17 October 1939In Germany, the ‘Festsetzungserlass’ (Immobilisation Decree) prohibits all Sinti and Roma from changing their place of residence or domicile under threat of imprisonment in a concentration camp.
1942
16 December 1942‘Auschwitz Decree’: Heinrich Himmler, head of the Schutzstaffel (‘Reichsführer SS’), orders the deportation of Sinti and Roma from the German Reich to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp.
1943
29 March 1943The Reich Security Main Office orders the deportation of Roma and Sinti from German-occupied territories and countries (Belgium, Bialystok district, Alsace, Lorraine, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and northern France) to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp.
22 April 1943Hans Braun and two of his cousins are deported from Luxembourg-Grund prison to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. This is the only known direct deportation of members of the minority from German-occupied Luxembourg to Auschwitz.
1980
4 – 11 April 1980Twelve Sinti, all men, including survivors Jakob Bamberger, Ranco Brantner, Hans Braun and Franz Wirbel, go on hunger strike in the Church of Reconciliation on the grounds of the Dachau concentration camp memorial site in Germany in protest against the continuing discrimination against the minority.
