked the beaches of Normandy in northern France." This means that the Allied forces advanced inland and towards Germany, and in an attempt to stop them, Germany launched one final attack, which ended in defeat for the Germans.

16.) Birkenau Concentration Camp - 1944

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Yanek and the other prisoners were transported to Birkenau by train and crammed into a room that everyone believed to be a gas chamber. On page 129, it says, "Water rained down on me. Freezing water so cold it made me scream." This suggests that the prisoners were unaware that it was actually a shower. Yanek and the others shouted with relief as the cold water splashed them, realizing they had survived.

17.) American bombers bomb Budapest with leaflets - June 19, 1944

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American planes bombed Budapest, which was under German occupation, because the Americans wanted to punish those responsible for deporting Jews to be killed in Auschwitz's gas chambers. The text says, "But he, too, demanded that the deportations cease." This means that Hitler feared a Hungarian uprising, so he halted the deportations. This decision was influenced by a few prisoners who escaped from Auschwitz and revealed the horrors happening there.

19.) Auschwitz Concentration Camp - 1945

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Yanek lies about his job at Auschwitz in order to stay alive. On page 151, it says, "The man before had said 'clerk, and he'd be lucky they'd kept him," which implies that if the man had listed a less desirable job, he would have been sent to the gas chambers. Yanek understands that by lying and claiming a better position, the Nazis would believe him and let him live. In short, Yanek survives, along with many other prisoners, by lying about his age and work.

19.) The First Atomic Bombs - 1945

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The first atomic bombs were tested as part of the U.S. government’s Manhattan Project. The text states, "The first atomic bomb was detonated in a test in 1945 as part of the U.S. government program called the Manhattan Project." This means the bombs were proven effective, leading to their use on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where 210,000 people were killed. In conclusion, the bombs proved successful in the test.

20.) 1945 - Death March

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Yanek and the other prisoners were told they were being transferred to Sachsenhausen. On page 167, it says, "Now the fight was happening in Germany," which indicates that the prisoners, including Yanek, were being moved because the Allies were advancing. The Nazis didn’t want the Allies to get closer, as they opposed them. In conclusion, the Nazis were trying to move the prisoners away from the Allies to maintain control over them and continue using them as forced labor.

21.) 1945 - Germany surrenders

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In 1945, Soviet forces advanced through Germany to encircle Berlin. The text states, "By April 25 the Soviets had surrounded Berlin, the German capital," meaning Germany’s defeat was inevitable. A few days later, Adolf Hitler took his own life. Ultimately, Germany surrendered at midnight on May 8, 1945, after the Soviets invaded Berlin.

18.) Death match - 1945

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A few days into the Death March, Yanek began assisting a boy who struggled to walk. On page 174, it says, "His face was red and his eyes were half shut, and he staggered with each step." This suggests that the boy was on the verge of collapsing, and if he fell, the guards would likely kill him. Therefore, Yanek helped him because the boy was finding it difficult to continue walking.

22.) Warfare on Islands

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The U.S. was capturing Japan's islands with planes. The text states, "U.S. forces landed on Iwo Jima in February 1945 and on Okinawa in April 1945." Japanese pilots carried out kamikaze attacks, sacrificing their lives by crashing their planes into U.S. ships. Ultimately, the U.S. won and captured both islands.

23.) Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp - 1945

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Many days passed, and Yanek arrived at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, feeling very weak from the march. On page 186, it suggests, "If the Nazis had put us right to work, I might have died that day." This means Yanek was extremely weak and needed food and rest. The death march had taken a toll on him, but instead of forcing Yanek and the other prisoners to work, the Nazis fed them upon arrival.

24.) Japan Surrendering September 2, 1945

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The Japanese surrendered to the Allied forces on a battleship in Tokyo Bay. The text states, "U.S. General Douglas MacArthur signs the agreement by which Japan surrendered to Allied forces." This marks the end of World War II, as the Japanese signed an agreement to surrender.

25.) Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp - 1945

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Yanek reached Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp by train from Sachsenhausen and had a week off from work. On page 198, it says, "When we returned to the barracks, we were given the thickest, richest soup I had eaten in six years, along with large pieces of fresh, hot bread!" This shows that Yanek was thrilled to finally have a delicious meal after so many years. The next morning, he woke up with a stomachache because his body wasn’t accustomed to such a large and high-quality meal.

26.) American bomber drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima - August 6, 1945

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An American bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, causing thousands of injuries and deaths. The text states, "President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end." This means the atomic bomb led to the end of World War II. The immediate blast killed many, and countless others died in the months that followed due to the bomb's lingering effects.