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forced labour
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(09)
1942
September
04
The forced labour law in France
On 4 September 1942 the Vichy government passed a law allowing men and women to be directed to work chosen by the state. It was used to send workers to Germany.
October
03
Key event
The first successful A4 rocket launch
On 3 October 1942 at Peenemünde the fourth A4 prototype flew some 190 km and climbed to 84.5 km. The future V-2 weapon was born.
1943
January
28
Compulsory labour in the Reich
Sauckel's decree of 27 January 1943 required German men aged 16–65 and women aged 17–45 to register for work in the defence of the Reich.
February
16
The creation of the STO in France
On 16 February 1943 Laval's government set up the Service du travail obligatoire. Young Frenchmen born in 1920–1922 were to work in the Reich for two years.
May
16
Operation Chastise
On the night of 16–17 May 1943 Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron breached the Möhne and Eder dams with “bouncing bombs”. The flood killed some 1,600 people.
July
07
Dornberger and von Braun meet Hitler
On 7 July 1943 at the Wolf’s Lair Dornberger and von Braun showed Hitler a film of an A4 launch. Hitler gave the programme top armaments priority.
August
17
Key event
Operation Hydra
On the night of 17–18 August 1943 nearly 600 RAF bombers attacked the rocket centre at Peenemünde. About 700 people died, most of them forced labourers.
October
19
The order for 12,000 V-2 rockets
On 19 October 1943 the German Army Ordnance Office ordered 12,000 A4 rockets from Mittelwerk. They were to be assembled by prisoners of the Dora camp.
1945
April
13
The Gardelegen massacre
On 13 April 1945, near Gardelegen in the Altmark, Germans burned and shot 1,016 concentration camp prisoners evacuated ahead of the front in a barn.