Everyone has heard of the atrocities of WWII as there were countless. These were committed by both sides whether it was the Axis powers or the Allied powers. No war tore the world apart like WWII and the human rights violations and war crimes that were committed were unlike any other war. It seemed like both sides of the war realized the way it could change the world and pulled no punches during any part of the war. With all of this being said, there are things that regardless of the implications of the war that should never be committed. This will highlight specific cases where the line was crossed no matter who had committed the war crime or atrocity.

Comfort Women

Japanese comfort women were instituted during WWII and there use was appalling to say the least. Comfort women were forced into prostitution to keep the Japanese soldiers’ morale up. This was also to quell any dissension that was going on throughout the ranks. These women were kidnapped from Japanese occupied territories. There was also deception used when promises of jobs turned into the women being taken to the comfort stations. Government forced sexual slavery for any reason is not acceptable. Nearly 75 percent of these women had died during their service at the comfort stations. Women who refused to take part in this were severely beaten and others who still refused were executed without hesitation. The people who ran these brothels used intimidation to keep the women in line. This is an atrocity in which no person can say this was justified in any way. Of course the numbers of women is contrasted depending on who is telling the story. The Japanese government estimates much lower numbers than other sources which is expected. Regardless if the number was 10 women, it was still wrong and something that should have reparations paid if the victims are still alive.

Biscari Massacre

Many people tend to think that only the Axis powers during the war committed war crimes. The US military were responsible of some war crimes during WWII. The Biscari Massacre was the slaughter and execution of German and Italian soldiers who were prisoners of war and more importantly unarmed. General George Patton was in charge of the division of soldiers on the American side that committed this crime. Patton in his diary when asked about the atrocity wrote “I told Bradley that it was probably an exaggeration, but in any case to tell the Officer to certify that the dead men were snipers or had attempted to escape or something, as it would make a stink in the press and also would make the civilians mad. Anyhow, they are dead, so nothing can be done about it.” This showed that he was neither sorry or had any intention of facing the consequences for this slaughter. Many people do not hear about these things as the victor of the war writes the history books. Imagining what happened on both sides that nobody will ever here about makes this writer shutter.

As you can see, both sides committed atrocities that should have never happened. Forced sexual slavery and the slaughter of prisoners are grave things that should have been punished but sadly were not punished appropriately. The punishment is spreading awareness of these awful things that happened.