The Last Days of WWII

The Last Days of WWII chronicles the unrelenting Allied advance through Europe that finally crushed Hitler's Third Reich. First-hand footage and expert commentary follow the decisive ground battles and strategic bombing missions from D-Day through the capture of Berlin. It also examines the after-effects of the war, from the wrenching drama of the Nuremberg Trials to the revelations of the Nazis' last, desperate acts, including their attempts to hide looted treasures and develop secret weapons.

The Last Days of WWII would be useful for classes on European History, American History, Geography, Military History and Ethics. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

Justice at Nuremberg

In the months that followed the end of WWII, many horrific revelations came to light, but it was not until the Nuremberg trials that the full breadth of Nazi atrocities was revealed. Through 200 days of gripping testimony, the world watched as the inner workings of the Third Reich were exposed in the final accounting of Hitler's crimes against humanity.

• apathetic
• ascertain
• atrocities
• communiqué
• concessions
• dais
• degradation
• delegation
• eloquent
• fiasco
• genocide
• gregarious
• incongruous
• indictment
• jurisdiction
• malignant
• precarious
• refute
• succumb

Discussion Questions

1. The Allied forces insisted that Germany surrender unconditionally. What is meant by an unconditional surrender? Why did the Allied forces insist on an unconditional surrender?

2. WWII has been called both a war and a crime. Why was WWII a crime? How was it different than other wars?

3. The war crimes trials were held in Nuremberg. Why were they held there?

4. Nazi leaders were charged with

5. Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced to death by hanging at the Nuremberg trials. The Nazi leaders pleaded for death by firing squad. Why did the method of execution matter so much to both the Nazis and their accusers?

6. Hermann Goering defied the Nuremberg judgement by committing suicide. How was he able to do this even though he was imprisoned and under constant surveillance?

7. Why did Goering's suicide embarrass the United States Army?

8. The most obvious reason for the Nuremberg trials was to punish the men responsible for WWII atrocities. But the trials served another purpose. What was it? Why, in the scope of history, was this purpose more important than the fate of the accused men?

9. Was it just to execute the Nazi leaders? If so, why? If not, why not?

Extended Activities

1. Create a poster that celebrates the end of WWII.

2. Imagine that you are a journalist and you witness the liberation of a Nazi death camp. Write an article for your readers that conveys the impact of what you witnessed.

3. There are some people today who are trying to prove that the Holocaust never happened. How would you prove to these people that it did happen?

Related Videos

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Air Dates

• June 07, 2005
• June 06, 2006