September 1938
Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy sign the Munich Pact, which turns the western part of Czechoslovakia, known as Sudetenland, over to Germany.
March 1939
Slovakia, in the eastern part of the country, declares its independence and signs a Treaty of Protection with Nazi Germany. While the country has been divided, leaving eastern Slovakia independent, both parts are equally committed to persecuting the Jewish people.
June 1939
A list of anti-Jewish laws is proclaimed. Over the next few years, more and more restrictions are brought in against Jews.
October 1939
The first Czech Jews are deported to concentration camps in Poland. By October 1942, 75 percent of Czech Jews have been deported. Most of them are killed at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
September 1941
The Jewish Code is established. It lists 270 paragraphs of restrictions against Jews.
The deportation of Jews from Slovakia begins. Poor shopkeepers and innkeepers are deported first, followed by political people, young single girls and, finally, whole families.
1942–1944
The Jews of Slovakia continue to be deported to concentration camps. The government of Slovakia pays Germany for every Jew deported. Of the 137,000 Jews in pre-war Slovakia, more than 72,000 die in death camps.
May 1945
Allied soldiers liberate Czechoslovakia.