1. 1933
  2. From 1933
  3. 1938
  4. 1939
  5. 1940
  6. 1940
  7. 1941
  8. 1941-1942
  9. From 1942
  10. 20 February 1942
  11. March 1942
  12. From autumn 1943
  13. 8 September 1943
  14. August 1944
  15. 1945
  16. 1946
  17. 1953
  18. 1990s
  19. 2000

  1. 1933

    Transfer of power to the Nazis

  2. From 1933

    The first people are conscripted for forced labour. They are political prisoners in concentration camps, welfare recipients, Roma and Sinti people, and Jews.

  3. 1938

    Occupation of Czechoslovakia

    People from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia are conscripted for forced labour.

  4. 1939

    World War II begins with the German invasion of Poland

    Polish prisoners of war are used as forced labourers in the agricultural sector. Civilians are initially recruited as voluntary labourers. Coercive measures are subsequently introduced.

  5. 1940

    Passing of the Poland Decress

    Among other things, the Poland Decrees regulate the racist segregation of Polish forced labourers from the German civilian population.

  6. 1940

    Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and then France

    French prisoners of war are exploited as forced labourers.

    Branches of the German employment offices are opened in the occupied territories. Initially, they recruit volunteers to work in Germany. Later, coercive measures are introduced.

  7. 1941

    Germany invades the Soviet Union

    Soviet prisoners of war are exploited as forced labourers

  8. 1941-1942

    The Nazi leadership realises that the war will last longer than planned. German industry is converted to arms production.

  9. From 1942

    Several million civilians are forcibly deported from the occupied Soviet Union to work in Germany.

  10. 20 February 1942

    Passing of the Ostarbeiter Decrees

    Adding to the Poland Decrees, the Ostarbeiter Decrees regulate the racist segregation of Soviet forced labourers from the German civilian population.

  11. March 1942

    Fritz Sauckel is appointed Plenipotentiary General for the Deployment of Labour.

  12. From autumn 1943

    Mass use of concentration camp prisoners in German industry

  13. 8 September 1943

    Armistice between Italy and the Allies is made public

    Germany responds by attacking Italian forces and occupying most of Italy. Italian prisoners of war are reclassified as “military internees” and forced to work.

  14. August 1944

    There are 7.6 million foreign forced labourers in Germany. They make up 26% of the total labour force.

  15. 1945

    The German armed forces surrender, ending World War II in Europe

    All forced labourers are liberated. Most live in DP camps for a while before returning home or emigrating.

  16. 1946

    Nuremberg Trials

    Fritz Sauckel and Albert Speer are tried for slave labour. In other trials, a small number of industrialists are tried and convicted.

  17. 1953

    Passing of the German Federal Compensation Act

    Forced labourers are not eligible.

  18. 1990s

    The first history workshops on Nazi forced labour are set up. Former forced labourers publicly demand compensation and file class actions lawsuits.

  19. 2000

    Establishment of the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ)

    It organises individual payments to former forced labourers.