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The Nuremberg Trials 1945-46. “But, I was just following orders…”. “I was just following orders…”.
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The Nuremberg Trials 1945-46 “But, I was just following orders…”
“I was just following orders…” • The Nuremberg Trials were military tribunals (court cases), held by the Allied forces of WWII, for the prosecution of members of the political, military, and economic leadership of Nazi Germany. • “We must establish incredible events by credible evidence.”—U.S. Chief Prosecutor Robert Jackson • Accusation: • Crimes Against Humanity • War Crimes (War Atrocities)
“I was just following orders…” • The Crime • World War II • 6 million+ dead Jewish Europeans + thousands of homosexuals, Gypsies, political enemies • Stalin said: “One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic.” • Poland: 3 million killed (91%) • Romania: 290,000 killed (84%) • France: 290,000 killed (22%) • TOTAL: • 66% of Jewish population in Europe was exterminated. • + gypsies, homosexuals, Communists, enemies, other…
“I was just following orders…” • The Accusation: • (summarized here) • Crimes Against Humanity • War Crimes (War Atrocities)
“I was just following orders…” • The Charges: • (summarized here) • War Crimes (War Atrocities) [treatment of POWs, use of slave labor, targeting civilians, use of illegal weaponry] • Crimes Against Humanity [genocide, death camps, murder of civilians]
Wilhelm Frick • Minister of Interior • (in charge of Germany’s internal operations/infrastructure) • Controller of the concentration camps • Helped write the Nuremberg Laws • Helped plan and organize logistics for war in Europe • Attempted to become police commander, but failed • Was largely a ceremonial officer with no real power
Hermann Goring (Goering) • Hitler’s Second in Command • Commander of the Luftwaffe • Highest ranking official on trial • Ordered lieutenants to carry out the “Final Solution” • Claimed not to be anti-Semitic
Rudolf Hess • Personal Aide to Hitler/Party Leader • Prominent in Nazi Party during rise of Hitler • Helped write and carry out Nuremberg Laws • Represented Nazi Germany to foreign leaders • Very educated • In 1941, Hess flew to Scotland hoping to make peace between Germany and Britain- was arrested then (not after the war) • Seen as unstable during the trial, often laughing for no reason or counting on his fingers randomly
Hans Fritzsche • Propaganda Official • (Head of the radio division of the German propaganda ministry) • propaganda ministry official who had not held a policy-making position • Was an on-air personality for news in Nazi Germany • Was head of German radio prior to Hitler’s rise
Baldur von Schirach • Head of Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth/“Boy Scouts”) • Joined military cadet troops as ten year old • Moved up the Nazi ranks through fascist years • Helped deport Jews from Vienna • Reports that he also helped Jewish children escape occasionally