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Leader of Jewish Community in Palestine Visits Camps
David Ben-Gurion, future founder of Israel and first prime minister, visits DP camps to encourage survivors to continue working on readjusting to normal life. He supports their ideas to establish a state on Palestine and pressures Britain to open up to them. -
Beginning of Nuremberg Trials
Lasting almost a year in Nuremberg, Germany, these were Allied-held trials before the International Military Tribunal (IMT) convicting "major" Nazi war criminals for their crimes. -
Control Council Law No. 10 Passed
Allowed newly-reformed German courts to try and sentence war-time criminals that were German citizens committing crimes against German nationals or stateless persons. They held over 925 proceedings over time, though some received criticism for being soft on the elderly or subordinates who claimed to simply follow orders. -
Kielce Pogrom
A violent slaughter of Jews in the Polish town, Kielce, showing the antisemitism that spread during the war years. -
End of Nuremberg Trials
The sentences of the accused men were read out. Twelve of over twenty defendants got the death penalty for crimes against humanity--and only three of them all were acquitted. Others got life sentences or jail time between 10-20 years. -
Recognition of Israel
The Jewish state that had been established in Palestine (as a result of the Zionist movement to find a homeland) officially declared independence and gained international recognition as the State of Israel. -
Displaced Persons Act
The original act was passed through Congress, allowing certain displaced persons permanent residence and employment with the United States, provided they would not need public assistance. With exceptions for families who qualify and orphans, two thousand visas were given. -
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) Was Adopted
The United Nations General Assembly ratified the CPPCG thanks to Raphael Lemkin, which legally defined genocide and made promises to take action in the future to prevent and punish it. -
Closing of Displaced Person Camps
By the end of 1952, only two DP camps felt it necessary to remain open. These two stuck around a bit longer, with Föhrenwald closing in 1957 and Wels in 1959. -
Execution of Adolf Eichmann
Captured in Argentina in May, Eichmann was taken to Israel to be put on trial. Witness testimony renewed interest in war crimes committed, and allowed survivors to speak about their experiences. Eichmann was convicted of crimes against Jewish people and humanity for his organization of the deportations for thousands of Jews and Roma people to killing centers, as well as his membership in Nazi organization. He was sentenced to death and hanged.
