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Nuremberg, 1945. In the Palace of Justice in the Fürth road is the trial of the century, the international war crimes trial to take place. At the suggestion of General Lucius Clay and the consent of the other three Allied to Nürnberg, the former City of the Party Congress is chosen because both the court building as the subsequent prison are intact.
Under the supervision of Americans, Germans redecorate the room crafts, make modifications and the internals of the podium for the court, the dock, the press box for 250 journalists and an auditorium for 120 people.
All seats are equipped with headphones. A large screen will be installed for the projection of maps, documents and movies. Modern fluorescent tubes and lamps are hung.
In September of Room 600 is ready. The four Allied flags are mounted behind the bench. The dress rehearsal and the process can begin.
A test run with explanations. "I can assure you that these difficulties can be resolved quickly and that you should have no concerns about the successful work of the mechanical equipment. The success depends on the electrical recordings, allow rapid reproduction. "
"Today Mr. Dostev (phon.) is a spectacle staged to illustrate with the judges and speakers."
The Justice building with the flags of the four Allies. Of 20 November 1945 to 1 October 1946 will be held the trial of the century. With 21 accused, eight judges, 100 prosecutors, 100 witnesses and 70 defense. The four allies take turns in guarding. The courtroom and the prison are subject to the Americans, who are responsible for security, accommodation and catering.
Nuremberg has been declared a prohibited area. The access roads are closed off to the courthouse. Only a special pass to get into the Palace of Justice. 20th November 1945. The first of the trial.
". Attention, the court" 2 times a day to enter the eight judges of the courtroom: Two Frenchmen, the full member Donnedieu de Vabres, Professor of Law, his deputy Robert Falco, a judge, two Americans, Francis Biddle, the deputy chairman of the court and his deputy John Parker. Two Russian officers, Major General and Lieutenant Colonel Volkov Nikitchenko. The presiding judge, Sir Geoffrey Lawrence and his deputy, Norman Birkett.
"Based on the provisions of the state I have now that the indictment is read."
At the request of the court, the auxiliary prosecutor read out the 49-page indictment, although the prosecution and the defense wanted to give it up. However, the Chairman ordered the reading. The four counts were read.
"The statement of the London Conference of 8 August 1945 and the Statute of the Court, the above-mentioned governments accuse the defendants of crimes against peace, war, law and humanity and a common plan, a conspiracy to carry out these crimes and complain to:
Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Robert Ley, Wilhelm Keitel, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Julius Streicher, Walther Funk, Hjalmar Schacht, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, Karl Doenitz, Erich Raeder, Baldur von Schirach, Fritz Sauckel, Alfred Jodl, Martin Bormann, Franz von Papen, ... "
Some of the main culprits are missing. Robert Ley committed suicide. Kaltenbrunner has suffered a stroke, Martin Bormann, Hitler's secretary is missing, but is accused in absentia.
Adolf Hitler married his girlfriend Eva Braun shortly before his death, and commits me to her on 30 April suicide. The Russians found only the charred corpses in the garden of the Reich Chancellery.
Even in the will of Hitler as chancellor appointed propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in the night of 1 May celebrated with his wife and five children suicide in the Chancellery. Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer SS, poisoned with its discovery near Lüneburg 23 May 1945 with cyanide. Martin Bormann, the most influential in the Reich Chancellery, since his escape from Berlin on the night of 1 May 1945 missing. Krupp is explained by a stroke for hearing incapacity.
Hermann Goering, speaking at Augsburg before an international press conference. Hitler had Göring on 20 April expelled from the Party and condemned to death. After the death of Hitler, Goering believes with General Eisenhower on the future of Germany to negotiate. But the Americans arrest him. He had his orders, give his rank insignia and his kingdom marshal's baton and was photographed as a criminal and transferred to a prison camp.
Julius Streicher, disguised as a painter, and Robert Ley, were arrested in Bavaria. In Karl Horst was born on 8 May, the unconditional surrender of Field Marshal Keitel signed. A week later he is arrested. Jodl, Doenitz and Speer, three members appointed by Hitler's Reich government on 23 May arrested near Flensburg and transferred to the camp Mohndorf. Rudolf Hess, on 10 Flew to England in May 1945, will be launched in early October in its pilot equipment from England to Nuremberg jail for questioning.
Many of the prisoners, ministers, state secretaries, members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and also the SS and Gestapo were taken to a luxury hotel in poppy village in Luxembourg and there awaited the decision of the Allies, who should be prosecuted in Nuremberg.
The prisoners were treated courteous, were allowed to make trips to visit each other and go for a walk in the park. The food was adequate. But they were not allowed contact with their families.
On 12 August, the defendants were flown from Luxembourg to Nuremberg. Only von Neurath was transferred from the French, the Russians Raeder and Fritzsche, Rudolf Hess by the British. In a floor of the prison, the 21 defendants are housed in single cells. They have no contact to the outside and each other. After the suicide of the Reich Health Leader on 6 continents Robert Ley on 25 October and October ordered the warden to individual observation.
With the indictment, the defendants had received a list of lawyers from all over Germany. They were allowed to choose their counsel. After their first meeting they elected Dr. Dix their spokesman and submit a written protest to the jurisdiction of the court and asked for an opinion and American counselors because they were not familiar with the Anglo-American Procedure. All 21 defendants and their lawyers had on 18 October, the 49-page indictment, the three systems A, B, C, obtained whose content was related to four points. Point 1: Common plan or conspiracy. Point 2: crimes against peace. Point 3: war crimes. Point 4: crimes against humanity. Appendix A: Determination of the responsibility of individuals. Appendix B: Determination of the crime of groups or organizations. Appendix C: Injury 26 international treaties.
Hermann Goering, charged under the points 1-4. Karl Doenitz, indicted for the points 1,2 and 3 Rudolf Hess, charged under the points 1-4. The defendant Goering, Hess and look around for four years for the first time.
Erich Raeder, indicted for the points 1,2 and 3 Joachim von Ribbentrop, charged under the points 1-4. Baldur von Schirach, charged under points 1 and 4 Wilhelm Keitel, charged under the points 1-4. Fritz Sauckel, charged under the points 1-4. Julius Streicher, charged under points 1 and 4 Albert Speer, charged under the points 1-4. Wilhelm Frick, charged under the points 1-4. Goering and Hess, the accused number 1 and number 2 Alfred Jodl, charged under the points 1-4.
The lawyer of Rosenberg, Dr. Thoma, raises an objection and requested an interrupt. "We have a number of colleagues just told me that they are in the same situation as me, especially Dr. Sauter. The day before yesterday we have been informed about whether we answer the question "guilty" or "not guilty" only allowed to declare "Yes" or "No", or whether another explanation, a larger declaration may be issued. We know about this issue only since yesterday notice, so had no opportunity some time to speak with the defendant about it. "" We will now interrupt the process for 15 minutes to make it possible for you to talk with their clients. "