Nuremberg Day 211-218

Nuremberg Day 214 Accused Organizations

On Aug. 29, 1946, Thomas J. Dodd, Executive Trial Counsel, made final arguments against the Accused Organizations. He stated that the "accused organizations were the principal media by and through which these transgressions of the individual defendants were effected. He went on to state that "deprive the Nazi conspirators of these organizations and they could never have accomplished their criminal aims".

Nuremberg Day 216 Hess Final

Hess' final statement on Aug. 31, 1946 was the longest made by any of the 21 defendants in the dock. Hess asked for permission to remain seated. At times he rambled but at the end said "I was permitted to work for many years of my life under the greatest son whom my people has brought forth in it s thousand-year history....I do not regret anything."

Nurembeg Day 216 Speer Final

On August 31, 1946, the Defendant Albert Speer, the Reich Minister for Armaments and Munitions gave his Final Statement. His statement throughout emphasized the danger of dictatorship in an age of great technological development. He uttered not on word in his own defense.

Nuremberg Day 216 Keitel Final

On August 31, 1946, Wilhelm Keitel gave his final satement. "It is tragic to have to realize that the best I had to give as a soldier, obedience and loyalty, was exploited for purposes which could not be recognized at the time, and that I did not see that ther is a limit set for a soldier's oeformance of his duty. That is my fate."

Nuremberg Day 216 Von Ribbentrop Final

On Aug. 31, 1946, Von Ribbentrop sought to make a broad justification of Nazi foreign policy. Further,"I deplore the atrocious crimes which became known to me here and which besmirch this revolution" of the Nazis. "The only thing of which I consider myself guitly before my people-not before this Tribunal- is that my aspirations in foreign policy remained without success".

Nuremberg Day 216 Defendant's Close

On Aug. 31, 1946, each of the Nuremberg Trial Defendants had the opportunity to present to the Tribunal its Final Statements. In this segment, portions of the final statements from Goering, Ribbentrop, Keitel, Kaltenbruner and Speer are shown.
After the final statement by Fritzche, the Tribunal adjourned to deliberate on the Judgments which would be delivered on Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 1946.

Nuremberg Day 216 Sauckel Final

Fritz Sauckel, Gauleiter and Plenipotentiary for the Utilization of Labor, summarized his defense, in German, be emphasizing his humble social background, his empathy for workers, his commitment to Hitler, his efforts to secure good treatment for all workers and his surprise at the revelations of evil during the Trial.

Nuremberg Day 216 Seyss-Inquart Final

The Defendant Seyss-Inquart's final statement was distinctive in a number of respects. He showed no contrition and did not ask for any special considerations. He considered the was "as a life-and-death-struggle for the German people." On Hitler, "to me he remains the man who made Greater Germany a fact in German history. I served this man. And now? I cannot say crucify him since yesterday I cried "Hosanna'."

Nuremberg Day 216 Goering Final

President Lawrence called upon the defendants in order in which they were listed in the Indictment. Reich Marshal Hermann Goering, Hitler's designated successor, spoke first. Near the end of his presentation, Goering absolved the German people of any guilt. "The German people placed their trust in the Fuehrer, and under his authoritarian government they had no influence on events."

Nuremberg Day 216 Jodl Final

The Defendant Alfred Jodl had been Chief of the Operations Staff of the High Command of the German Armed Forces. "I believe and avow that a man's duty to one's people and fatherland stands above every other. To carry out this duty was for me an honor, and the highest law."

Nuremberg Day 216 Von Papen Final

Franz Von Papen, on Aug. 31, 1946, gave his final statement emphasizing that his"love of country and people was the decisive factor in all my actions. I spoke without fear of man whenever I had to speak."

Nuremberg Day 216 Fritzsche

Hans Fritzsche had been head of the Home Press Division of the Propaganda Ministry from 1938-1942. Thereafter was the head of the Radio Division of the Propaganda Ministry. Fitzsche placed great emphasis on the fact he had been deceived by Hitler."Between these criminals and myself there is only one connection: they merely misused me in a different way than they misused those who became their physical victims."

Nuremberg Day 216 Kaltenbrunner Final

After January 1943, Kaltenbrunner had been Chief of teh Security Police and SD and head of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA). In his final statement Kaltenbrunner once again claimed that his title inflated his real authority. He declared that he had concentrated his activites on military intelligence.

Nuremberg Day 216 Von Neurath Final

Constantin Von Neurath had been Minister of Foreign Affairs during the first five years of the Nazi regime and was Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia from 1939-1941. "I stand with a clear conscience not only before myself, but before history and the German people."

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments

These are vignettes of all 8 Judges reading portions of the Judgment at Nuremberg on Sept. 30, 1946.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 1 (Lawrence)

On Sept. 30, 1946, Sir Geoffrey Lawrence, President Judge, commenced the reading of the Judgment of the Tribunal to a packed courtroom. All of the members and alternate members of the Tribunal participated in the reading which lasted over one and one half days.The Judgment began by describing the foundations of the Tribunal, the scope of the proceedings and the kinds of evidence.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgment Part 2 (Hess Fitness)

On Sept. 30, 1946, Sir Geoffrey Lawrence reads a portion of the Judgment as it relates to sanity of Hess to stand trial.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 3 (Lawrence)

Sir Geoffrey Lawrence reads a portion of the Judgment at the Nuremberg Trial (1945-1946).

