A Brief History of the Demjanjuk Case

John Demjanjuk, once known as Ivan Demjanjuk, may or may not be Ivan the Terrible. He was stripped of his United States citizenship in a denaturalization case prosecuted by the Justice Department.

Summar 1942

Nazl Germany sets up death camp at Treblinka Poland.

August 1943

"Work Jews" held at Treblinka revolt and 50 escape. Five of those will become witnesses against Demjanjuk.

August 25, 1927

The U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio files a complaint starting that autoworker John Demjanjuk lied on his immigration papers while entering the U.S. The complaint also charges that Demjanjuk was the Trablinka came guard "Ivory the Terrible.

March 1979

Under pressure from Rep. Elizabeth Holtzmen '(D.N.Y.), Attorney General Griffin Belt founds the Office of Special investigation in the Justice Department. The new office will prosecute Nazi war ordinals living in the United States.

January 1980

Allan A. Ryan K. leaves the solicitor General's office to join OSI as deputy director.

January 27, 1960

Ryan visits Mosoow and asks Soviets for evidence related to Nazi war criminals now living in the United States Soviets agree to help.

March 1960

Ryan becomes director of OSl.

February 10, 1961

The denaturalization trial of Demjanjuk begin in Cleveland.

June 23, 1961

Federal Court rules that Demjanjuk lied on his immigration papers and says Demjanjuk was Ivart the Terrible. His citizenship is revoked.

July 1962

Demjanjuk and his three children begin a hunger strike. He falls to appear for a court date.

Fall 1963

Ryan leaves Osl to write a book, Quiet Neighbors. He will join Harvard's Office of the General Counsel in March of 1985.

October 1983

The state of Israel requests the extradition of Demjanjuk and asks that a warrant be issued for his arrest on the charge of murder.

May 1984

Demjanjuk is found deportable, but is given the option of going to the country of his choice if he leaves the U.S. Within 30 days. He does not leave.

February 27, 1986

His appeals exhausted, Demjanjuk is put on an El Al 747 and flown to Tel Aviv.

April 1988

Demjanjuk found guilty by Israel court and sentenced to death. He will eventually appeal all the way to the Israel Supreme Court where the case is still pending.

December 1991

Statement from Soviet Union seem to indicate Ivan the Terrible was another man, Ivan Marchenko. Ryan denies he know of the statements.

Januray 29, 1992

Ryan testifies before a federal judge probing Osl's prosecution of Demjanjuk.