Vladek

The Life of Vladek Spiegelman

By yuyu21
  • Vladek Spiegelman born

    Vladek Spiegelman born

  • Anja Zylberberg born

    Anja Zylberberg born

  • Hitler is appointed as chancellor

    Hitler is appointed as chancellor

    Hitler gained power by supporting anti-semitism, anti-capitalism, and anti-communism. After he was appointed as chancellor, he transformed the Weimar Republic into the Third Reich.
  • First Concentration Camp Opens

    First Concentration Camp Opens

    Dachau opens as the first concentration camp in all of Germany in 1933. Its prisoners were liberated by the 5th U.S. Army on May 5th, 1945 in Niederdorf, Italy.
  • Hitler becomes Führer

    Hitler becomes Führer

    President Paul von Hindenburg dies, and rather than call new elections as required by the constitution, Hitler's cabinet passes a law proclaiming the presidency vacant and transferring power to Hitler.
  • Vladek meets Anja for the first time

    Vladek meets Anja for the first time

    Vladek and Anja meet for the first time. They will later marry.
  • Vladek and Anja marry

    Vladek and Anja marry

  • Richieu born

    Richieu born

    Vladek and Anja's son Richieu is born in Sosnowiec, Poland.
  • Vladek is called to serve in the Polish army

    Vladek is called to serve in the Polish army

    Vladek is called to serve into the Polish army. He was 32.
  • Germany invades Poland

    Germany invades Poland

    The German invasion of Poland, also known as the September campaign, begins.
  • German troops enter Sosnowiec

    German troops enter Sosnowiec

    German troops enter Sosnowiec, and Vladek is forced to shoot an enemy soldier.
  • Vladek becomes a prisoner of war

    Vladek becomes a prisoner of war

  • Poland surrenders to Germany

    Poland surrenders to Germany

  • Jews in Poland must wear an armband or yellow star patch

    Jews in Poland must wear an armband or yellow star patch

    After the invasion of Poland, Jews were required to wear a distinctive sign indicating their religion. The requirement to wear the Star of David was extended to all Jews over the age of 6 in September of 1941.
  • Jewish property in Poland is confiscated

    Jewish property in Poland is confiscated

  • Vladek released as a POW

    Vladek released as a POW

    Vladek is released as a prisoner of war.
  • Auschwitz begins functioning

    Auschwitz begins functioning

    Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest death camp in the world, begins functioning.
  • First gassing at Auschwitz

    First gassing at Auschwitz

    On September 3rd, 1941, deputy commandant Karl Fritzsch experimented on 600 Russian POWs and 250 Polish inmates by gathering them in the basement of Block 11 and gassing them with Zyklon B, a lethal pesticide.
  • Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

    Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

    Japanese pilots bomb Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7th 1941.
  • All Jews in Sosnowiec are forced to move to a ghetto

    All Jews in Sosnowiec are forced to move to a ghetto

  • The first mass gassing of Jews begins at Auschwitz

    The first mass gassing of Jews begins at Auschwitz

    The first gassing of Jews begins in the Auschwitz gas chambers.
  • 1500 Jews are removed from Sosnowiec

    1500 Jews are removed from Sosnowiec

  • 2000 Jews sent from Sosnowiec to Auschwitz

    2000 Jews sent from Sosnowiec to Auschwitz

  • 8000 more Jews are sent from Sosnowiec to Auschwitz

    8000 more Jews are sent from Sosnowiec to Auschwitz

  • All Sosnowiec Jews are forced to move to the Srodula ghetto

    All Sosnowiec Jews are forced to move to the Srodula ghetto

  • Most Sosnowiec Jews are deported to Auschwitz

    Most Sosnowiec Jews are deported to Auschwitz

    Most Jews and Sosnowiec are sent to Auschwitz, but Vladek's wit and luck keep him and Anja safe for a little longer.
  • All Jews in Zawiercie are sent to Auschwitz

    All Jews in Zawiercie are sent to Auschwitz

  • The remaining Jews in Srodula are killed.

    The remaining Jews in Srodula are killed.

  • Vladek and Anja are sent to Auschwitz

    Vladek and Anja are sent to Auschwitz

    Vladek and Anja are sent to Auschwitz and separated into different camps.
  • Period: to

    Quarantine in Auschwitz

  • Period: to

    Vladek works at the tin shop in Auschwitz

  • Vladek sees Anja in Birkenau

  • Period: to

    Vladek works as a shoemaker in Auschwitz

  • Anja moved from Birkenau to Auschwitz

  • Forced evacuation of Auschwitz

    Forced evacuation of Auschwitz

  • Vladek is sent to Dachau

    Vladek is sent to Dachau

  • Dachau is liberated

    Dachau is liberated

  • Germany Surrenders

    Germany Surrenders

    Germany surrenders to Italy on April 29th and later to all of Western Europe on May 7th, 1945.
  • Japan surrenders; end of World War II

    Japan surrenders; end of World War II

    World War II ends at the armistice of August 14th, 1945, and V-J (Victory in Japan) day is celebrated.
  • Vladek and Anja leave Poland for Sweden

    Vladek and Anja leave Poland for Sweden

  • Art Spiegelman born

    Art Spiegelman born

    Art Spiegelman is born in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • The Spiegelman family immigrates to the U.S.

    The Spiegelman family immigrates to the U.S.

    The Spiegelman family immigrates to the U.S. and settles in Rego Park, New York.

  • Anja dies

    Anja commits suicide, which Art later depicts in his comic entitled "Prisoner on the Hell Parent".
  • Vladek Spiegelman dies

    Vladek Spiegelman dies

    Vladek dies of congestive heart failure. He was 75 years and 10 months old.