The Nizkor Project: Remembering the Holocaust (Shoah)

The Trial of German Major War Criminals

Sitting at Nuremberg, Germany
November 20 to December 1, 1945


(Versión en Español)
  • Session 1, November 20, 1945 (Part 1 of 10)

    President's Opening Statement, Reading of the Indictment

  • Session 2, November 21, 1945 (Part 1 of 8)

    Plea of the Defendants with the exception of defendants Kaltenbrunner and Bormann
    Presentation Of The Case By The Prosecution
    Summary review of the Indictment and the Charter and their legal foundations (Mr. Justice Jackson)

  • Session 3, November 22, 1945 (Part 1 of 8)

    Outline of method of processing and assembling captured documentary evidence (Colonel Storey)
    The Nazi Hierarchy (see Chart) (Mr. Albrecht)
    COUNT ONE-The Common Plan or Conspiracy (Major Wallis); Origins of the Nazi Party; Major objectives of the Party Programme; Doctrinal basis of Nazism ("Master race", "Fuehrerprinzip", etc.); Nazi Party's rise to power: Struggle for power; Hitler Putsch (1923), Period of "Legality" (from 1924 on), Publication of "Mein Kampf" (1925), Electoral campaigns (1925-1932). Acquisition of power; Hitler appointed Reich Chancellor (30.1.33), Reichstag fire (28.2.33), Law for the Protection of the People and the Reich (24.3.33). Consolidation of power; Establishment of concentration camps, Terror against opponents, Blood purge Of 30.6.34, Suppression of political parties, Merger of Party and State: Law for "Securing the Unity of Party and State(1.12.33), Death of Hindenburg (2.8.34) - Hitler becomes Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Destruction of Trade Unions; Suppression of Churches; Persecution of Jews: Boycott of (1.4.33), Anti-Jewish legislation from 1935 to 1938, Pogrom of autumn 1938

  • Session 4, November 23, 1945 (Part 1 of 7)

    Preparation for war: Psychological (Major Wallis); Reshaping of education, Hitler Youth, Propaganda, Censorship, Supervision of Cultural Activities Militarisation of Nazi-dominated Organisations (S.S., S.A. Hitler Youth, etc.). Economic (Mr. Dodd); Four Year Plan - aim: a self-sufficient Germany, Secret Rearmament Programme - Schacht's activities, Schacht qppointed Plenipotentiary General for War Economy (Secret Defence Law Of 21.5.35), His monetary devices (New Plan, Foreign Exchange Law, MEFO bills). Military-political (Mr. Alderman); Introductory remarks on Article 6, paras. 2 (a) and 3, and Art. 21 of the Charter

  • Session 5, November 26, 1945 (Part 1 of 7)

    Hitler Speech Of 23.11.39: Review of events from 1933 to 1936 -
    Withdrawal from League of Nations and Disarmament Conference -
    Order to rearm - Introduction of compulsory military service -
    Militarisation of Rhineland

    Planning of aggression: generally: 1935: Blomberg's letter Of 24.6-3-5 to Supreme Commanders of Army, navy, Air Force, enclosing Secret Defence Law Of 21.5.35; against Austria and Czechoslovakia: 1937: Hoszbach notes of Conference on 5.11.37 (see below P. 243); against Czechoslovakia: 1938: Schmundt summary of Hitler-Keitel discussion of "Case Green " on 21.4-38; against Poland: 1939: Schmundt minutes of Conference on 23.5.39, Hitler speeches to Supreme Commanders of Army, Navy, Air Force on 22.8.39; against U.S.S.R.: 1940: Hitler's secret directive of 18.12.40 ("Case Barbarossa"); against U.S.A.: 1941 Hitler-Matsuoka-Ribbentrop discussion Of 4.4.41 Hitler's attempt to incite Japan to war with U.S.A

  • Session 6, November 27, 1945 (Part 1 of 6)

    Aggressive action (Mr. Alderman): Military-political preparation (see above, pp. 143 et. seq.); Jodl's retrospective summary in his lecture of 7.11.43; Violations of Treaty of Versailles: Financing of Armament Programme - Schacht's memorandum to Hitler of 3.5.35; Secret Rearmament of the Navy; Building a Military Air Force.
    Policy of false assurances

  • Session 7, November 28, 1945 (Part 1 of 6)

    AUSTRIA

    1933: Nazi aim-Absorption of Austria: Economic pressure, Terroristic acts.
    1934: Putsch Of 25.7.34 - Murder of Dollfuss, Papen appointed German Minister in Vienna on 26.7.34 and his activities, Disorganisation and reconstruction of Austrian Nazi Party.
    1935: Policy of false assurances
    1936: Austro-German agreement of 11.7.36, Continuance of Nazi programme to weaken Austrian Govt. internally and externally.
    1937: Nazis' diplomatic machinations in South-eastern Europe

  • Session 8, November 29, 1945 (Part 1 of 6)

    Conference of 5.11.37 - Hoszbach notes (see above, p. 156)
    Blomberg's directive Of 24.6-37 relating i.a. to "Case Otto" (aggression against Austria)
    1938: Increasing pressure on Austria: Hitler-Schuschnigg meeting at Berchtesgaden on 12.2.38, Seyss-Inquart appointed Minister of Security and Interior, Threats of invasion-deceptive manoeuvres, Plebiscite on Austria's independence announced by Schuschnigg on 9.3.38, Germany's last preparations for march into.
    12.3.38: Seizure of power in Austria by Austrian Nazis and her military occupation by Germany.
    Diplomatic aftermath in Rome and London
    Legal Consolidation of Nazi power in Austria
    Motion Picture on Concentration Camps shown

  • Session 9, November 30, 1945 (Part 1 of 9)

    Oral evidence of Erwin Lahousen, witness for prosecution, on oppositionist activities of the German Intelligence Service under Admiral Canaris
    Application on Hess' behalf for temporary suspension of his trial on medical grounds

  • Session 10, December 1, 1945 (Part 1 of 5)

    Tribunal's decision on Hess' application - fit for trial
    Oral evidence of Erwin Lahousen (concluded)


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