Interesting facts from the history of the Nuremberg trials.
Everyone has heard of the Nuremberg trials, because it was an important moment in the history of the modern world. It was the first international trial that took place over the leaders of Nazi Germany who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. None of the prisoners pleaded not guilty, most of them were executed and sentenced to life imprisonment, but there have been cases of suicides, and even acquittals.
15. Location
Starting in 1927 in Nuremberg hosted the congresses of the National socialist German workers ‘ party, whose ideology became one of the main causes of the Second world war. That is why the Tribunal was chosen as the most Nazi city in Germany – Nuremberg and the process took place in the Palace of justice.
14. Suicide Of Hermann Goering
Goering, Reich Minister of the Imperial Ministry of aviation and Reichsmarschall of greater Germany Reich voluntarily along with his family surrendered to the US army. “The second person” after Hitler was the most important defendants of the International military Tribunal. He was sentenced to death by hanging, but he demanded execution. Two hours before the execution Goering poisoned with potassium cyanide. According to some information, the poison was transferred to the criminal officer of the American guard.
13. Convicted doctors
Among the prisoners were 23 Nazi doctors who put monstrous experiments on Jews and prisoners of the Slavs. In this picture, the doctors examine the man, whom they have long kept in ice water. On prisoners conducted experiments on transplantation of bone, were infected with malaria, exposed to mustard gas, sterilized, poisoned by poisons. 7 of the Nazis were sentenced to death, 7 were acquitted, and the others went to jail.
12. Execution by hanging
To death by hanging were sentenced 12 people. The death sentences were executed by American soldiers on the night of 16 October 1946 in Nuremberg prison gymnasium. Hung one by one, but another Nazi was introduced into the hall when the previous was still on the gallows.
11. Crimes against humanity
The international criminal court considered the case on 4 charges: plans of the Nazi party, of crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. During the Second world war killed over 60 million people, several million of whom were martyred by the Nazis in the death camps.
10. Protection of defendants
19-year-old soldier of the us army Herbert Stivers guarding Goering, said: “Goering was a very kind man. He spoke good English. We discussed sports, ball games…”. Nazi charm worked, and Stivers helped a prisoner – gave him poison.
9. Hangman John Woods
By the time of the Nuremberg trials behind American hangman John woods high was already 347 executions. On the night of 16 October 1946 in Nuremberg prison gymnasium he, along with the soldier-volunteer Joseph Malta resulted in the death sentences of the Nuremberg Tribunal. Witnesses said that during the execution of the Nazis on his face flashed a smile.
8. Innocent allies?
The allies too had committed acts that could be regarded as war crimes. The massacre at the village Sinoni – proof. January 1, 1945, several dozen German prisoners of war were killed by American troops in retaliation for the massacre at Malmedy on December 17, 1944, when troops of the Waffen SS killed American prisoners of war.
7. Proof of guilt
During the process, special attention was given to the testimonies of victims, and documents of the Nazis themselves. Transfer of evidence was carried out in four languages: German, English, French, Russian.
6. A Baker’s Dozen
Among those sentenced to the death penalty was personal Secretary to the führer Martin Bormann, but to catch him failed. Presumably, he committed suicide on a bridge near Lontskoho station, his remains were found only in 1972.
5. Justified
Of the 22 convicted, three were acquitted. Among them was chief of the Nazi propagandist Hans Fritzsche, who prophesied to end the war, supporting the morale of soldiers and citizens of the Reich.
4. Questionable defendants…
Among the accused were the real criminals, and those who were selected as representatives of criminal groups and organizations. The heads of the Bank and radio, ambassadors in allied countries, businessmen and even the emissaries, who tried to make peace, was put on trial.
3. Acquitted Otto Skorzeny
Obersturmbannfuhrer SS became widely known during the Second world war for its successful operations, most notably the release from prison of the deposed Benito Mussolini. After the war he was arrested, but he managed to escape punishment thanks to the collaboration with us intelligence, and then with Israel.
2. Robert Jackson – a judge
In 1945, President Truman appointed Robert H. Jackson United States representative to a future trial of Nazi war criminals. Jackson participated in the writing of the Charter of the International military Tribunal, and then was the chief Prosecutor of the United States.
1. “Genocide”
Polish lawyer of Jewish origin Rafael Lemkin, who took part in the work of the Nuremberg Tribunal, is the author of the term “genocide”. His term received an international legal status after the adoption in December 1948 “Convention on the prevention of the crime of genocide and punishment for it”.
© 2017, paradox. All rights reserved.
