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The Nuremberg Trials

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The Nuremberg Trials
War crimes, in practice, are offenses charged against the losers of the war by victor. During WW II there were three types of war crimes were committed by Germany. The first: crimes against peace, which included preparing for and starting a war of aggression in violation of treaties. The second: murder, ill treatment, the killing of hostages; plunder of public or private property; the destruction of cities and towns. The third: crimes against humanity, which include persecution on racial, political, or religious grounds either before or during a war. All of these violations were raised on
Germany's actions.
Trials of the Nazi leaders begun on October 18, 1945, and lasted for 10 months. Trials of Japanese leaders began on May 3, 1946 in Tokyo and ended on November 12, 1948. There were more than 2,000 lesser trials accusing Nazi leaders of wrong doing. Even more took place in the Soviet
Union. Most of the war criminals were convicted, and many were also executed. The Nuremberg Trials, one of the more substantial trials, accused 22
German Nazi leaders of war crimes. Altogether 12 were sentenced to death, including Keitel, Ribbentrop, Rosenberg, Bromann (who was tried in absentia), and Goering (who committed suicide). Only three, including Hess were given life sentences. Just four, including Doenitz and Speer were sentenced to up to 20 years of prison. Amazingly, three including Papen and
Schacht were acquitted. These trials brought some anger and sadness. The prosecution took almost four months to present their case to the jury.
Each man who was being tried was a major part of the whole Nazi power. Albert Speer (1905-81) was a German architect and public official who became Hitler's number one architect. Albert devised a system of slave labor which showed in the concentration camps. Albert served 20 years in
prison.

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