Nuremberg War Trials
By: Katie Gingell
Background Information
In 1933 when Hitler became chancellor of German, he and the Nazi Party decided to carry out policies that were designed to persecute Jewish people and other groups of people that were recognized as "enemies" of the Nazis. These polices resulted in the deaths of 6 million Jews and about 4 to 6 million non-Jewish people.
What is the Nuremberg War Trials?
The Nuremberg War Trials was a series of 13 trials carried out in Nuremberg, Germany between the years of 1945 to 1949. 24 individuals were charged with war crimes and Hitler was able to avoid it by committing suicide in the spring of 1945 before the trials began.
Significance
The trials were to prosecute the people (Nazis) who were responsible for violence against civilian populations.
In the picture to the left shows the defendants sitting in the prisoner's box who are being tried. The guy on the far left who is leaning on the box is Hermann Goering, perhaps one of the most influential people besides Hitler in the Nazi Party.
Palace of Justice
The Palace of Justice is located in Nuremberg, Germany and this is where the trials were held. In this photo you can see tanks guarding the palace.
Robert H. Jackson
Jackson was a justice for the Supreme Court. During the trials he was the chief U.S. prosecutor.
Franz von Papen
He was the Chancellor before Hitler and became Vice-Chancellor when Hitler was in power. Franz von Papen was acquitted from his charges.
Hermann Goering
Hermann Goering was of the eleven to recieve a death penalty during the trials. He avoided this sentence by committing suicide in his cell. Goering was originally the second-highest-ranked members of the Nazi Party and he was the commander of Luftwaffe (official name for the Nazi air force). In 1928 Goering was one of the 12 Nazis elected to the Reichstag and he arranged the Reichstag fire on February 27, 1933. The fire was than used as a propaganda tool against communists.