The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the Allied Powers after World War II, to prosecute prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of Nazi Germany. These trials were conducted in the city of Nuremberg, Germany, from 1945 to 1949, with the primary trials known as the International Military Tribunal (IMT) taking place between November 20, 1945, and October 1, 1946.
The idea for an international tribunal to prosecute war crimes stemmed from the atrocities committed during World War II. The Allied Powers, particularly the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France, agreed on the necessity to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. The trials were also meant to establish legal precedents for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
The legal basis for the trials was established through the London Charter, signed on August 8, 1945, which defined the crimes, established the procedures, and outlined the structure of the tribunal. The International Military Tribunal was composed of judges from each of the Allied countries involved:
Twenty-four major political and military leaders of Nazi Germany were indicted on four counts:
Notable defendants included:
Of the 24 defendants, 12 were sentenced to death by hanging, 7 received prison sentences, 3 were acquitted, and one was not tried due to physical and mental incapacity. Martin Bormann was tried in absentia and sentenced to death, later confirmed dead.
The Nuremberg Trials were groundbreaking for several reasons:
The trials faced criticism for being "victor's justice," as only Axis powers were prosecuted, and some defendants argued that they were following laws or orders of their government.
After the IMT, the Allies conducted additional trials known as the Subsequent Nuremberg Trials or the Nuremberg Military Tribunals, which focused on other officials, doctors, lawyers, industrialists, and others involved in Nazi crimes.
External Links: