On 31 December 1945, Frederic William Eggleston, Australia’s minister to the U.S., sends a note to the U.S. Secretary of State detailing the agreement between the British Commonwealth Governments and the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) on the participation of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) in the post-war occupation of Japan.
Following Japan’s surrender in August 1945, the United States, under General Douglas MacArthur as SCAP, assumed primary responsibility for administering the occupation of Japan. However, other Allied nations, particularly members of the British Commonwealth, sought involvement to reflect their contributions to the war effort and to maintain influence in shaping Japan`s future. This led to discussions between SCAP and the Commonwealth governments, primarily Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and India, regarding their role in the occupation.
Negotiations have centered on the composition, command structure, and deployment of Commonwealth forces. The British Commonwealth emphasized that their participation would underscore the multinational nature of the occupation and help distribute the responsibility for Japan’s transformation into a peaceful, democratic state. Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott, an experienced Australian officer, has been appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the BCOF.
The BCOF will be composed of troops from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and India, with Australia contributing the largest share. Discussions with SCAP have focused on the idea that BCOF’s presence should not dilute U.S. command but should instead complement American forces by managing specific responsibilities within Japan and by ensuring that BCOF troops remain under SCAP`s overall command.
By the middle of this month, it was agreed that the BCOF would occupy regions in western Japan, particularly Hiroshima Prefecture, including key locations such as Kure.
In his note today, Eggleston affirms the British Commonwealth Governments’ support for the finalized arrangement.
Picture: Troops for the BCOF bound for Japan. West Maitland Railway Station on 3 March 1946.
Source: Greg and Sylvia Ray’s Ken Magor collection
On 30 December 1945, Allied authorities announce the discovery of Adolf Hitler`s last will and testament.
Hitler dictated his last will and political testament on the night of 29 April 1945, less than 24 hours before his suicide on 30 April. The document was prepared by his secretary, Traudl Junge, and signed in the bunker in the presence of witnesses, including Joseph Goebbels, Martin Bormann, and two aides.
In his political testament, Hitler blamed the outbreak of the war on international Jewry and criticized his military leaders for their failures. He also reiterated his decision to remain in Berlin to face the end rather than flee, portraying this as a gesture of loyalty to his people. Hitler formally appointed Karl Dönitz as his successor as President and Joseph Goebbels as Chancellor, ensuring the continuity of the Nazi regime even as it collapsed.
In his will, Hitler left his art collection to a gallery in his hometown of Linz, Austria, and all other items of sentimental value to his `brothers and sisters`, Eva Braun`s family, and his then-current and old secretaries. Everything was to be given to the Nazi Party, or if the NSDAP was to disappear, to the Nazi state - he added at the end that if the Third Reich is to cease existing, "no further decision of mine is necessary."
After the will was signed, Martin Bormann tasked three couriers—SS officers Wilhelm Zander, Heinz Lorenz, and Major Willi Johannmeier, the assistant to Gen. Burgdorf—with smuggling copies of the documents out of Berlin. Their mission was to deliver the testament to Karl Dönitz in northern Germany, where remnants of the Nazi government were attempting to reorganize. They fled Berlin as Soviet forces encircled the city, hiding the documents among their belongings.
Zander and Lorenz were captured by U.S. forces recently in Bavaria, after months in hiding, and revealed the documents. The will has since been authenticated through handwriting analysis and the testimony of surviving bunker personnel, including Traudl Junge.
Today, Allied authorities announce the discovery to the public.
Picture: War correspondents examined a couch stained with blood inside Hitler’s bunker.
Source: LIFE
On 29 December 1945, Korean civilians riot and attack U.S. troops in Seoul in protest against the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers that places Korea under a four-power trusteeship involving the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and China.
The desire for independence had been a driving force in Korea long before the end of World War II. During the war, the Provisional Government of Korea in exile, led by figures such as Syngman Rhee and Kim Gu, lobbied for international recognition and Korean sovereignty. When Japan surrendered in August 1945, Koreans anticipated swift liberation and self-governance. However, the sudden division of the peninsula along the 38th parallel, agreed upon by the U.S. and the Soviet Union, dampened hopes for a unified and independent Korea.
In the south, the U.S. Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), led by General John R. Hodge, has faced rising resentment from Koreans as U.S. authorities retained Japanese colonial officials to maintain order, delaying the purging of collaborators. At the same time, USAMGIK has struggled to engage effectively with Korean nationalist groups.
In the north, the Soviet Union quickly has its influence by supporting the People’s Committee under Kim Il-sung, emphasizing communist ideology.
The agreement reached at the Moscow Conference, which we covered in our 26 December post, proposes a five-year trusteeship to oversee Korea’s transition to independence. While intended to prevent domination by any single power, the proposal runs counter to the wishes of the vast majority of Koreans, who view such arrangements as a continuation of foreign occupation rather than a step toward sovereignty.
The announcement of the agreement and communiqué two days later sparked immediate backlash. Nationalist leaders in the south, including Kim Gu, vehemently opposed the plan.
Today, thousands flood the streets of Seoul in protest, which quickly escalates into rioting against USAMGIK troops.
Picture: Citizens marching to Seoul stadium chant "Long Live the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea", December 1945
Source: Courtesy of Don O`Brien
On 28 December 1945, the U.S. enacts the War Brides Act, enabling foreign spouses and children of U.S. servicemen to immigrate without being restricted by the stringent immigration quotas.
During the war, over 1 million American servicemen were stationed abroad at any moment, and many formed relationships with locals. It is estimated that over 100,000 marriages occurred between U.S. servicemen and foreign women, with the largest numbers of `war brides` coming from Britain (70,000), followed by Australia (15,000) and New Zealand (1,500). Smaller numbers of such marriages occurred in France, Italy, and other Allied nations. These marriages often resulted in children, further underscoring the urgency of allowing these families to reunite stateside.
The Immigration Act of 1924 imposed strict national-origin quotas that heavily favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while severely limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and virtually barring it from Asia. For example, the annual quota for British immigrants was 65,721, while for Italian immigrants, it was only 5,802, and for Japanese immigrants, it was zero. These restrictions would have made it nearly impossible for many `war brides` and their children to enter the U.S. under the existing laws.
Today, Congress votes to enact the War Brides Act to address these issues. The Act exempts foreign-born spouses and children of U.S. military personnel from national-origin quotas, streamlining the immigration process and waiving many restrictive requirements, such as literacy tests and the need to prove financial self-sufficiency. The Act also applies retroactively, allowing families to reunite even if the marriages had occurred earlier in the war.
However, the legislation excludes foreign spouses from Germany, Japan, and other nations that are still considered hostile to the U.S.
