Contributions of Minorities to Allies Minority units won numerous medals for bravery in action.
Tuskegee Airmen Squad of black air fighter pilots who served in Europe No pilots were shot down during war
Nisei Regiments Asian American groups who worked as spies and soldiers
Codetalkers Navajo Indians who used their language to code US messages in Pacific
Mexican Americans Only Minority group to fight in non-segregated military units
WWII – War Crimes
War Crimes Brutal crimes were committed against the innocent by all countries involved in war Millions of innocent people were killed by random bombing, genocide, and discrimination
Bataan Death March American POWs suffered brutal treatment by the Japanese after the surrender of the Philippines. Forced to march through jungle without food or water
Holocaust
Holocaust Genocide: The systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or cultural group Final solution: Hitler’s decision to exterminate all Jews Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps to be killed
Holocaust Holocaust victims: 11 million total Jews (6 million) Poles Slavs Gypsies “Undesirables” (homosexuals, mentally ill, political dissidents)
Nuremburg Trials Nazi leaders and others were convicted of war crimes Emphasized individual responsibility for actions during a war, regardless of orders received Led to increased demand for a Jewish homeland
Japanese Americans were sent to camps (prison) during the war Japanese Internment Japanese Americans were sent to camps (prison) during the war
Reasons for Internment Strong anti-Japanese prejudice on the West Coast False belief that Japanese Americans were aiding the enemy
Internment Japanese sued gov’t for violating their civil rights Supreme Court Case of Korematsu vs United States ruled US did not violate Japanese civil rights
Internment A public apology was eventually issued by the U.S. government in 1980’s. Financial restitution was made to survivors
Geneva Convention Meeting in Switzerland to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners of war by establishing rules to be followed by all nations “The conduct of war often reflects social and moral codes of a nation “ Set up the rules of war for future wars