On 8 May 1995, the British prime minister, John Major, referred to the end of World War II as the end of a thirty years’ war; in this, he was correct: both sides saw this war as an attempt to complete a task left undone at the close of the First World War – the show-down which ended European global domination. The Second World War was, however, the ultimate catastrophe of modern history, laying waste the heart and soul of Europe. Here you will find contributions about this conflict, its prelude, conduct, and personalities – excluding non-military Nazi personalities, which are covered under the entry “Third Reich Era.” Also covered are contributions dealing with war crimes (and lies about alleged war crimes) committed in the course of the conflict. This does not include the “Holocaust,” which has a separate entry (and is not a war crime in the strict sense).
By Kenneth V. Iserson ∙ January 1, 1994
Kenneth V. Iserson “Japanese skulls were much-envied trophies among U.S. Marines in the Pacific theater during World War II. The practice of collecting them apparently began after the bloody conflict on Guadalcanal, when the troops set up the skulls as ornaments or totems atop poles as a type of warning. The Marines boiled the skulls…
By Alfred M. De Zayas ∙ January 1, 1989
Following are the events surrounding the sinking of the German ship, Erich Giese on 13 April 1940 by the British Navy. Captain Karl Smidt explained during his Paris deposition on 23 August 1940: “While the crew of some 200 men was swimming in the water, the British destroyers opened fire against us with machine guns…
By Ilya Ehrenburg ∙ January 1, 1942
The following text is from premier Soviet propagandist Ilya Ehrenburg. Spurred on by this brand of ethnic hatred, it is no wonder that the Red Army committed such a vast number of atrocities. “The Germans are not human beings. Henceforth the word German means to us the most terrible curse. From now on the word…
By Alfred M. De Zayas ∙ January 1, 1989
Statement of Corporal Walter Segel before Judge Sauermann: “Together with my troops I went on board a Greek caique on 17 May 1941 and we sailed from Piraeus in order to land on the western shore of Crete on 20 May to give support to the parachute troops. We sailed in a convoy of 21…
By Alfred M. De Zayas ∙ January 1, 1989
First report of three judges from the military court at Prague, Hans Boetticher, Georg Hurtig, and Horst Reger. The report dated 29 September 1939 describes their work in the province of Posen between 18 and 28 September: “Witness depositions were not limited to ethnic Germans but also extended to Polish persons. Polish soldiers, especially the…
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