The Act demonstrates a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy toward a more compassionate and pragmatic approach.
Picture: Dorothy Tomkins and John Carley on their wedding day with their bridal party, July 1945.
Source: Courtesy of the Carley Family via the Queensland Museum
On 27 December 1945, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is formally established with the arrival of the 29th ratification of the Articles of Agreement.
The IMF originated from the agreements made at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in July last year. The conference, attended by representatives from 44 Allied nations, sought to create institutions that would stabilize the post-war economy and encourage global cooperation. Alongside the establishment of the World Bank, the IMF was envisioned as a mechanism to oversee fixed exchange rates, provide financial support to nations facing balance-of-payments crises, and foster international trade.
Some of the more fierce debates at Bretton Woods centered on the structure and function of the IMF. The U.S. delegate, economist Harry Dexter White, advocated for an organization focused on stabilizing exchange rates and providing loans to address short-term financial difficulties. Economist John Maynard Keynes, representing the United Kingdom, proposed a more expansive vision, including the creation of a global currency called `Bancor` and a clearing union to manage international imbalances. While Keynes’s vision was ultimately scaled back, his ideas have influenced the IMF`s focus on promoting global financial stability.
Today, the final of the required 29 ratifications is submitted and the IMF formally comes into existence.
According to the Articles of Agreement, the IMF`s primary functions include:
Exchange rate stability by establishing a fixed exchange rate system pegged to the U.S. dollar, which in turn is convertible to gold at $35 per ounce.
Financial support to member states from a pool of finances contributed by themselves to provide loans to states experiencing temprary balance-of-payments deficits.
The IMF is tasked with monitoring the economic policies of its members to ensure compliance with agreed-upon standards and to foster international cooperation.
Picture: Bretton Woods Conference - The United Nations meets at the Mount Washington Hotel to discuss programs of economic cooperation and progress.
Source: Getty Images
On 26 December 1945, the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers concludes, with the U.S., Soviet Union, and United Kingdom issuing a joint communiqué.
Vyacheslav Molotov, Soviet Foreign Minister, James F. Byrnes, U.S. Secretary of State, and Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Secretary, met first on 16 December to discuss some of the lingering questions of post-war governance and reconstruction.
The three foreign ministers reaffirmed the commitment to establish a Far Eastern Commission and an Allied Council for Japan, designed to oversee Japan’s reconstruction and democratization. While Molotov has insisted on greater influence in the council, an issue over which a series of harsh notes were exchanged as covered in our 12 November post, the U.S. maintains its leading role through General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan.
While Molotov has been claiming legitimate reasons for Soviet actions and continued presence in northern Iran, Byrnes and Bevin pressed him for adherence to earlier agreements.
The ministers have also agreed to establish a Joint Soviet-American Commission to facilitate the creation of a unified, independent Korea. The commission’s role will be to assist in forming a provisional government, though sharp ideological divides may foreshadow challenges in implementation.
Minimal progress was made on the issue of the political future of Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria, with the Soviets insisting on their strategic importance for security, while the U.S. and UK continue to push for democratic governments and free elections.
Despite the difficult discussions, the three powers issue a final communiqué today that boils down to agreements to:
1. Establish the Far Eastern Commission and Allied Council for Japan.
2. Recognize Iran’s sovereignty and withdraw foreign troops.
3. Form a Joint Soviet-American Commission for Korea.
4. Commitments to negotiating treaties with Axis satellite states.
5. Reaffirmation of Allied control mechanisms in Germany, emphasizing unity in reconstruction.
Picture: Bevin (left), Molotov (center), Byrnes (right), Moscow, December 1945
Source: Wide World photo
On 25 December 1945, Admiral Shigematsu Sakaibara, former Japanese commander of Wake Island, is sentenced to death by hanging for ordering the execution of 98 American POWs in October 1943.
The execution of the prisoners and how the perpetrators were revealed have been covered in our post two days ago, on 23 December.
Following the incriminating statement left by Sakaibara`s subordinate, Lieutenant Commander Toraji Ito, after his suicide, the trial progressed quickly. The prosecution emphasized the deliberate and premeditated nature of the crime, presenting evidence that Sakaibara had personally approved and directed the executions. Witness accounts confirmed that Lieutenant Commander Shoichi Tachibana, under Sakaibara’s orders, led the executions of the prisoners on the beach, who were blindfolded and shot.
Sakaibara’s defense argued that the executions were a military necessity, claiming that the prisoners posed a security risk due to the possibility of an imminent American invasion. The defense attempted to portray Sakaibara as a commander under immense pressure, acting in the best interest of his troops and the Japanese war effort.
However, the prosecution countered that the POWs were defenseless civilians and posed no immediate threat, making the massacre an unequivocal violation of the laws of war.
Today, Sakaibara appears in front of the U.S. Navy War Crimes Commission and gives a final statement.
He says he wished he had never heard of Wake Island. But his most strikin comment is on morality in war. A nation that drops atom bombs on major cities, the admiral explains, does not have the moral authority to try so many of his countrymen. Sakaibara claims there was little difference between himself and the victors over Japan.
He closes his statement with: ˝I think my trial was entirely unfair and the proceeding unfair, and the sentence too harsh, but I obey with pleasure.˝
Moments later, the commission reads Sakaibara`s sentence - death by hanging.
Picture: Sakaibara reads his final statement before being sentenced
Source: U.S. Navy 80-G-495958
On 24 December 1945, Pope Pius XII broadcasts his Christmas message, calling for collaboration, trust, and an end to totalitarianism in the post-war world.
The Pope`s broadcast reads, in parts, as follows:
˝Thus, what a sigh of relief emerged from all our hearts at the news that the bloody conflict had ended, first in Europe, then in Asia! How many fervent prayers had risen to the throne of the Almighty during those long years of struggle, asking Him to shorten the days of affliction and to stay the hands of the angels pouring out the vials of God`s wrath upon the sins of the world! Now, for the first time, the human family will once again, through divine mercy, celebrate a Christmas feast where the terrors of war on land, at sea, and above all in the air no longer fill so many hearts with fear and mortal anguish...
The Peace on Earth? The True Peace?
No, but only the "post-war" period, a painful and all-too-significant expression! How much time will be required to heal the material and moral sickness, how many efforts will be needed to close so many wounds! Yesterday, immense territories were sown with destruction, calamities, and misery; today, as we face the task of reconstruction, humanity is only beginning to realise how much insight, prudence, righteousness, and goodwill are needed to lead the world back from physical and spiritual devastation to justice, order, and peace...
