The Dark Irony of the Men Who Ended WWII
Jodl and Keitel were later found guilty of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg,
Germany, and both were subsequently executed. Alfred Jodl signed Germany's surrender at Reims on May 7, 1945.
Wilhelm Keitel signed it in Berlin on May 8. Both were hanged at Nuremberg on October 16, 1946 — less than 18 months after signing the documents that ended the war.
The men who put their names to the surrender had their names read out at the gallows. Alfred Jodl,
who was wounded in the assassination attempt on Hitler on July 20, 1944,
would be found guilty of war crimes and hanged on October 16, 1946. He was later granted a pardon, posthumously, in 1953.
Jodl received a posthumous pardon eight years after being executed. He was innocent of some charges, said the German court in 1953.
He had already been dead for seven years. The men who ended the war were executed for the war they ended.
Germany, and both were subsequently executed. Alfred Jodl signed Germany's surrender at Reims on May 7, 1945.
Wilhelm Keitel signed it in Berlin on May 8. Both were hanged at Nuremberg on October 16, 1946 — less than 18 months after signing the documents that ended the war.
The men who put their names to the surrender had their names read out at the gallows. Alfred Jodl,
who was wounded in the assassination attempt on Hitler on July 20, 1944,
would be found guilty of war crimes and hanged on October 16, 1946. He was later granted a pardon, posthumously, in 1953.
Jodl received a posthumous pardon eight years after being executed. He was innocent of some charges, said the German court in 1953.
He had already been dead for seven years. The men who ended the war were executed for the war they ended.
