Dachau in WW2 History | World War II Database

20 Mar 1933

Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp was established in Germany by the order of Heinrich Himmler; it was to be guarded by men of the SS. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

22 Mar 1933

Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany began operations. SS-Standartenführer Hilmar Wäckerle was named the first commandant. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

24 May 1933

Photo(s) dated 24 May 1933

SS Guards, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 24 May 1933

Prisoners at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 24 May 1933

Prisoners moving a heavy wagon, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 24 May 1933

10 Jun 1933

Photo(s) dated 10 Jun 1933

Prisoners, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 10 Jun 1933

26 Jun 1933

Germany

SS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Hilmar Wäckerle. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

1 Oct 1933

Germany

SS official Theodor Eicke expanded the punishment directives at Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany; these directives were later applied to all camps until the end of the European War. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

4 Jul 1934

Germany

SS-Oberführer Alexander Reiner was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Theodor Eicke. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

22 Oct 1934

Germany

SS-Brigadeführer Berthold Maack was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Alexander Reiner. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

12 Jan 1935

Germany

SS-Oberführer Heinrich Deubel was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Berthold Maack. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

31 Mar 1936

Germany

SS-Oberführer Hans Loritz was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Heinrich Deubel. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

8 May 1936

Photo(s) dated 8 May 1936

SS personnel at Dachau Concentration Camp during SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler

SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler and Rudolf Heß viewing a model of the Dachau Concentration Camp, Dachau, Germany, 8 May 1936

SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler visiting Dachau Concentration Camp, Dachau, Germany, 8 May 1936

League of German Girls leaders visiting Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 8 May 1936

28 Jun 1938

Photo(s) dated 28 Jun 1938

Prisoners, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 28 Jun 1938

See all photos dated 28 Jun 1938

20 Jul 1938

Photo(s) dated 20 Jul 1938

Prisoners, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 20 Jul 1938

See all photos dated 20 Jul 1938

7 Jan 1939

Germany

SS-Hauptsturmführer Alexander Piorkowski was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Hans Loritz. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

9 Sep 1939

Germany

German Gestapo ordered all misbehaving Polish citizens to be arrested and placed in Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

27 Sep 1939

Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany was temporarily closed until 18 Feb 1940 for use of training SS units; prisoners of Dachau were sent to Mauthausen Concentration Camp. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

20 Jan 1941

Photo(s) dated 20 Jan 1941

Heinrich Himmler and Anton Mussert at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 20 Jan 1941, photo 1 of 2

Heinrich Himmler and Anton Mussert at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 20 Jan 1941, photo 2 of 2

25 Nov 1941

Germany

The first execution of Soviet prisoners of war at the Dachau Concentration Camp took place at the Hebertshausen shooting range. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

3 Jan 1942

Germany

SS-Obersturmbannführer Martin Weiß was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Alexander Piorkowski. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

1 Sep 1942

Germany

Martin Gottfried Weiss was made the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau Concentration Camp | Martin Gottfried Weiss | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

10 Oct 1942

Germany

From Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, Sigmund Rascher reported his findings from experiments involving putting concentration camp prisoners in full flight suits and placing them in freezing conditions, concluding that the warming of the subjects' heads and necks were vital for the subjects' survival. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

30 Sep 1943

Germany

SS-Hauptsturmführer Eduard Weiter was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Martin Weiß. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

31 Oct 1943

Germany

Martin Gottfried Weiss stepped down as the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Martin Gottfried Weiss | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

11 Sep 1944

Germany

Noor Inayat Khan was transferred to Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Noor Inayat Khan | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

12 Sep 1944

Germany

Yolande Beekman arrived at Dauchau Concentration Camp in southern Germany. ww2dbase [Yolande Beekman | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

13 Sep 1944

Germany

Yolande Beekman was executed at Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany. ww2dbase [Yolande Beekman | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

14 Apr 1945

Germany

As Allied troops advanced, Heinrich Himmler ordered all prisoners at Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany be exterminated. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Heinrich Himmler | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

19 Apr 1945

Germany

The final transport arrived at Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

24 Apr 1945

Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany was evacuated. Between 6,000 and 7,000 prisoners embarked on a death march southward to Eurasburg, where they would turn east toward the Tegernsee. Thousands of them would die of exhaustion, hunger, exposure, and execution during the six-day march. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

26 Apr 1945

Germany

Over 10,000 prisoners of the Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany began to be sent out of the camp. Most of them, just under 7,000 in number, were forced to march on foot southwards. The remainder were evacuate by vehicles or trains. At least 1,071 of those sent out on foot would not survive the evacuation. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

27 Apr 1945

Germany

Men of US 12th Armored Division arrived at Kaufering Lager IV in Landsberg am Lech in southern Germany, a sub camp of Dachau Concentration Camp. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

28 Apr 1945

Germany

SS-Untersturmführer Johannes Otto was named the commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Eduard Weiter. Outside the camp, escapees of the camp and a rebel unit of the Volkssturm staged an armed revolt in the town of Dachau; it was quickly and brutally put down by SS troops. Finally, also on this date, International Red Cross representative Victor Maurer negotiated an agreement for the Germans to surrender Dachau Concentration Camp to US troops. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

29 Apr 1945

Germany

SS-Untersturmführer Heinrich Wicker became the final commandant of Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany, replacing Johannes Otto, who had been in that role for less than one day. Wicker would share the same fate as his predecessor, as American troops of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, US 45th Infantry Division, commanded by Colonel Felix Sparks, would enter Dachau Concentration Camp on this day. Brigadier General Henning Linden of 222nd Infantry Regiment, US 42nd Infantry Division accepted the formal surrender from Wicker. Men of US 157th and 122nd Infantry Regiments were accused of executing a number of German SS prisoners of war, in the camp and in the nearby hamlet of Weßling, before a colonel intervened. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 29 Apr 1945

Liberated prisoners killing German guards at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29 Apr 1945

US Army troops executing German SS guards at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29 Apr 1945

Prisoners celebrating, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29 Apr 1945; note female prisoners in foreground

SS-Untersturmführer Heinrich Wicker (mostly hidden behind aide) speaking with US General Henning Linden, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29 Apr 1945; also present were journalist Paul Levy (with helmet, looking down), Dr. Victor Maurer (facing away)

See all photos dated 29 Apr 1945

30 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 30 Apr 1945

An American soldier standing beside the bodies of SS personnel shot by US troops during the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29-30 Apr 1945

3 May 1945

Photo(s) dated 3 May 1945

16 Jul 1945

Germany

The US Military Tribunal at Dachau, Germany sentenced Josef Dietrich to life in prison (later commuted to 25 years in prison) for the execution of US prisoners of war at Malmedy, Belgium in 1944. ww2dbase [Dachau Concentration Camp | Josef Dietrich | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

22 Nov 1945

Photo(s) dated 22 Nov 1945

Friedrich Hoffmann during the trials at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 22 Nov 1945

13 Dec 1945

Germany

36 of the 42 accused war criminals at the Dachau trial were sentenced to death. ww2dbase [Nuremberg Trials and Other Trials Against Germany | Dachau Concentration Camp | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

14 May 1946

Germany

At the trials at Dachau Concentration Camp, the US charged SS-Hauptsturmführer Friedrich Becker (head of the labor department at Flossenbürg Concentration Camp), 33 low-ranking SS personnel, 16 prisoner functionaries, and 2 civilians for crimes committed at Flossenbürg Concentration Camp during the war. ww2dbase [Flossenbürg Concentration Camp | Nuremberg Trials and Other Trials Against Germany | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

12 Jun 1946

Germany

The Flossenbürg Trials at Dachau Concentration Camp began. ww2dbase [Flossenbürg Concentration Camp | Nuremberg Trials and Other Trials Against Germany | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

21 Jun 1946

Photo(s) dated 21 Jun 1946

Father Lelere, a former prisoner of Flossenbürg Concentration Camp, testifying at the trials of former camp personnel, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 21 Jun 1946; note court interpreter Fred Stecker at right

22 Jan 1947

Germany

The Flossenbürg Trials at Dachau Concentration Camp ended. Of the 52 charged, charges were dropped for 7, 5 were found not guilty, and 40 were found guilty. 15 received death sentences, 11 received life sentences, and 14 received prison terms. ww2dbase [Flossenbürg Concentration Camp | Nuremberg Trials and Other Trials Against Germany | Dachau, München-Oberbayern | CPC]

8 Jul 1947

Photo(s) dated 8 Jul 1947

Ilse Koch at the US Military Tribunal in Dachau, Germany, 8 Jul 1947

14 Aug 1947

Photo(s) dated 14 Aug 1947

Prince Josias at the Buchenwald trial, Dachau, Germany, 14 Aug 1947

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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