The Church’s Role in Peace
We do not intend to delve into the practical solutions they may propose for such complex problems. However, We deem it Our duty, as in previous Christmas messages during the war, to point out the fundamental moral prerequisites for a true and lasting peace, which We reduce to three brief considerations:
Collaboration and Trust: The present moment imperatively calls for collaboration, goodwill, and mutual trust among all peoples.
Truthful Public Opinion: It is necessary to value honest public opinion over manipulative forces.
End to Totalitarianism: The totalitarian state is incompatible with true democracy and lasting peace.˝
Picture: Pope Pius XII blesses faithful at the Vatican, 4 March 1949
Source: AFP
On 23 December 1945, Japanese Warrant Officer Tomiro Miyaki and Ensign Banguichi reverse their previous statements regarding the death of 98 U.S. POWs on Wake Island, revealing that all of them had been executed on orders of Admiral Shigematsu Sakaibara.
The U.S. garrison on Wake Island, comprising approximately 450 U.S. Marines, 68 Navy personnel, and 1,200 civilian contractors, had mounted a fierce defense against Japanese forces in December 1941. After 15 days of resistance, they were overwhelmed. They were all captured on 23 December 1941.
The majority of the military personnel were transferred to prison camps in Japan and China, but 98 civilian contractors were kept on Wake Island to perform forced labor.
By 1943, U.S. air raids on Wake Island increased, and on 5 October, aircraft from USS Yorktown hit the island hard. Two days later, on 7 October, Sakaibara ordered Lieutenant Commander Shoichi Tachibana to execute the POWs. His justification was a belief that their presence posed a threat.
The POWs were blindfolded and led to a nearby beach, where they were shot and buried in a mass grave. One prisoner managed to escape briefly, and was spotted by a Japanese soldier the following day. Tachibana`s troops dug up the bodies and recounted them to confirm, then reburied them. The escaped POW was captured three weeks later and personally beheaded by Sakaibara.
Following Japan’s surrender, Sakaibara Tachibana and Lieutenant Commander Toraji Ito were taken into custody by U.S. authorities. During the first days of their internment, they maintained that a U.S. bombing raid killed half of the POWs, while the other half were executed on the same day for attempting to seize weapons from their guards. However, Ito hanged himself and left a statement revealing the truth. Sakaibara and Tachibana have attempted to maintain their original recount of events.
However, today during questioning at the trial, Miyaki and Banguichi confirm Ito`s statement and Sakaibara`s order for execution.
Picture: Formal surrender of the Japanese garrison on Wake Island - 4 September 1945. Sakaibara is the Japanese officer in the right foreground.
Source: U.S. Navy NH 96813
On 22 December 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman allows more immigration of victims of Nazi persecution into the USA through an executive order.
The directive is clearly aimed at rearranging the 1946 immigration quotas to allow for a larger proportion of displaced persons (DPs), which is the President`s response to a growing resistance within the Government and public to migrants from Europe, particularly Jews. The directive reads:
˝The grave dislocation of populations in Europe resulting from the war has produced human suffering that the people of the United States cannot and will not ignore. This Government should take every possible measure to facilitate full immigration to the United States under existing quota laws.
The Secretary of State is directed to establish with the utmost despatch consular facilities at or near displaced person and refugee assembly center areas in the American zones of occupation. It shall be the responsibility of these consular officers, in conjunction with the Immigrant Inspectors, to determine as quickly as possible the eligibility of the applicants for visas and admission to the United States...
Visas should be distributed fairly among persons of all faiths, creeds and nationalities. I desire that special attention be devoted to orphaned children to whom it is hoped the majority of visas will be issued...
The Secretary of War, subject to limitations imposed by the Congress on War Department appropriations, will give such help as is practicable in:
(a) Furnishing information to appropriate consular officers and Immigrant Inspectors to facilitate in the selection of applicants for visas; and
(b) Assisting until other facilities suffice in: (1) transporting immigrants to a European port; (2) feeding, housing and providing medical care to such immigrants until embarked; and
(c) Making available office facilities, billets, messes, and transportation for Department of State, Department of Justice, and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration personnel...˝
Picture: People awaiting admission to No.17 Displaced Persons Assembly Centre at Hamburg Zoological Gardens.
Source: IWM BU 6629
On the afternoon of 21 December 1945, General George S. Patton passes away as a result of the paralysis caused by an automobile accident 12 days earlier.
Following the accident that had Patton rushed to a U.S. Army hospital in Heidelberg, Germany, which we covered in our 9 December post, doctors held the general in traction to stabilize his broken neck.
Initially, Patton recovered, communicating clearly with dozens of concerned officers and generals who came to visit him at once.
Surgeons x-rayed Patton, sutured his scalp wound, gave him more plasma, and placed him in traction. His condition was grave, so telephone calls went out to Washington, and two British Army neurosurgeons were summoned to help assess his wounds. Also at the hospital were about 30 correspondents, many of whom had been covering the Nuremberg war trials.
By the afternoon of 10 December, the doctors and surgeons came to an agreement that not much can be done for Patton, meaning his paralysis is permanent.
His condition continued to improve over the next three days as hundreds of get-well letters, telegrams, and cards poured into the hospital, in addition to dozens of visitors and his friends from among the Army ranks.
However, Patton`s condition began to worsen around 14 December, with him developing a heavy cough and general weakness, followed by a descent into depression.
Last night, his condition took a turn for the worse, with him barely breathing.
Throughout today, Patton asserts several times that he is going to die. Just after he fell asleep around 1700 hours, his wife Beatrice left his side for some time to rest.
At 1755 hours, Patton stopped breathing, and doctors pronounced him dead as a result of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.
Following a discussion with Patton`s longtime friend, Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes, and U.S. Army neurosurgeon Colonel R. Glen Spurling, Beatrice decides that he husband is to be buried in the American Cemetery at Hamm, a Luxembourg City suburb alongside many of the 3rd Army men he commanded.
Picture: Willie, Patton`s pet bull terrier, mourning his death
Source: U.S. National Archives 208-PU-153C-14
On 20 December 1945, the results of Austria’s first post-war elections are formally announced, with Leopold Figl of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) becoming Chancellor, and Karl Renner of the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ) pronounced President.
The elections, which we covered in our 25 November post, are the first held since the start of Allied occupation and have seen a return to Austria’s pre-war political currents. The ÖVP, a center-right Christian-democratic party with roots in the pre-war Christian Social Party, emerged as the dominant force. Its leader, Leopold Figl, embodied Austria’s Catholic and conservative traditions while presenting a vision of economic reconstruction and national unity.
Renner, a seasoned politician who had served as Chancellor and President during the interwar period, symbolizes a continuity for the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ). Despite Soviet support for his provisional government after Austria`s liberation, Renner’s pragmatic leadership has gained cross-party acceptance. His election as President is, in many ways, a balancing act between the country’s socialist tradition and a broader rejection of extremist ideologies.
