The LiberationThe LiberationThe Nuremberg TrialsThe Nuremberg Trials

By Jack MyerBy Jack Myer

Liberation of campsLiberation of camps First to liberate the camp First to liberate the camp

prisoners were the Soviets.prisoners were the Soviets. On July 23,1944, they On July 23,1944, they

arrived at the Majdanek arrived at the Majdanek camp in Poland and overran camp in Poland and overran several other camps.several other camps.

On January 27, 1945, they On January 27, 1945, they arrived at the Auschwitz arrived at the Auschwitz camp and found hundreds camp and found hundreds of sick and exhausted of sick and exhausted people.people.

The Germans had been The Germans had been forced to leave, leaving the forced to leave, leaving the prisoners to fend for prisoners to fend for themselves.themselves.

Liberation of camps cont.Liberation of camps cont. American, British, American, British,

Canadian, and French Canadian, and French soldiers also freed soldiers also freed camps.camps.

While Americans freed While Americans freed the Buchenwald and the Buchenwald and Dachau camps, the Dachau camps, the British liberated the British liberated the Bergen-Belsen camp.Bergen-Belsen camp.

They were shocked by They were shocked by all the bodies that were all the bodies that were found lying around and found lying around and the condition of those the condition of those still living.still living.

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials After the war, trials After the war, trials

were held for those were held for those who were responsible who were responsible for the Holocaust.for the Holocaust.

Taking place in Taking place in Nuremberg, Germany, Nuremberg, Germany, from 1945-46, judges from 1945-46, judges from the Allied Powers: from the Allied Powers: USA, USSR, UK, and USA, USSR, UK, and France, presided over France, presided over the hearing of 22 Nazi the hearing of 22 Nazi criminals. criminals.

ChargesCharges There were four main There were four main

charges against the charges against the officials and the Nazi officials and the Nazi PartyParty

They charged with, They charged with, “conspiracy to wage “conspiracy to wage aggressive war,” aggressive war,” “waging an aggressive “waging an aggressive war” (or “crime war” (or “crime against peace,”) “war against peace,”) “war crimes,” and “crimes crimes,” and “crimes against humanity.” against humanity.”

SentencesSentences 12 prominent Nazis were 12 prominent Nazis were

convicted and sentenced to convicted and sentenced to death, due to their direct death, due to their direct involvement in the involvement in the Holocaust.Holocaust.

Some admitted to the Some admitted to the crimes they were accused crimes they were accused of, saying they were just of, saying they were just following orders.following orders.

Other key people involved Other key people involved in the Holocaust, including in the Holocaust, including high-level government high-level government officials and business officials and business executives that used executives that used prisoners for forced labor, prisoners for forced labor, were given short prison were given short prison sentences or no sentence sentences or no sentence at all.at all.

Later TrialsLater Trials Trials against the Nazis Trials against the Nazis

continued to take place continued to take place both in Germany and in both in Germany and in other countries.other countries.

In 1961, Simon Wiesenthal, In 1961, Simon Wiesenthal, a Nazi hunter found Adolf a Nazi hunter found Adolf Eichmann, who helped Eichmann, who helped carry out the deportation of carry out the deportation of millions of Jews. Eichmann millions of Jews. Eichmann was found in Argentina and was found in Argentina and brought to trial in Israel.brought to trial in Israel.

Many survivors were Many survivors were witnesses for the trial, witnesses for the trial, which was followed all over which was followed all over the world. Eichmann was the world. Eichmann was found guilty and executed found guilty and executed in 1962.in 1962.

BibliographyBibliography http://www.historyplace.com/worldwahttp://www.historyplace.com/worldwa

r2/timeline/nurem.htmr2/timeline/nurem.htm http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projhttp://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj

ects/ftrials/nuremberg/nurembergACects/ftrials/nuremberg/nurembergACCOUNT.htmlCOUNT.html

http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/wcrime.htmwcrime.htm