The Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal which started on November 20, 1945, continued this December 11th in 1945. As evidence continued to pile up, and revolting revelation after revolting revelation turned this investigation of War Crimes into a ghastly exposé of the sickness that was Nazi Germany during World War 2, those responsible faced a withering reality and a defeated country faced the grim education in allowing it to happen.
On this day, Prosecution introduced evidence, from German documents, how 4,795,000 foreign civilians and 1,873,000 prisoners of War became work slaves and how millions of laborers from occupied Eastern European countries were recruited after Prisoners of War had died from starvation in order to fill the gaps in keeping the German war machine operating. The Prosecution went on to add that, the recruitment process employed by the Nazis “probably had their origin only in the blackest periods of the Slave Trade”.
While the Prosecution read the list of horrors, the Defendants, wearing dark glasses, squirmed and didn’t look up. Even the self-proclaimed innocent Albert Speer, looked particularly nervous because, as Minister of Armaments And Ammunition, it was Speer who ordered POW’s to work in Armament Production and to be taken from camps for that purpose.
Further evidence indicated, that out of some 5 million workers recruited to work for the Reich, not even 200 thousand came to work voluntarily.
The day and evidence continued, and it had only just begun. Coming in following days was scheduled evidence on the treatment of Jews in Germany and later, testimony on treatment of the French, during their occupation by the Nazis.
No matter how bad and how damning the evidence was by the end of this December 11th in 1945, it was promising to be only the tip of a very dark and ugly iceberg in the days and weeks ahead. And the reports from Nuremberg would become regular reminders until the trials ended in 1946.
Here is the report from Nuremberg on December 11, 1945 as reported by Arthur Gaith for Mutual News.
Past Daily is trudging along and we’re always looking for your help. We don’t run ads so we need contributors to keep us up and running. Costs even more now than it did this time last year. But we’re still offering you the best of what’s in the archive – yes, this is all from our Collection (except the sessions and concerts – gotta give credit where credit is due – BBC 6 Music and Radio X in London and RNE In Madrid are essential sources of finding new music) but everything is the result of yours truly digging into boxes, climbing over shelves, falling into dumpsters. It’s history, it’s important and it’s yours if you want it. All you have to do, if you’re up for it, is subscribe via Patreon (that little box at the bottom of this post) – click on it and you’ll be taken to their site where you can subscribe to Past Daily, let them know how much you want to donate – or check us out for free, test drive our site as it were and decide to become part of the Past Daily experience. Simple, painless and we’ll love you for it. Do it if you can and you’ll be able to download your own copy of all our posts and new ones as they appear. Kind of cool, don’t you think? But you have to become a Patron in order to do it. Think about it – no pressure – honest – really . . no pressure. But there’s this landlord . . . .
Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal: ‘Supposedly Civilized Human Beings’ – December 11, 1945
The Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal which started on November 20, 1945, continued this December 11th in 1945. As evidence continued to pile up, and revolting revelation after revolting revelation turned this investigation of War Crimes into a ghastly exposé of the sickness that was Nazi Germany during World War 2, those responsible faced a withering reality and a defeated country faced the grim education in allowing it to happen.
On this day, Prosecution introduced evidence, from German documents, how 4,795,000 foreign civilians and 1,873,000 prisoners of War became work slaves and how millions of laborers from occupied Eastern European countries were recruited after Prisoners of War had died from starvation in order to fill the gaps in keeping the German war machine operating. The Prosecution went on to add that, the recruitment process employed by the Nazis “probably had their origin only in the blackest periods of the Slave Trade”.
While the Prosecution read the list of horrors, the Defendants, wearing dark glasses, squirmed and didn’t look up. Even the self-proclaimed innocent Albert Speer, looked particularly nervous because, as Minister of Armaments And Ammunition, it was Speer who ordered POW’s to work in Armament Production and to be taken from camps for that purpose.
Further evidence indicated, that out of some 5 million workers recruited to work for the Reich, not even 200 thousand came to work voluntarily.
The day and evidence continued, and it had only just begun. Coming in following days was scheduled evidence on the treatment of Jews in Germany and later, testimony on treatment of the French, during their occupation by the Nazis.
No matter how bad and how damning the evidence was by the end of this December 11th in 1945, it was promising to be only the tip of a very dark and ugly iceberg in the days and weeks ahead. And the reports from Nuremberg would become regular reminders until the trials ended in 1946.
Here is the report from Nuremberg on December 11, 1945 as reported by Arthur Gaith for Mutual News.
Past Daily is trudging along and we’re always looking for your help. We don’t run ads so we need contributors to keep us up and running. Costs even more now than it did this time last year. But we’re still offering you the best of what’s in the archive – yes, this is all from our Collection (except the sessions and concerts – gotta give credit where credit is due – BBC 6 Music and Radio X in London and RNE In Madrid are essential sources of finding new music) but everything is the result of yours truly digging into boxes, climbing over shelves, falling into dumpsters. It’s history, it’s important and it’s yours if you want it. All you have to do, if you’re up for it, is subscribe via Patreon (that little box at the bottom of this post) – click on it and you’ll be taken to their site where you can subscribe to Past Daily, let them know how much you want to donate – or check us out for free, test drive our site as it were and decide to become part of the Past Daily experience. Simple, painless and we’ll love you for it. Do it if you can and you’ll be able to download your own copy of all our posts and new ones as they appear. Kind of cool, don’t you think? But you have to become a Patron in order to do it. Think about it – no pressure – honest – really . . no pressure. But there’s this landlord . . . .
Share this:
Like this:
Related
Recent Posts
Charles Munch And The Boston Symphony Rehearse Music Of Schubert – 1951 – Past Daily Weekend
It’s March 1985 – You’re A Teenager – You Live In L.A. – You Have Four Less Teeth Today.
Federico Fellini Discusses The Controversy Around La Dolce Vita – 1960 – Past Daily Weekend Gallimaufry
Earl “Fatha” Hines – Chicago – 1938 – Past Daily Downbeat
Art Linkletter’s House Party – January 13, 1967 – Weekend Pop Chronicles