war crimes of world war ii. rape of nanking bombing of london japanese internment bataan death...
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War Crimes of World War II
War Crimes of World War II
Rape of Nanking
Bombing of London
Japanese Internment
Bataan Death March
Firebombing of Dresden
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Key Definitions
Crimes Against Peace: Planning and waging an aggressive war.
War Crime: Acts against the customs of warfare such as the killing of hostages and prisoners, the plundering of private property, or the destruction of towns and cities.
Crimes Against Humanity: The murder, extermination, deportation, or enslavement of civilians.
Rape of Nanking
December 13, 1937 Japan captures Chinese capitol of Nanking
Burned city to ground Raped 20,000 women Killed @ least 200,000
civilians Only 7 Japanese
leaders including Hirohito were tried & convicted of war crimes
Rape of Nanking
Why, do you suppose, only 7 Japanese commanders were
convicted of war crimes considering the magnitude of this atrocity?
Bombing of London
Summer of 1940 German Luftwaffe
began series of air attacks on England
Nazi purpose: make British feel there was no way to win war
Night raids on London Meant to hit civilian
centers & cause as much loss of life as possible
Bombing of London
How can a country, during times of war, justify targeting civilian
centers?
Japanese Internment Camps
Early 1942 Executive Order 9066 112,000 men, women
& children shipped to camps
National Security Interest
Loss of civil rights, houses, businesses, etc.
Retribution paid did not match that of what they lost
Japanese Internment Camps
During times of war, which has precedent: National Security or
Civil Rights?
Bataan Death March
1942 76,000 US and Filipino
POW’s captured by Japan
Force-Marched 63 miles to prison camp
Only 54,000 lived to reach camp
Starved, beaten, killed, tortured or fell ill due to dysentery
1946 Japanese commander convicted and executed
Bataan Death March
How would you defend the Japanese commander who ordered the “death
march” during the war crimes tribunal?
Firebombing of Dresden
February 1945 British & US Forces
attack Dresden in 3 short raids
Dropped more than 900,000 pounds of incendiary bombs
Temps rose to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit
No military centers were intended to be hit
Firebombing of Dresden
Discuss the reasons why the British and the Americans should or should not have been held responsible for
the deaths of the Dresden population?
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki
August 6th 1945 4 Sq Miles of Hiroshima
was obliterated (9000 degrees Fahrenheit)
80% of buildings and people disappeared
78,000 killed instantly August 9th, 1945 –
Nagasaki 35,000 people killed 60,000 people wounded Lasting effects for years
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Discuss: Do the ends justify the means?
Winners vs. Losers
Should the Allies have been tried for the crimes committed against the
Japanese and Germans?