Lesson: 13 The Nuremburg Trials 1945-1949

Question 1

Significance of Reasons for the Nuremburg trials

Answer 1

• Allies decided at war Conferences to hunt down war criminals
• Attempted to bring Nazi war criminals to justice:
  
  • 13 separate trials held for different groups
• Changed international law long term

Question 2

Reasons why the Nuremburg trials are controversial

Answer 2

• ‘Victors’ justice - victors using different rules to themselves
• Lawyers X need proof of facts of common knowledge (e.g. death camps)
• Defendants X allowed to appeal selection of judges
• Harlan Fiske Stone (Chief Justice of US Supreme court 1945)
  → strongly disagreed w/them → viewed them as ‘high-grade lynching party’

Question 3

The events and outcome of Major War Criminal Trials (1945-46)

Answer 3

-‘Greatest trial in history’
- 24 Individuals tried → 18 found guilty on one or more charges
- Major War Criminals = Goering, Hess
- Most severe punishments:
→ 12 sentenced to death
→ Goering = death sentence (took cyanide night before)
→ Hess = 10-20 years in prison