Fall 1941               After a double agent exposes a Nazi spy ring in the United States, Hitler orders a sabotage plan against America.

Dec. 1941             The Gestapo asks Walter Kappe to establish a sabotage school to train selected Germans for a sabotage mission in America.

Mar, 1942             George Dasch works with Kappe to select candidates for the sabotage school. All the candidates had spent time living in the United States.

April 1942             The eight finalists chosen for the sabotage school train at Quenz farm, near Brandenburg.

May 1-12, 1942    Sabotage school students visit their families and say their good-byes.

Mid-May 1942      The saboteurs receive their final instructions, including information regarding the use of secret ink to communicate with Germany.

May 20, 1942       The saboteurs attend a farewell banquet in Berlin.

May 25, 1942        The saboteurs take a train to the French coast to board their submarines for America.

May 26, 1942        The four saboteurs led by Kerling depart France in a submarine.

May 28, 1942        The four saboteurs led by Dasch depart France in a submarine.

June 13, 1942       Four saboteurs and two submarine crew members land on a Long Island beach in early morning hours. They encounter a Coast Guardsman whose suspicions are immediately aroused. The four saboteurs, member of the Dasch Team, make their way into New York City, split into two pairs, and book hotel rooms in Manhattan. In the evening, Dasch and Burger share their hatred of the Nazi regime.

June 14, 1942       George Dasch calls the New York office of the FBI, says he is a German, and that he plans to go Washington to provide information relating to his mission.

June 17, 1942       The four-man sabotage team led by Edward Kerling lands on a beach near Jacksonville, Florida.

June 18, 1942       George Dasch takes a train from New York to Washington, where he plans to expose the sabotage plot to the FBI. Meanwhile, two members (Haupt and Thiel) of the Florida team of saboteurs take a train to Cincinnati.

June 19, 1942       Dasch tells his story to FBI agents at the Justice Department. Two additional members (Kerling and Neubauer) of the Florida sabotage team take a train to Cincinnati. Haupt takes a train to Chicago.

June 20, 1942       FBI agents arrest three members of the Long Island sabotage team (Burger, Quirin, and Heinck) in New York City.

June 21, 1942       Two members of the Florida sabotage team (Kerling and Thiel) arrive in New York City. Saboteur Neubauer arrives in Chicago.

June 23, 1942       Agents arrest Kerling and Thiel in New York City.

June 27, 1942       Agents arrest Haupt and Neubauer in Chicago.

June 28, 1942      Secretary of War Stimson and Attorney General Biddle meet to discuss whether to try the eight saboteurs in a civilian court or before a military tribunal.

July 2, 1942         President Roosevelt issues Proclamation 2561 creating a military tribunal to try the saboteurs.

July 3, 1942        Charges are filed against the saboteurs.

July 7, 1942        Military lawyers are appointed to represent the saboteurs. The tribunal adopts rules that will govern the trial.

July 8, 1942        The trial of the saboteurs begins. Defense attorney Royall announces that he might challenge the constitutionality of the tribunal.

July 28, 1942      A federal district court in Washington denies a defense petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The decision is immediately appealed and the Supreme Court agrees to hear oral arguments the next day.

July 29, 1942      The U. S. Supreme Court hears arguments on the legality of proceeding against the saboteurs in a military trial.

July 31, 1942      The U.S. Supreme Court publishes a brief per curiam decision upholding the lawfulness of the military trial.

Aug. 1, 1942       Closing arguments arguments are completed.  The trial ends.

August 3, 1942    All eight defendants are convicted and sentenced to death.

August 7, 1942    President Roosevelt makes a final decision to commute the sentences of Dasch and Burger to life imprisonment.

August 8, 1942    Six of the eight convicted saboteurs are executed in an electric chair.

Oct. 29, 1942      The U.S. Supreme Court publishes its written opinion upholding the constitutionality of the military tribunal in the case of Ex Parte Quirin.

1948                    President Truman commutes the sentences of Dasch and Burger and they are taken by Army transport to the American Zone in Germany.