Short Answer 
The Holocaust began with the Nazi regime’s support for genocide and racial theories, leading to the formalization of the “Final Solution” at the Wannsee Conference in 1942. Additionally, testimonies from Auschwitz escapees revealed the atrocities of concentration camps, culminating in the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II, though the consequences of these events persisted long after.
Step 1: Understanding the Ideology of Genocide
The first crucial event in the Holocaust was the increasing support among German leaders for the idea of genocide. This shift was primarily driven by the Nazi regime’s racial theories and beliefs. As these ideas took root, they laid the groundwork for the devastating events that followed, marking the beginning of a systematic approach to the mass extermination of targeted groups.
Step 2: The Wannsee Conference and the “Final Solution”
The second significant milestone was the Wannsee Conference, held in January 1942. During this meeting, high-ranking Nazi officials gathered to discuss and coordinate the implementation of the “Final Solution” – a systematic plan for the extermination of Jews and others deemed undesirable. This event was pivotal in formalizing the policies that led to widespread atrocities during the Holocaust.
Step 3: Exposing the Atrocities and the End of the Holocaust
The third step highlights the efforts of escapees from Auschwitz, who documented their experiences through the Auschwitz Protocols. These documents served as critical pieces of evidence that exposed the horrors of concentration camps to the world. The final moment in this sequence was the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies, marking the end of World War II and the Holocaust, although the effects and acknowledgment of these atrocities lingered in society for years afterward.