WWII – War WWII – War CrimesCrimes

War CrimesWar Crimes

• During WWII, brutal crimes were committed against the innocent by all countries involved in war

• Millions of innocent people were killed by random bombing, genocide, and discrimination

Bataan Death MarchBataan Death March• American POWs suffered brutal

treatment by the Japanese after the surrender of the Philippines in 1942.

• Forced to march through jungle without food or water

• The treatment of POW’s in the Pacific war reflected the savagery of the fighting

HolocaustHolocaust

HolocaustHolocaust

• Genocide: The systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or cultural group

• Final solution: Hitler’s decision to exterminate all Jews

• Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps to be killed

HolocaustHolocaust

• Holocaust victims: 11 million total–Jews (6 million)

–Poles

–Slavs

–Gypsies

–“Undesirables” (homosexuals, mentally ill, political dissidents)

Nuremburg TrialsNuremburg Trials

• Nazi leaders and others were convicted of war crimes

• Emphasized individual responsibility for actions during a war, regardless of orders received

• Led to increased demand for a Jewish homeland

Japanese Japanese InternmentInternment

Japanese Americans were sent to camps (prison) during

the war

Reasons for InternmentReasons for Internment

• Strong anti-Japanese prejudice on the West Coast

• False belief that Japanese Americans were aiding the enemy

InternmentInternment

• Japanese sued gov’t for violating their civil rights

• Supreme Court Case of Korematsu vs United States ruled US did not violate Japanese civil rights

InternmentInternment

• A public apology was eventually issued by the U.S. government in 1980’s.

• Financial restitution was made to survivors

Geneva ConventionGeneva Convention

• Meeting in Switzerland to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners of war by establishing rules to be followed by all nations

• “The conduct of war often reflects social and moral codes of a nation “

• Set up the rules of war for future wars