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World War 2
Invasion of Poland triggers World War II.
Millions of people of all ages, mostly Jews but also large numbers of Gypsies, Slavs and other races, the disabled, homosexuals and religious dissenters, die as the Nazis implement an extermination policy in the death camps of eastern Europe. -
Germany defeats Hitler
Germany defeats And Hitler commits suicide. Allies divide Germany into occupation zones. The war is over. -
Execution of Hitler's workers
Major Nazi figures still alive from the war are executed and imprisoned. -
Germany is Divided
The US, French and British zones in the west become the Federal Republic of Germany; the Soviet zone in the east becomes the communist German Democratic Republic -
First chancellor
Konrad Adenauer, of the Christian Democrats is West Germany's first chancellor. East Germany is led by Walter Ulbricht. -
Germany joins NATO
1955 - West Germany joins Nato; East Germany joins the Warsaw Pact. -
Berlin Wall finished
Construction of the Berlin Wall ends steady flight of people from East to West -
Chancellor
Social Democrat Willy Brandt becomes chancellor and seeks better ties with the Soviet Union and East Germany under Ostpolitik (eastern policy). -
Cross over from East to West
East German leader Erich Honecker pays first official visit to West. -
Wall falls
Mass exodus of East Germans as neighbouring Soviet bloc countries relax travel restrictions. Protests across East Germany lead to rapid collapse of Communist rule. Germans from East and West tear down Berlin Wall.