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 4 (Lawrence and Birkett)

On Sept. 30, 1946 Judges Lawrence and Birkett read portions of the Judgments at the Nuremberg Trial.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 5 (Birkett)

Judge Norman Birkett on Sept. 30, 1946 reads a portion of the Judgment at the Nuremberg Trial ( 1945-1946) relating to the Nazi's rise to power.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgment Part 6 (de Vabres)

On Sept. 30, 1946, French Judge Donnedieu de Vabres reads that portion of the Judgment regarding German aggressions, country by country. Following the reading a recess occurs.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 7 (de Vabres and Falco)

On Sept. 30, 1946 French Judges Donnedieu de Vabres and Robert Falco read that portion of the Judgments relating Germany's aggression, country by country.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 8 (Biddle)

On Sept. 30, 1946, American Judge Francis Biddle read that portion of the Judgments relating to the conspiracy charge.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 9 (Biddle)

On Sept. 30, 1946, American Judge Francis Biddle reads that portion of the Judgment regarding the conspiracy charge.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 10 (Nikitchenko)

Russian Judges of the Nuremberg Tribunal (Nikitchenko and Volchkov) reading the Judgments on Sept. 30, 1946. The Soviets dealt with slave labor and Nazi organizations.

Nuremberg Day 217 Judgments Part 11 (SS)

President Judge Geoffrey Lawrence reads the Judgments against the SS organization on Sept. 30, 1946.

Nuremberg Day 218 Judgments

On the morning of Oct. 1, 1946, the Tribunal read the Judgment on the guilt or innocence of the individual defendants. 19 were found guilty on one or more counts of the Indictment. Three were acquitted: Schacht, Fritzche and von Papen.
After lunch on Oct. 1, 1946, Chief Justice Lawrence announced the sentences to the Defendants that were found guilty. Death by hanging: Goering, Ribbentrop, Keitel, Jodl, Kaltenbruner, Streicher, Rosenbeg, Frank, Frick, Sauckel, Bormann and Seyss-Inquart. Life: Hess, Raeder and Funk. Twenty Years: Speer and von Schirach. Fifteen years: von Neurath. Ten Years: Doenitz.

Nuremberg Day 218 Frick Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Wilhelm Frick, Reich Minister of the Interior from Jan. 1933-1943 and thereafter Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Seyss-Inquart Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who held high positions in Austria, Poland and the Netherlands, was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Rosenberg Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Alfred Rosenberg, Reichsleiter and head of the Office of Foreign Affairs of NSDAP, was found guilty on all four counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Sauckel Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Fritz Sauckel, Gauleiter and Reichastatthalter in Thuringia and in 1942 Plenipotentiary for the Utilization of Labor, was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 von Papen Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Franz von Papen, Vice Chancellor in the first Hitler Cabinet and Minister to vienna and Turkey, was acquitted on all four counts and freed.

Nuremberg Day 218 Ribbentrop Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister from 1938 until the end, was found guilty on all four counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Keitel Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Wilhelm Keitel, Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW), was found guilty on all 4 counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Streicher Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Julius Steciher, Gauleier of Franconia and publisher of Der Sturmer, an anti-semitic weekly newspaper, was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Raeder Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Erich Raeder, Commander-in-Chief of the German Nay from 1935-1943, was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Nuremberg Day 218 Jodl Judgment

On Oct.1, 1946, Alfred Jodl, Chief of Operations of the OKW, was found guilty on all four counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Doenitz Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Karl Doenitz, Comander-in-Chief of the German Navy from 1943 and previously leader of the U-boat Arm of the Navy, was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to ten years.

Nuremberg 218 Kaltenbrunner Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, head of the SS in Austria in 1935 and in 1943 Chief of the Security Police and SD and Head of the Reich Security Office (RSHA), was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Schacht Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Hjalmar Schacht, once President of the Reichsbank, Reich Minister of Economics and Plenipotentiary General for War Economy, was acquitted on all 4 counts and set free.

Nuremberg Day 218 Frank Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Hans Frank, Reichsleiter of the Nazi Prty in charge of Legal Affairs, a Reich Minister without Portfolio and and honorary Obergruppenfuehrer in the SA, was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to death by hanging.

Nuremberg Day 218 Speer Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and Reich Minister for Armaments and War Production, was found guilty of two counts and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Nuremberg Day 218 von Neurath Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Constantin von Nurath, the Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs for the first 5 years of its regime, was found guilty on all 4 counts and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment.

Nuremberg Day 218 Fritzsche Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Hans Fritzsche, head of the Home Press Division of the Propaganda Ministry, was found not guilty on all four counts and freed.

Nuremberg Day 218 Bormann Judgment

On Oct. 1, 1946, Martin Borrman, in absentia,The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Fuehrer' Deputy and Head of the Party Chancellery, was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to death by hanging. It was subsequently learned Bormann had died in Berlin in 1946.

Nuremberg Day 211-218

Nuremberg Trial Videos