The Subsequent Nuremberg Trials were a series of twelve military tribunals for war crimes, held by the United States authorities in their occupation zone in Germany after World War II. These trials took place in the city of Nuremberg from 1946 to 1949, following the conclusion of the main Nuremberg Trials in 1946, which prosecuted the most prominent leaders of the Nazi Germany.
These trials were officially known as the "Trials of War Criminals before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals under Control Council Law No. 10." Here are key details about these trials:
- Purpose: The aim was to prosecute individuals who were not part of the initial group tried in the main Nuremberg Trials but were still accused of significant war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities committed during the war.
- Legal Basis: They were conducted under Control Council Law No. 10, which was enacted by the Allied Control Council to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Defendants: Over 185 defendants were tried in these proceedings, including industrialists, military leaders, doctors, judges, and others who played roles in the Third Reich's criminal activities. Notable cases included:
- The Doctors' Trial, where 23 doctors and administrators were accused of performing forced medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners.
- The Judges' Trial (or Justice Case), which prosecuted members of the German judiciary for their role in implementing Nazi racial laws and the administration of justice.
- The IG Farben Trial, where executives from the chemical conglomerate were tried for their part in the exploitation of forced labor and the production of Zyklon B used in gas chambers.
- Outcomes: The verdicts varied, but many defendants were convicted. Some were sentenced to death, others to long prison terms, and some were acquitted. The trials contributed significantly to the development of international criminal law by establishing precedents for prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Legacy: The Subsequent Nuremberg Trials are seen as a crucial part of the international effort to hold individuals accountable for their actions during the war. They helped set legal standards for subsequent international tribunals, including those at ICTY and ICC.
For more detailed information and sources: