Nuremberg international war crimes tribunal

THE Second World War international war crimes tribunal was held in Nuremburg for two main reasons. The Court of Justice building was big enough and was one of the few such buildings to survive the massive Allied bombing during the war. Nuremburg had a special place in the history of pre-war Germany because in many ways, it was the ceremonial birthplace of the Nazi Party. From 1929 onwards, all their annual rallies were held there, with attendances reaching half a million.
The three major allied powers, United States, USSR and Britain had begun planning for the trials of Nazi war criminals as early as 1942. England had actually wanted the Nazi leaders shot immediately after they were captured and identified but the other countries wanted a trial. France was also given a place on the tribunal and they then agreed on the format of punishment. They were very specific in their charges because it could have been argued there had been some instances during the war when the Allies committed similar acts themselves. The Russians insisted the trial be restricted to punishment of the war criminals of the European Axis powers. This was to ensure similar charges could not be brought against themselves – particularly their pact with Hitler on the division of Poland and their invasion of Finland. However, attempts by them to have Germany charged with the Katyn massacre of Polish officers were dropped. Many years later, they admitted this atrocity had been committed by Russians. 
There were critics of the procedure. Some claimed the laws of the tribunal were invented after the events to suit the Allies and more said they did not mind what was done to the Nazis but they objected to the law being used as a vehicle. Nevertheless, the trials went ahead and the defendants were charged with planning and waging wars of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The four main Allied countries provided one judge and one prosecutor each. Twenty-one prisoners were put on trail. Twenty were present and Martin Boorman was tried in absentia. The accused included Hermann Goering. Admiral Karl Doenitz, Albert Speer, Rudolf Hess, Joachim Von Ribbentrop and the army commanders Keitel and Jodl.
The opening day of the trial was taken up with the American prosecutor outlining the charges and all 20 men present in the dock pleaded not guilty.
The trial lasted almost 12 months. Three of the defendants were acquitted, diplomat Von Papen, party official Fritzsche and financial expert Schacht. Three were sentenced to life. These included Hess, who had flown to Scotland before the end of the war, and whom the Russians insisted had to serve out his sentence. Eleven were sentenced to death and the others to terms of between 10 and 20 years. Goering cheated the hangman by swallowing cyanide the day before his planned execution but the remaining 10 were hanged.
Further trials were also held at Nuremburg dealing with specific groups including German doctors who had conducted experiments on concentration camp prisoners, judges, army officers and others. All told, there were 12 of these. The last one ending in October 1948.
The main trial before the International Military Tribunal opened in the Palace of Justice Nuremburg on November 20, 1945, 67 years ago this week.
n Michael Torpey