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End of WWII and Nuremberg Trials

The End of World War II and its Aftermath

Overview

  • End of War in Europe: Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.
  • Key conferences held to reconstruct Europe post-war: Yalta Conference (Feb 1945), Potsdam Conference (July-Aug 1945).

Yalta Conference

  • Participants: "Big Three" - Winston Churchill (UK), Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA), Joseph Stalin (USSR).
  • Significance: Last meeting for FDR; key decisions for post-war Europe made during an active WWII.

Key Topics Discussed at Yalta:

  1. Unconditional Surrender of Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan).
  2. Formation of the United Nations to maintain peace, reflecting lessons from the League of Nations.
  3. Division of Austria and Germany into 4 occupied zones: US, UK, France, and USSR.
  4. Berlin Division: Symbolizes balance of power; significant for strategic control.
  5. Soviet Sphere of Influence: Concern over potential communist expansion in Eastern Europe.
    • Roosevelt and Churchill’s push for Self-Determination in Eastern Europe.
  6. War Crimes Prosecution: Commitment made to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.

Self-Determination and Poland:

  • Stalin's demand for influence in Poland; an agreement on temporary government structure while ensuring free elections.

Potsdam Conference

  • Occurred post-German surrender; tension escalates with Stalin’s push for communist governments in Eastern Europe.

Decisions Made:

  1. Confirmed Polish Borders: The lines discussed at Yalta ratified, with the Oder-Neisse Line established.
  2. Truman's Atomic Bomb Revelation: Truman learned of atomic bomb readiness, issued the Potsdam Declaration to Japan (unconditional surrender demanded).

Transition to Cold War

  • Emergence of the Cold War due to ideological conflicts:
    • USA: Capitalist and democratic
    • USSR: Communist
  • The two superpowers grapple for influence in Europe and worldwide.

Nuremberg Trials

  • Established to hold accountable major war criminals from WWII.

Charges Against Nazis:

  1. Conspiracy to Seize Power (overthrow government).
  2. Crimes Against Peace: Planning and waging aggressive wars.
  3. War Crimes: Traditional violations of war laws and treatment of POWs.
  4. Crimes Against Humanity: Actions like genocide and atrocities in concentration camps.

Prosecution Evidence:

  • Documentation of Nazi planning, testimonies, and evidence of crimes, including films depicting concentration camp atrocities.

Defense Strategies:

  1. Following Orders: Claim of compulsion under orders.
  2. Insanity Defense: Arguing mental incapacity.
  3. Ex Post Facto: Arguing against being charged for crimes that weren’t defined at the time they were committed.

Key Figures in Trials:

  • Defendants included key Nazi leaders: Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, others involved in orchestrating war crimes and the Holocaust.

Legacy of the Trials:

  • The conviction of several leaders and establishment of legal precedent for future war crimes. The ongoing pursuit of justice by Nazi Hunters underlines the lasting impact of these events.
  • The Nuremberg Trials set a global standard for the prosecution of war crimes and the principles of international law.