1940
The first prisoners arrive at Auschwitz which was the largest of Nazi Germany's concentration camps and was located in German-occupied southern Poland. 5 years later Alfred Rosenberg, the unofficial philosopher of the party and the person responsible for formulating the racial policies of the party, is arrested. He was tried at Nuremberg and found guilty of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace; planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression; war crimes; and crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to death and executed with other condemned co-defendants at Nuremberg on the morning of October 16, 1946.
[Surveillance photo of Auschwitz-Birkenau]
1941
Operation Merkur: German troops invade the British-held island of Crete.The full German assault on Crete commences with air attacks followed by paratroops dropped on the four airfields. They suffer heavy losses. Some 23.000 troops and 600 aircraft are deployed. The British and Greek forces are short of equipment and firepower but know the Germans are coming; they will outnumber them considerably. The Mediterranean fleet is offshore preventing any German arrivals by sea. The German side of the mission begins well but is then hit by delays in the flights of the aircraft bringing more troops, by heavy ground fire against those who do land and loss of communication between many of the constituent parts of the invasion. Towards the end of the day, the withdrawal of New Zealand units from Maleme airfield gives the Germans an unexpected foothold.
[German paratroopers over Crete]