Essential Question: What were the legacies of the Nuremberg

trials?

The International Military Tribunal of 1946, convened by the U.S., British, French and Soviets, which convicted the major Nazi leaders who survived World War II

Twelve cases tried by U.S. military tribunals at Nuremberg from1946-9 of groups of doctors, lawyers, industrialists, and more.

2 sets of trials to prosecute members of the Nazi Party for War Crimes.

1st: It was entitled the Trial of the Major War Criminals before the International Military Tribunal, which tried the 21 most important leaders of Nazi Germany. • began on November 20, 1945.

1. Count One: “conspiracy to wage aggressive war,” • addressed crimes committed before the war officially

began.

2. Count Two: “waging an aggressive war,”• addressed the undertaking of war in violation of

international treaties.

3. Count Three: “war crimes,” • addressed more traditional violations of the laws of war,

including the killing or mistreatment of prisoners of war and the use of outlawed weapons.

4. Count Four: “crimes against humanity,” • addressed the crimes committed against Jews, ethnic

minorities, physically and mentally disabled persons, civilians in occupied countries, and others.

2nd: for lesser war criminals, was conducted under Control Council Law No. 10, at the U.S. Nuremberg Military Tribunals.

“That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the

courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage

to be good.”• John Fowles

First time Ad hoc – for a particular purpose

• Need a permanent tribunal to be effective, not subject to political whims and current politics

Not all sides were investigated• Victors’ justice

Retrospective Law-making

Superior Orders

18 defendants were convicted on one or more counts and three were found not guilty.

11 were sentenced to death by hanging.

3 were acquitted And others were given prison

sentences of 10 to 15 years, or life imprisonment..

Ten men were hanged in November 1946. One of those sentenced to death committed suicide just hours before his scheduled execution

International Law Human Rights & Genocide Conventions Code of Medical Ethics Enforcement Mechanisms & Tribunals Models of Bringing Individual Perpetrators

to Justice Deportations to Home Countries for Justice Vocabulary: War Crimes, Crimes Against

Humanity, Genocide, Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant, and so devastating, that

civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive their

being repeated. …

Justice Jackson from his opening statement

Established Crimes Against Humanity as a charge: mass crimes – murder, torture, (rape)

Established Crime of Genocide

Never Again?

Armenia East Timor SudanEurope Uganda ??

Indonesia Iraq??

Burundi YugoslaviaBangladesh

RwandaUganda

Cambodia