The Nuremberg Trials

Defendants of the Nuremberg Trials

Photo Credit: Office of the U.S. Chief of Counsel for the Prosecution of Axis Criminality

Photo Source: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/540127

After the end of WWII there were some Nazi officials that went to trial over the injustices that took place during the Holocaust. The trails took place in 1945 and 1946 in Nuremberg, Germany. The allied powers presided over the hearings, and put 22 Major Nazi criminals on trial. There were 12 well known Nazis that were sentenced to death during the trials. Those that had a more direct hand in the kill had the harshest sentences. High level government official and Business owners that used concentration camp inmates as forced labor either had short prison sentences, or no sentencing was placed upon them. It is important to note that those put on trial admitted to their crimes. Though, they did try to justify their actions by stating they were simply following orders from their superiors. The 12 Nazis that were sentences to death were: Goering, Ribbentrop, Keitel, Kaltenbrunner, Rosenberg, Frank, Frick, Streicher, Sauckel, Jodl, Seyss­Inquart, and Bormann. Though, Goering would commit suicide in his cell right before his execution, and Bormann was missing. However, on October 16^th, 1946 the 10 other Nazis were hanged, their bodies were cremated, and their ashes were put in the Iser River. The trails were a very important part of the end of WWII. It gave many of the Holocaust Survivors closure, though, it would never make up for the losses they endured.

Island Hopping Campaign

The Atlantic portion of the war was long struggle for the U.S. Many battles were fought across the Atlantic. A large portion of those battles were a part of the Island Hopping Campaign. The campaign consisted of hopping from important strategic locations on the way to mainland Japan. The campaign was the idea of taking locations via amphibious assault, and in doing so they would isolate other Japanese occupied islands. This would make it difficult for those islands to get supplies from Japan, and the hope is that they would eventually run out of resources coming from their homeland. This tactic was often called the “wither in the vine” tactic. The allies were able to get many victories following their implementation of the Island Hopping Campaign. However, Japan did not give up so easily and the U.S. Government felt the only way to stop the Japanese would be to cripple them. Back on U.S. soil the Manhattan Project was under way, which developed the first nuclear bombs. President Harry S Truman made the decision to bomb Japan not once, but twice. One bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and the other was dropped on Nagasaki. Following the bombings the Japanese did surrender and on September 2^nd 1945 the Allies were able to celebrate VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day).

U.S. Marines that participated in the Island Hopping Campaign

Photo Credit: Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Naval Photographic Center.

Source: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/520643

Battle of the Bulge

The last great German offensive attack of World War II happened in December of 1944. The Battle took place in the Ardennes forest during a snowy winter. The German Army hoped to split the Allied Armies with a surprise Blitzkrieg. The Blitzkrieg, meaning “lightning warfare”, it was warfare the utilized paratroopers, planes, tanks, and infantry. The blitzkrieg was a very effective method throughout the war, but was not effective due to fuel shortages in this case. The Allied troops were able to not only hold off the German Army, but they were also able to secure important bridgeheads and in doing so the Allied Forces formed a bulge shape, which is where the name Battle of the Bulge came from. In the end the Allied forces were able to prevent the German counteroffensive from ever happening. Though, the Allies one that day, it was costliest battle of the war for the U.S. Army. Over 100,000 casualties were suffered by the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge. This battle was one of the most important battle the Allies fought during the war, because it was this battle that led to the downfall of the German Army, and eventually led to Victory in Europe Day.

Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D Eisenhower at his headquarters in the European theater of operations.

Photo Credit: Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Naval Photographic Center.

Source: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/520686

Operation Dynamo

To many this operation is known as the Miracle at Dunkirk, but to the soldiers who were part of this military rescue it was referred to as Operation Dynamo. This mission took place on the beaches of Dunkirk in France. The Germany Army was making its way to Paris so that they could conquer the country. As the allied forces were holding the German’s off as best they could, thousands of soldiers were waiting at Dunkirk to be rescued. Military boats were often taken down by German fighter pilots, thus a new strategy was taken. Over 800 civilian boats were used in this rescue. They were able to make it past the German fighter pilots and saved 338,226 men). Though, the rescue was amazing in nature and many men were saved many casualties occurred along the way. About 68,000 were killed, and 243 ships and 6 destroyers were sunk. Furthermore, on June 14^th the German Army made its way into Paris, and on the 22^nd of June France would surrender. For the remainder of the war the French government would be taken over and run by Charles de Gaulle from London. Overall, Operation Dynamo was a huge success and saved many men that would go on to fight another day.

British Prisoners at Dunkirk, France.

Photo Credit: General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of the National Archives

Works Cited: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/540150