The Soviet-backed Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ), though influential in the immediate post-war provisional government, failed to gain significant public support, securing just 5.4% of the vote and four seats in the National Council, showing the Austrian population’s wariness of communism.
With the ÖVP winning 49.8% of the vote and securing 85 seats in the National Council, Leopold Figl was appointed Chancellor. His leadership signifies a decisive step away from both fascism and communism, aligning Austria’s new government more closely with Western ideals. Figl’s priorities included economic recovery, restoring Austria’s sovereignty, and rebuilding national identity.
The Western Allies, particularly the United States and Britain, have applauded the ÖVP-SPÖ coalition as a positive development, ensuring that Austria would lean toward democratic governance and economic integration with Western Europe.
Picture: New post-war Austrian Government during the swearing-in ceremony.
Source: VIE 1187
On the morning of 19 December 1945, John Amery, British Nazi collaborator and organizer of the Waffen-SS British Free Corps, is executed by hanging for high treason in Wandsworth Prison.
We previously covered Amery and his record-breakingly short 8-minute trial in our 28 November post.
Meanwhile, his father, Leopold Amery, a Conservative MP and a member of Winston Churchill’s wartime cabinet, has been attempting to show that his son is pathologically insane and that his actions do not warrant a death sentence.
Twenty-seven people in Birmingham also signed a petition requesting that John Amery be reprieved, and some reports of him suffering from a severe case of tuberculosis have emerged. Additional examinations on 14 December, including an Electro-Encephalogram at The National Hospital, Queen Square, found no visible signs of physical or mental illness.
On that same day, Field Marshal Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, addressed to British Prime Minister Clement Attlee a telegram reading: ˝Please convey to Mr. Attlee a private and personal message from me as soon as possible in connection with the possible execution of Amery’s son. We have had similar cases in South Africa, in none of which execution has been inflicted, as the acts were more of an ideological than of a criminal character. I am deeply moved by consideration for Amery and his wife, both of whom have deserved well of their country.˝
Attlee replied on 15 December that the matter was solely for the Home Secretary, who has since decided that Amery`s execution is to go ahead.
Albert Pierrepoint, who just finished carrying out the executions of 11 former SS personnel sentenced for war crimes in Bergen-Belsen, which you can read about in our 13 December post, has been selected as the executioner.
Just before 0900 hours this morning, Amery is led to the gallows. Upon seeing Pierrepoint, he excitingly quips: ˝I`ve always wanted to meet you, Mr. Pierrepoint, though not, of course, under these circumstances!˝.
At 0900 hours exactly, Amery is executed.
Picture: Amery, seen here arriving at Palais de Justice concerning the passing of a forged cheque, 1936
Source: Hulton Archive
On 18 December 1945, the British House of Lords rejects the appeal of William Joyce, the Nazi propaganda broadcaster known as `Lord Haw-Haw`, confirming his death sentence for high treason.
Joyce was captured by British forces near Flensburg, Germany, earlier this year. Following his extradition to the UK, he was indicted on charges of high treason under the Treason Act of 1351. The case revolved around his wartime activities as a broadcaster for Radio Hamburg, where he delivered English-language propaganda aimed at undermining British morale.
The prosecution, led by Attorney General Sir Hartley Shawcross, built its case on the fact that Joyce had falsely obtained a British passport in 1939, shortly before leaving for Germany. Though an American by birth, Joyce had claimed British citizenship to acquire the passport, which the Crown argued established a duty of allegiance to Britain under the law. This duty made his actions during the war tantamount to treason.
Joyce’s defense has argued that he owed no true allegiance to Britain, being both American-born and having claimed Irish citizenship. The defense also contended that Joyce’s broadcasts, while inflammatory, were not directly treasonous since they did not incite action against the British Crown. Despite these arguments, the jury found Joyce guilty and sentenced him to death, which you can read more about in our 19 September post.
Joyce`s appeal was first heard by the Court of Appeal, where the defense maintained that Joyce’s obligation of allegiance ceased when his passport expired in 1940. The court, however, dismissed this argument, ruling that his use of the passport to enter Germany established a duty of allegiance.
After the appeal was raised to the House of Lords, the Lords, during their deliberations, emphasized that Joyce had knowingly sworn allegiance to the British Crown by using the falsified passport. By broadcasting propaganda that supported an enemy state, Joyce had clearly acted in breach of this allegiance.
Thus, Joyce is scheduled to be executed by hanging on 3 January.
Picture: Joyce is guarded by two soldiers after his arrest in Germany, May 1945.
Source: Getty Images
On 17 December 1945, Charles Lindbergh, speaking for the first time in public since 1941, advocates for a militarily capable world organization.
Speaking at the Aero Club dinner in Washington, D.C., he says that man`s science has brought him to a choice of whether he will live "in an organized world or in constant insecurity." He views the rapid development of aircraft and the creation of the atomic bomb as turning points that have made it "no longer a question of whether or not we should have a world organization but of what form it should take."
Lindbergh, one of America’s most celebrated aviators, rose to international fame in 1927 for completing the first solo, non-stop transatlantic flight aboard the Spirit of St. Louis. His prominence as a pioneering aviator made him a cultural icon, while his outspoken views on foreign policy during the prelude to World War II drew significant controversy. In his 1941 Des Moines speech, Lindbergh, as a leading figure in the America First Committee, warned against U.S. involvement in the war and blamed British, Jewish, and Roosevelt administration influences for pushing the nation toward conflict.
His address today marks a striking shift in perspective.
He explains his ideas as follows:
"I have advocated tonight a world organization backed by military power, an organization led by western peoples who developed modern science with its aviation and its atomic bomb... But I must confess to you that I am fearful of the use of power. I plead for strong military forces only because I believe the alternative is worse."
He further remarks that such an organization, aimed at controlling the use of aircraft and the atomic bomb, would "mark a greater epoch in human relationships than their invention marked in science. Yet, if we fail, the penalty is staggering. We can succeed only by organizing all nations toward this end."
The form of the organization, Lindbergh says, is less important than the need for it to follow a "Christian code" of "integrity, humility, and compassion that are lacking all over this post-war world."
Picture: Lindbergh speaking before a crowd gathered in Soldier`s Field, August 4th, 1940
Source: AP
On the morning of 16 December 1945, former Japanese Primer Minister Fumimaro Konoe commits suicide ahead of his departure to Sugamo Prison on charges of being a Class A war criminal.
Konoe has taken the information that he is to be arrested as a war criminal, which we covered in our 6 December post, as a great humiliation to him.
