Robert H. Jackson Center

Nuremberg Day 81-90

Nuremberg Day 81 Goering Direct

On March 14, 1946, Dr. Otto Stahmer continued his direct examination of Hermann Goering. the testimony dealt with the Fuehrer's desire to achieve unification of the Protestant Evangelical Churches through a Reich Bishop. The hope was to remove politics from the Church. Goering also testified regarding his connection to Quisling and the assistance given to him.

Nuremberg Day 82 Goering

During Goering's Direct examination by his counsel, Dr. Stahmer on March 15, 1946, Robert H Jackson, Chief American Prosecutor, objected to a line of questioning. It dealt with the relevance of the introduction of the doctrine of reprisal. After Justice Lawrence's ruling, there was a recess and a unique glimpse of an attorneys conference involving counsel from both sides.

Nuremberg Day 82 Jackson on Doctrine of Reprisal

During the direct examination of Defendant Goering on March 15, 19462, a procedural issue arose where Justice Jackson questions the relevancy of the testimony regarding the doctrine of reprisal. Justice Lawrence rules on the motion. A sidebar conversation follows among prosecutors, Justice Jackson and certain defense counsel.

Nuremberg Day 83-84 Goering

After the conclusion of the direct examination by Goering's counsel, Dr. Stahmer, Goering was questioned by 14 Defense Counsel other than his own. The testimony covered March 16 and 18, 1946. In this excerpt, Walter Funk's counsel asks about Funk's role. Thereafter, Von Ribbentrop's counsel, Dr. Horn, questions Goering concerning his client's role as Foreign Minister after Feb. 1938. "Foreign policy above all was the Fuehrer's own realm". Thereafter, Robert H. Jackson commenced his much anticipated cross examination.

Nuremberg Day 84 Goering Part 1

On March 18, 1946, Robert H Jackson, Chief American Prosecutor, cross-examined lead defendant Hermann Goering. He began by noting that "You are perhaps aware that you are the only living man who can expound to us the true purposes of the Nazi party and the inner working of its leadership?" Goering responded: " I am perfectly aware of that."
The testimony concerned the methods of the Nazi rise to power, its methods in sustaining power , the Roehm affair, the creation of the SA, SS and other security measures.

Nuremberg Day 84 Goering Part 2

This is a continuation of the cross-examination by Robert H Jackson of lead defendant Hermann Goering on March 18, 1946. The testimony covered the leadership principle's of Hitler, his policy to never negotiate and the continuing loyalty of his closest officials.

Nuremberg Day 84 Goering (Jackson Cross)

On March 18, 1946, the long awaited cross examination of Hermann Goering by chief American Prosecutor Robert H. Jackson commenced. these are highlights of the first of three days of examinations.

Nuremberg Day 85 Dahlerus

This is an excerpt from testimony of Birger Dahlerus, a Swedish businessman. He was called by Dr. Stahmer during cross-examination of Goering. Dahlerus testified about his action as a go-between shortly before the German invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.He said he informed Goering that public opinion in Great Britain was now extremely bitter and was resolved to make no more concessions. Goering, Dahlerus testified, had said that he would do everything in his power to prevent war.
This excerpt is remarkable by not what was said but as an example of how the various translators were used as the film operator changes from language to language throughout the clip.

Nuremberg Day 85 Dahlerus (with translation)

On March 19, 1946, Dr. