-
Nuremberg Laws Passed
Laws forbade Jews from marrying or having relationships with non-Jewish Germans, excluded Jews from German citizenship, and the goal was to separate Jews from "pure-blooded" Germans.
(class notes) URL for picture: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/trirPq2LfjA/hqdefault.jpg -
Anja Postpartum Depression
After giving birth to Richieu, Anja underwent postpartum depression. To recover, Anja left for Czechoslovakia while being accompanied by Vladek to a luxurious sanitarium. The sanitarium was described as the "most expensive and beautiful in the world". Close to arrival, Vladek, Anja, and other passengers noticed a Nazi flag in the middle of town. This is the beginning of the Nazi party taking over (Depicted on page 32) -
Vladek's Factory Robbed
After about three months of Anja's recovery, the couple returns to their factory to discover it has been robbed (Depicted on page 36). The reasoning behind the vandalism is unclear, however it is probable that it was the result of a pogrom. -
Munich Conference and the Sudetenland
The Sudetenland was the land around the border of Czechoslovakia. Hitler wanted to unite all Germans under one nation; this included the Germans in the Sudetenland. Britain and France agree to give the region to Hitler at the Munich Conference. (class notes) URL for picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement -
Kristallnacht "Night of the Broken Glass"
There were a series of riots that lasted two days. Synagogues were burned, thousands of Jewish-owned businesses were vandalized, and over 100 Jews were killed. (class notes) URL for picture: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/background-and-overview-of-kristallnacht -
Vladek Called to Duty by Polish Army
Top of page 38 (pictured) is when Vladek receives the draft. -
Vladek Fights in the Trenches
Spans from page 44 to 48.
Page 47 is pictured. -
Fighting in the Trenches
Armies dug into the dirt to create protection from other forces. This type of fighting usually involved three lines of trenches. The first line was where most fighting occurred. After about 1-2 weeks, the men will rotate to the reserve line. The second line, also known as no man's land, was not in as much danger as the first line, but could be called into action. Lastly, the last line had the most peace. However, it is possible that the reserve line would be moved to a new line. -
Beginning of Requiring Jews to Wear Identifying Mark
In September and October Jewish Poles were ordered to wear an "identifying mark under the threat of death. There were no consistent requirements as to its color and shape: it varies from a white armband to a yellow Star of David badge." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_badge#Nazi_Europe_2) The picture shows the Star of David badge on a butterfly which is from the play "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" (Zula was a part of this play in high school). -
Vladek Wears Jewish Star
The first appearance of Vladek wearing the Jewish Star is on page 77 -
Warsaw Ghetto
"The Germans decreed the establishment of a ghetto in Warsaw. The decree required all Jewish residents of Warsaw to move into a designated area, which German authorities sealed off from the rest of the city in November 1940. The ghetto was enclosed by a wall that was over 10 feet high, topped with barbed wire, and closely guarded to prevent movement between the ghetto and the rest of Warsaw." (https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005069) Picture is from the same website. -
Vladek and Family Moved to Ghetto
Vladek eventually loses his factory, but makes a living on the black market to his best ability. However, Jews begin to be forced to ghettos and Vladek, Anja, and the rest of their family, including Anja's grandparents enter a ghetto in Sosnowiec. Page 82 shows the Order they were given which reads "All Jews of Sosnowiec must be relocated into the Stara Sosnowiec quarter by January 1, 1942. Non-Jews will be moved into vacated premises." Vladek's family of 12 were given 2.5 small rooms. -
Forced Labor
Nazi's believed that Jews were physically unable to work were often the first to be shot or deported. The ability to work granted opportunity for Jews to survive. However, in some situations, the Nazi's would also work the Jews to death. This would be working under conditions that could lead to illness, injury, or death. -
Vladek Forced to Work in Ghetto
The Jews in the ghetto of Srodula are forced to work in the shops and factories as depicted on page 106. -
Jews Hiding
Jewish civilians were forced into hiding to protect themselves from the Nazi's power and their ability to send Jews to concentration camps. Jewish people were eternally grateful for those who agreed to help them hide, but sometimes it was extremely difficult to stay in hiding for long periods of time before the Nazi's find them. -
Vladek and Anja Hide
Vladek and Anja notice more Jews are being sent away to camps.
They decide to hide with other family members to avoid also being sent to the camps. They pay smugglers to transport them out of Poland into Hungary, but the smugglers turn them over to the Germans (Depicted on page 110) -
Inge-Brigitt Höss near Auschwitz
From 1940 to 1944, the family lived in a villa on the edge of Auschwitz; "so close you could see the prisoner blocks and old crematorium from the upstairs window.They decorated their home with stolen furniture and artwork from prisoners before put in the gas chambers. Some of the prisoners worked in their garden." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/hiding-in-n-virginia-a-daughter-of-auschwitz/2013/09/06/1314d648-04fd-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html?utm_term=.7977e3ad8f67) -
Vladek and Anja Sent to Auschwitz/Birkenau
Anja and Vladek entered the Nazi truck together. This was the last time they believed they would be together since they would be separated by gender once they arrived to the camp. Part I ends with tension between Vladek and his son, Art. Vladek burned Anja's diary, limiting the ability to hear Anja's experience at camp as depicted on page 157.