Over the last ten days, he has become increasingly anxious, showing signs of potentially planning suicide.
Last night, Konoe had a lengthy conversation with his son Michitaka, who previously searched his father`s room for poison and weapons. Konoe expressed feelings of a deep responsibility toward Emperor Hirohito and the Japanese people in general, further discussing with his son the invasion of China and diplomacy toward the Allied nations. Michitaka wrote some of his father`s thoughts down and then both retired to their rooms to sleep.
This morning, Konoe`s wife and Michitaka discover the former Prime Minister dead in his bed, with a bottle of potassium cyanide next to him.
His family and the SCAP authorities who soon arrive discover a suicide note addressed to his younger brother:
˝I have made many political mistakes since the China Incident. I feel deeply responsible, but I cannot bear to be tried as a so-called war criminal. I made it my greatest mission to resolve the war in China because I felt responsible for it.
I came to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this was to reach an understanding with the U.S., and I made every effort to negotiate with them. It is unfortunate that I am now charged, by the U.S., as a criminal.
However, those who knew my intentions understand. I am sure that there are even some Americans who understand. The excitement and passion of the war, the excessive growth of the winners, the excessive subservience of the losers, the deliberate defamation, and the rumored words and misunderstandings that are based on misunderstandings, someday regain their composure and return to normal. Only then will a judgment of justice be made in God’s court.˝
Picture: U.S. Army lieutenant kneeling by the deathbed of Prince Konoe
Source: LIFE
On 15 December 1945, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) issues the Shinto Directive, formally titled "Abolition of Governmental Sponsorship, Support, Perpetuation, Control, and Dissemination of State Shinto".
Shinto revolves around the worship of kami (sacred spirits) and a deep reverence for nature and ancestors. While Shinto traditionally lacked a centralized dogma, its practices and shrines became instrumental in fostering a sense of unity and national identity during Japan`s modernization in the late 19th century.
With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Shinto was co-opted by the state to reinforce the authority of the Emperor, now framed as a divine figure descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu. This system transformed Shinto into a nationalist ideology, intertwining religion with political and military governance. State Shinto became a tool for militarism, promoting devotion to the Emperor and legitimizing Japan’s expansionist policies.
The Potsdam Declaration called for the eradication of militarism and the democratization of Japanese society, which is what Gen. MacArthur, as SCAP, seeks to achieve by approving the directive.
The Shinto Directive explicitly prohibits the Japanese government from engaging in any activities that could perpetuate State Shinto, including:
Separation of State and Religion: The directive mandates the cessation of government funding and support for Shinto shrines. "Shinto shrines shall not receive preferential treatment from the state."
Prohibition of Compulsory Practices: It outlaws the use of State Shinto practices in public education, military indoctrination, and civil ceremonies.
Educational Reform: Schools are instructed to revise their curricula to eliminate teachings that link Shinto with state ideology or militarism.
Freedom of Religion: The directive ensures that individuals could freely practice Shinto as a private faith, alongside other religions such as Buddhism or Christianity.
Picture: Japanese Torii gate survives the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, September 1945
Source: Harry S. Truman Library and Archive
On 14 December 1945, British Indian troops and RAF aircraft attack the town of Bekasi in retaliation for the murder of 23 British and Indian soldiers by Indonesian nationalists.
The ongoing violence in Indonesia has brought about the worst behaviors from both the Indonesian nationalist troops and militias, as well as the British Indian troops sent in to facilitate the disarming of remaining Japanese troops, repatriate Allied POWs, and calm revolutionary tensions.
The brutal fight in Surabaya, covered in our 9 and 10 November posts, has led to thousands of dead Indonesian troops and civilians, while increasingly Indonesian militias have attacked British forces across Java.
A particularly grim attack happened on 24 November, when Indonesian nationalists apparently identifying themselves as the `Black Buffalos` murdered 18 Indian soldiers and 4 RAF airmen after their C-47 Dakota plane crashed near the town of Bekasi, some 13 km (8 mi) from Batavia.
In response to that, British Indian forces have been preparing over the last several days an operation aimed at finding and arresting those responsible for the murders.
Today at dawn, RAF P-47 Thunderbolts and Mosquito fighter bombers relentlessly strafe and bomb the town with high-explosive and incendiary munitions. With no forewarning given to the residents, except for ethnic Chinese who marked their houses with flags, many are caught up in the blasts and resulting fires.
Soon after the air attack stops, the 1st and 16th Punjab Regiments enter the town, supported by tanks, and begin a systematic search for armed resistance. They quickly eliminate small groups of armed Indonesian militia fighters and arrest others. As they move through the village they pour gasoline and set fire to all homes and buildings, bar the ones in the Chinese settlement.
Indonesian leaders immediately condemn the reprisal, citing that they will now have an even harder time preventing the militias and youth groups from launching attacks on Allied forces.
British officials seem convinced that this action will have a pacifying effect.
Picture: Men of the Bengal Sappers and Miners burn houses in the village of Bekassi
Source: IWM SE 6050
On 13 December 1945, Britain`s official executioner, Albert Pierrepoint, hangs the 11 SS personnel convicted in the trial for crimes in the Bergen-Belsen and Auschwitz concentration camps.
Following the reading of their death sentences at the end of the trial in Lüneburg last month, which you can read about in our 17 November post, the condemned were returned to their cells. They filed an appeal directly to Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, who summarily rejected them on 8 December, clearing the way for the executions to proceed.
Three days ago, on 10 December, the 11 individuals sentenced to death were transported to Hamelin Prison, some 160 km (100 mi) south of Hamburg. This group consists of 8 men and three women, all of whom had been found guilty of atrocities, including torture, abuse, and mass murder at the concentration camps they operated: Josef Kramer,
Fritz Klein, Peter Weingärtner, Franz Hössler, Karl Franzioh, Ansgar Pichen, Franz Stofel (or Stärfl), Wilhelm Dörr, Irma Grese, Elisabeth Volkenrath, and Johanna Bormann.
The execution process begins this morning just before 0930 hours. Pierrepoint, experienced in carrying out capital sentences, has devised an efficient system for the day. He has decided to execute the women individually and the men in pairs, minimizing delays between hangings.
The first to face the gallows at 0934 hours is Volkenrath, the head female warden of Bergen-Belsen.
Shortly after that, at 1003 hours, Grese is led to the gallows. Maintaining her defiance and conviction until the end she simply shouts `Schell` as Pierrepoint adjusts the noose around her neck.
After Grese and Bormann, the executions of the men proceed in pairs.
Kramer and Dr. Klein are executed at 1219 hours. With the bodies left to hang for 20 minutes, the executions last until almost 1600 hours.
