Nuremberg Judgments

We explain what the Nuremberg judgments were judged that Nazi war criminals. In addition, the defendants and the convictions.

What were Nuremberg's judgments?

Nuremberg's judgments were a series of judicial processes held in the German city of Nuremberg in 1945 and 1946, after the end of World War II (1939-1945). In these judgments, The former Nazi leaders were accused and tried as war criminals by an international military court composed of magistrates of the United Kingdom, the United States, France and the Soviet Union.

The first session of the court took place in Berlin on October 18, 1945 and the Nuremberg sessions began on November 20, 1945. The charges were for crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Of the twenty -four accused people, twenty -two received a sentence.

The sentences were issued on October 1, 1946. Of the twenty -two sentenced, three defendants were acquitted, four were sentenced to sentences between ten and twenty years in prison, three were sentenced to life imprisonment and twelve received the death penalty.

Ten of the twelve convicted of death were executed in the gallows on October 16, 1946. The other two died before the execution: Hermann Göring committed suicide a few hours before and Martin Bormann took his life in May 1945, but was judged “in absentee” because his death had not been confirmed at the time of the trial.

See also: Nazi Campos

The historical context

Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II In May 1945, when he was forced to surrender to the allies. In the months of July and August 1945, The leaders of the three main allied powers (United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union) met at the Potsdam conference and, among other things, They confirmed their commitment to prosecute and punish Nazis war criminals.

At the Potsdam conference it was also agreed that the court in charge of this trial would be located in the German city of Nuremberg, where Adolf Hitler had held his massive congresses to celebrate Nazism and where racist laws known as Nuremberg laws had been promulgated in 1935.

The authority of the International Military Court arose from the London Agreement and, in particular, of the London Charter that was attached to the agreement and was signed on August 8, 1945. That day, Representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union (USSR) and the provisional government of France agreed to the constitution of a court that will judge the most important war criminals of the axis. Subsequently, other nineteen countries accepted the agreement.

See also: End of World War II

Nuremberg's judgments sentences

The accusation to which the defendants had to respond in Nuremberg's trials was based on four positions:

• Crimes against peace: Plan, instigate and free wars of aggression in violation of international agreements and treaties.
• Crimes against humanity: cause exterminations, deportations and genocides.
• War crimes: violate war laws.
• Conspiracy to commit criminal acts previously mentioned.

The International Military Court was formed by a member of each of the four signatory countries of the London Charter: United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and France. The first session took place in Berlin on October 18, 1945 and the Nuremberg sessions began on November 20, 1945.

After 216 sessions, On October 1, 1946, the Court issued the sentences:

• Three accused were acquitted: Hjalmar Schacht, Franz von Papen and Hans Fritzsche.
• Four defendants were sentenced to sentences between 10 and 20 years in prison: Karl Dönitz, Baldur von Schirach, Albert Speer and Konstantin von Neurath.
• Three accused were sentenced to life imprisonment: Rudolf HESS, Walther Funk and Erich Raeder.
• Twelve accused were sentenced to death. Ten of them were hanged on October 16, 1946: Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Julius Streicher, Alfred Rosenberg, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Fritz Sauckel, Alfred Jodl, Wilhelm Keitel and Arthur Seys-Inquart. Martin Bormann was convicted “in absentee” (that is, in absence, because he had already removed his life but his death had not been confirmed during the judicial process) And Herman Göring committed suicide in his cell before its execution.

Two Nazi leaders who were originally pronounced did not receive a conviction because one was considered not suitable to be subjected to trial for physical and mental health reasons (Gustav Krupp) and the other took his life in his cell before being judged (Robert Law).

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References

• Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2023). Nürnberg Trials. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
• MARRUS, MR (2017). The Nuremberg War Crime Trial, 1945-46: A Brief History With Documents. BEDFORD/ST. Martin's.
• Stone, N. (2013). Brief history of World War II. Ariel.