Finally, the bodies of the executed are buried in the courtyard of Hamelin Prison.
Picture: Major T. C. M. Winwood, Josef Kramer`s Defence Council, speaking to him at the courtroom in Luneburg, 19 September 1945
Source: IWM AP 281835
On 12 December 1945, U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes issues a statement outlining American economic policy towards Germany under the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.
Byrnes begins by noting that six years of war and Nazi aggression had left the nation’s cities, industry, and transport infrastructure in ruins. He stresses that while the German people bear primary responsibility for their dire situation, U.S. policy aims to balance reparation demands with the prevention of starvation and the future recovery of Europe.
He outlines a policy that will progress through four periods - an emergency period (1945–1946), which has seen and will see immediate efforts focused on preventing starvation and facilitating coal exports to liberated European areas; a transitional Period (1946–1948) of rebuilding essential industries and transport while continuing reparations; and finally long-term recovery (Post-1948) by ensuring German resources promote civilian welfare and economic parity with continental Europe, excluding the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.
To facilitate this, Byrnes defines the four main aims of U.S. policy and that of the occupation authorities on the matter:
1. The U.S. will prioritize shipping coal to liberated European nations to bolster their recovery, even at the expense of delaying Germany’s economic recovery. He acknowledges that "the rate of economic recovery in Europe depends upon the coal supplies available over this winter."
2. Machinery is being established to execute reparations agreements by February 1946, focusing on defining which industries and resources would remain in Germany and which would be removed or dismantled.
3. Establishment of German agencies for finance, trade, and industry to ensure economic functionality under Allied supervision.
4. The ration level for German civilians will be set at 1,550 calories per day, with substantial food imports arranged to prevent mass starvation during the harsh winter.
Picture: Trümmerfrauen - women clear rubble and recycle bricks outside the Reichstag, Berlin
Source: Getty Images
On 11 December 1945, the `Pacusan Dreamboat`, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress piloted by Colonel Clarence S. Irvine, sets a record by flying from California to New York in just under five and a half hours.
Now that the war that has pushed unprecedented development in aircraft technology and the emergence of jet-engined planes is over, many have turned to test the limits of their designs and flight skills.
Just recently, RAF Group Captain Hugh J. Wilson, flying a Gloster Meteor F.4 named `Britannia`, set the first official jet aircraft speed record by reaching 970 km/h or 600 mph, which you can read about in our 7 November post.
In America, Boeing and the USAAF have also been working on proving even further the capabilities of their flagship heavy bomber - the B-29.
In recent weeks, a B-29B-60-BA Superfortress, built at Marietta, Georgia, with the serial number 44-84061, has been undergoing special modifications to aid it in flying as quickly and as far as possible.
The lightweight B-29B variant, designed for operations at lower altitudes, retains only one of the B-29`s four radar-directed 20mm gun turrets and two .50-calibre machine guns in the tail. Further weight reductions have been achieved by removing much of the armour plating. Well, the custom modifications to the Pacusan Dreamboat have taken this a step further by removing all defensive armaments and protection, as well as reshaping the tail for better aerodynamics. This has resulted in the Pacusan`s empty weight being only 29,937 kg (66,000 lbs) as opposed to the 31,298 kg (69,000 lbs) of a standard Superfortress. Fitted with additional fuel tanks capable of taking 37,854 litres (10,000 gals), it was set to break records.
Today, Irvine and his crew, W.J. Benett, G.F. Broughton, Dock West, W.S. O’Hara, F.S. O’Leary, K.L. Royer, F.J. Shannon, J.A. Shinnault, G.R. Stanley, fly the Pacusan Dreamboat from Long Beach to Floyd Bennet Field in New York at an average speed of 724.82 km/h (450.38 mph).
Their exact flight time is 5 hours, 27 minutes, and 8 seconds, making this a record for the B-29.
Picture: Bell-Atlanta B-29B-60-BA Superfortress 44-84061, the Pacusan Dreamboat.
Source: U.S. Air Force
On 10 December 1945, SS-Hauptsturmführer Theodor Dannecker, one of Adolf Eichmann`s top aides in handling deportations of Jews, hangs himself in his cell while in U.S. custody in Bad Tölz, Germany.
Dannecker joined the SS in 1932 and then the Nazi Party in 1933 at the age of 20. By 1934, he was working for the SD (Sicherheitsdienst). His dedication to the party and early assignments drew the attention of Adolf Eichmann, a pivotal figure in the orchestration of the Holocaust. By 1939, Dannecker had become one of Eichmann’s most trusted aides in the SD`s Department of Jewish Affairs.
In 1940, Dannecker was assigned to France, where he headed the Jewish Affairs Office in Paris. He played a central role in organizing the deportation of Jews from France, working closely with French collaborators to implement anti-Jewish legislation and coordinate roundups. Dannecker oversaw the deportation of over 42,000 Jews from French territory to Auschwitz and other extermination camps. His zeal for efficiency in executing deportations earned him a reputation as one of Eichmann’s most effective subordinates.
Dannecker`s expertise was subsequently employed in Bulgaria in 1943, where he pressured the Bulgarian government to deport its Jewish population. Although local resistance prevented the deportation of Bulgarian Jews, Dannecker successfully arranged the deportation of 11,343 Jews from Bulgarian-occupied Thrace and Macedonia to Nazi extermination camps.
In late 1943, Dannecker was sent to Italy to oversee the deportation of Jews. During the summer of 1944, he was posted to Hungary, where he assisted in the murder of around 400,000 Jews. He returned to Italy in October 1944, where he was appointed Jewish Commissar for Italy.
As the Third Reich collapsed and the Allied occupation of Germany developed, Dannecker attempted to evade capture. However, U.S. troops apprehended him in Bavaria several days ago.
Today, Dannecker hangs himself in his cell, evading the justice that awaits many of his peers at the Nuremberg Trials.
Picture: Theodor Dannecker oversees the transfer of the rounded-up Jews to the Austerlitz station
Source: Harry Croner via Memorial de la Shoah
On 9 December 1945, General George S. Patton is severely injured in an automobile accident in Mannheim, Germany.
Since General Eisenhower transferred Patton from 3rd Army command as a result of his conduct and comments over denazification, which you can read about in our 28 and 22 September posts, respectively, the general has spent getting accustomed to commanding the 15th Army from his headquarters in Bad Nauheim.
However, Patton`s constant touring of France, writing for his book ˝War As I Knew It˝ and general distance from command duties have made it clear he has little interest in the 15th`s task of gathering historical data on Allied operations.
General Hobart “Hap” Gay, Patton`s loyal friend and chief of staff, along with other officers, have also noted a sharp decline in his morale and mood, leading to his decision to retire after his Christmas leave to the USA.
Yesterday evening, in an attempt to cheer Patton up, Gen. Gay suggested that they spend the following day pheasant hunting. Patton enthusiastically agreed.
Around 0900 hours today, they set off from Bad Nauheim in Patton`s 1939 Model 75 Cadillac limousine with Pfc. Horace Woodring behind the wheel. Technical Sergeant Joe Spruce follows them in a Jeep loaded with hunting rifles and supplies.
At 1145 hours, as they enter an intersection in the northeast suburbs of Mannheim, a U.S. Army 2.5-ton GMC truck turns across the path of the Cadillac while attempting to make it to the Quartermaster depot.
Woodring and Gay brace for the impact and receive only minor injuries. Patton, who had been distracted at the moment, slams his head against the glass divider between the front and rear seats.
An ambulance rushes Patton to the 130th Station Hospital in nearby Heidelberg at 1245 hours. Upon further examination, doctors discover that he has suffered a fracture of the third cervical vertebra and a dislocation of the fourth, with either a cut or severely traumatized spinal cord.
In the evening, doctors place Patton in traction in an attempt to stabilize his neck while specialists are on their way to provide further treatment.
Picture: Soldier inspects the wreck of Patton`s Cadillac
Source: U.S. Army
On 8 December 1945, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), issues an order to prosecute General Masaharu Homma, former commander of the Japanese 14th Army, and others responsible for the Bataan Death March.
After the surrender of approximately 75,000 American and Filipino troops to the Japanese following the fall of Bataan in April 1942, the Japanese forced the captured troops to march from Mariveles to San Fernando, a distance of some 105 km (65 mi), after which they were loaded onto trains and transported to POW camps.
Conditions during the march were inhumane. Prisoners, already weakened by months of combat and starvation, died from dehydration, disease, beatings, and outright killings. The killings, however, had been primarily orchestrated by Colonel Masanobu Tsuji, who, acting against General Homma`s wishes that the prisoners be transferred peacefully, had issued clandestine orders to Japanese officers to summarily execute all American prisoners.
Thus, there is debate about the degree of Homma’s direct involvement, as field reports suggest he may not have been fully aware of the extent of the abuses during the march. However, as we have seen in other trials, particularly that of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, whose sentencing to death we covered in yesterday`s post, Homma`s position as the commanding officer is likely to yield a guilty sentence under the principle of command responsibility.
Since Homma`s surrender, arrest, and extradition to the Philippines this September, U.S. prosecutors have been gathering testimonies and evidence which paint a picture of widespread atrocities. Estimates place the death toll between 5,000 and 18,000, including both Filipino and American POWs.
MacArthur’s order today specifically targets Homma, Colonel Tsuji, whose whereabouts are unknown, and two of Homma`s subordinates, Major General Yoshitaka Kawane and Colonel Kurataro Hirano.
Homma`s trial is set to begin within a month at the High Commissioner`s Residence in Manila, where Yamashita was handed his death sentence yesterday.
Picture: Gen. Homma during the invasion of the Philippines
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
On 7 December 1945, the U.S. Military Commission in Manilla sentences General Tomoyuki Yamashita, former commander of Japanese forces in the Philippines, to death.
Since the start of the trial, which we covered in our 29 October post, the prosecution has argued that Yamashita, as commander of the 14th Area Army, bears ultimate responsibility for the actions of his subordinates. This legal argument has hinged on the principle that a commander must prevent war crimes committed by troops under their control.
Yamashita’s defence, led by Colonel Harry E. Clarke Sr., has attempted to argue that Yamashita had no meaningful control over the forces in Manila, as communications and command structures had broken down. They cited logistical challenges, the chaos of retreat, and the decentralized operations as reasons why Yamashita could not have been aware of or prevented the atrocities.
The defence and some outside observers have also contended that the tribunal has failed to provide due process, alleging that Yamashita was denied adequate time to prepare his case and that procedural rules heavily favoured the prosecution. Furthermore, they argued that applying the principle of command responsibility retroactively to actions committed during wartime is legally questionable.
Yamashita shared his views as well:
˝My command was as big as MacArthur`s or Lord Louis Mountbatten`s. How could I tell if some of my soldiers misbehaved themselves? It was impossible for any man in my position to control every action of his subordinate commanders, let alone the deeds of individual soldiers... If they had happened, and I had known about them, I would have punished the wrongdoers severely. But in war someone has to lose. What I am really being charged with is losing the war. It could have happened to General MacArthur, you know.˝
Nevertheless, the Commission delivers its decision today: death by hanging.
Five of the six lawyers of the defence counsel will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Picture: Yamashita faces the military Commission as he is sentenced to death by hanging by Major General Russell Reynolds
Source: AP
On 6 December 1945, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), issues an order for the arrest of former Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe.
Fumimaro Konoe, born into a prominent aristocratic family in 1891, held significant sway in Japanese politics. He served as Prime Minister in three terms: 1937–1939, 1940–1941, and briefly in 1945. Konoe’s first premiership saw Japan escalate its imperial ambitions, including the invasion of China in 1937 and the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Despite efforts to maintain diplomatic relations with Western powers, Konoe’s government pursued aggressive expansionism under the influence of military factions.
By his third term, Konoe grew increasingly sceptical of Japan’s ability to sustain a war against the United States. In 1941, he resigned, believing he could not prevent war due to opposition from the militarists, clearing a path for General Hideki Tojo to take the position of Prime Minister.
Following Japan’s surrender, Konoe positioned himself as a moderate figure, advocating for reforms to distance the nation from its militarist past. In October, he submitted a memorandum to Emperor Hirohito, suggesting that the Emperor should abdicate to preserve the imperial institution. This proposal was deeply controversial and alienated him from both SCAP and Japanese conservatives.
MacArthur and his advisers are determined to maintain Hirohito’s position as a stabilizing figure in post-war Japan, as was confirmed by MacArthur`s assurance that Hirohito will not be forced to abdicate, covered in our 26 November post. Finally, Konoe has refused to collaborate with U.S. Army officer Bonner Fellers in `Operation Blacklist` to exonerate Hirohito and the imperial family of criminal responsibility.
MacArthur’s decision today follows the pattern of arrests, which we discussed in our 2 December post, with many high-ranking officials or industrialists holding positions during the critical years leading to Japan`s aggression suspected of being Class A war criminals.
Picture: Industrialist Ryozo Asano (right) chatting with Prince Fumimaro Konoe, October 1945
Source: LIFE
On 5 December 1945, Flight 19, a group of five Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, disappears during a routine training flight off the coast of Florida.
Flight 19 forms today as part of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale’s (NASFL) training operations. Lieutenant Charles C. Taylor (FT-28), an experienced pilot with a combat tour in the Pacific under his belt, leads the flight. Each aircraft carries three men.
The exercise scheduled for today is a dead reckoning navigation training mission known as "Navigation Problem No. 1". The plan is to fly east from NASFL to Hens and Chickens Shoals, practice bombing runs, and then turn north before heading back southwest to the base. The expected flight duration is about three hours.
At 1410 hours, Flight 19 takes off from NASFL in near-perfect weather.
They complete their bombing practice around 1500 hours. However, 40 minutes later, Taylor asks one of his students for a compass bearing, believing his own is malfunctioning. He incorrectly concludes that they are over the Florida Keys and orders a turn northeast to locate land.
The other pilots increasingly begin to question Taylor`s navigation and suggest heading west. Taylor insists on maintaining a northeast course. Meanwhile, the weather worsens, and the fading daylight complicates navigation.
At 1750 hours, Taylor’s transmissions indicate desperation: "We are not certain where we are... We must have got lost after that last turn." Radio operators attempt to direct the flight west, but communication becomes increasingly sporadic.
At 1820, the last transmission reaches land: "All planes close up tight... We`ll have to ditch unless landfall... When the first plane drops below 10 gallons, we all go down together."
A PBM Mariner designated Training 49, is dispatched to locate the missing aircraft. Tragically, the rescue plane explodes mid-air shortly after taking off, likely due to a loose fuel line.
The U.S. Navy will launch an extensive search involving over 240 planes and 18 ships. No wreckage from Flight 19 or the rescue plane will ever be recovered.
Picture: TBF`s flying in formation. Fort Lauderdale, Fla
Source: U.S. National Archives 520767
On 4 December 1945, the U.S. Senate passes the United Nations Participation Act, formally committing the United States to active membership in the newly established United Nations (UN).
The active participation and sponsorship of the USA in forming the UN has marked a profound shift in American foreign policy thinking in the last two decades. Unlike its rejection of the League of Nations after World War I, the U.S. now recognizes the necessity of global cooperation to prevent future conflicts and maintain peace. The debates leading up to the Act’s passage have centred on ensuring that U.S. sovereignty is protected while enabling the country to fulfil its international responsibilities.
The Act authorizes the President to appoint representatives to the UN General Assembly and other organs, subject to Senate approval and empowers him to negotiate and implement agreements on behalf of the U.S. within the framework of the UN.
Article 6 of the Act specifies the requirements for any U.S. participation in UN military operations, including troop contributions to UN peacekeeping forces, requires Congressional approval. This reflects concerns over maintaining Congressional oversight on matters of war and peace. However, it does provide the President with the direct authority to make available to the Security Council on its call the forces necessary to carry out the special actions, which `may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.` specified under Article 42 of the UN Charter.
The Act acknowledges the importance of U.S. involvement in the Economic and Social Council and other UN agencies to address global economic disparities and promote development while ensuring that the U.S. will meet its financial obligations as a UN member state, allocating resources for the organization’s operations.
The Senate approves the act with a 65 to 7 vote, showing that a broad consensus exists on the importance of the U.S. role in global affairs.
Picture: Secretary of State James Byrnes looks on as President Truman signs the UN Charter, 8 August 1945.
Source: AP
On 3 December 1945, the Arab League votes to boycott all goods produced in Jewish Palestine.
Tensions have risen to unprecedented levels recently in Mandatory Palestine and the Middle East in general, with anti-Jewish riots erupting in multiple cities, as we`ve covered in our 2 and 4 November posts. Meanwhile, groups such as the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi, united under the name Jewish Resistance Movement, has been targeting the British administration in Palestine with bombings and shootings.
Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, who established the Arab League this March, have been seeking to consolidate Arab efforts to counter Zionism and support the Palestinian Arab population while preventing the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine amidst accelerating Jewish immigration into the area.
At the League`s meeting today, all seven members unanimously adopt a resolution calling for a boycott of goods produced by Jewish businesses and industries in Palestine. This measure is squarely aimed at weakening the economic foundation of the Jewish community, which has grown substantially in strength and organization during the British Mandate. The official stance of the Arab League is thus: `Jewish products and manufactured [goods] in Palestine shall be [considered] undesirable in the Arab countries; to permit them to enter the Arab countries would lead to the realization of the Zionist political objectives.`
The boycott targets agricultural products, manufactured goods, and other commodities associated with Jewish enterprises. It also urged Arab citizens and businesses to cease any trade or cooperation with Jewish entities, reflecting the broader strategy of isolating the Jewish community economically and politically.
Jewish leaders denounce the boycott as an unjust and discriminatory measure, pointing to the economic interdependence of Jewish and Arab communities within Palestine. British authorities, already struggling to maintain order in the region, view the boycott as further complicating their administration of the Mandate.
Picture: Representatives of seven Arab states in Cairo, 29 May 1946
Source: AP
On 2 December 1945, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander Allied Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), orders the arrest of Prince Nashimoto Morimasa, the second most senior member of the Japanese Imperial Family and chief priest of the Grand Shrine of Ise, as a `Class A` war criminal.
As we covered in our recent 26 November post, MacArthur announced Hirohito will not be forced to abdicate, and thus would most likely avoid any persecution for war crimes. However, this has not prevented the persecution and arrest of Japanese military leaders on a large scale.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Imperial Diet has been preparing to discuss the responsibility for the war and defeat, continuing on from the questions posed by Hashito Asada, a representative from the `orthodox` wing of the Rikken Seiyūkai Party, during the 88th Imperial Diet Session, which we covered on 5 September.
With the question of how far SCAP will cast the net of arrests for war crimes, and with Hirohito`s position secured, the 89th Imperial Diet opened on 26 November.
By yesterday, the issue of war responsibility was put down to a vote on two bills following a four-day-long debate. While the bill that was passed essentially reflected the view that war responsibility had to include more people, not one high-level Japanese politician stood up in the Diet to clearly acknowledge Japan`s responsibility for wars of aggression or war crimes. Like the accused `Class A` war criminals, most politicians
feel that they cannot be guilty of anything because they obeyed the Emperor, who was, by definition, moral.
Today, SCAP places the responsibility on them regardless. MacArthur orders the arrest of 59 war crimes suspects, including Prince Nashimoto, primarily for his role in supporting State Shintoism, Premier Koki Hirota, and Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma. Others include officials of state institutions, top-level industrialists, and many members of the lower and upper Diet houses.
Picture: 71-year-old Prince Nashimoto Morimasa after his arrest, 7 December 1945
Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France
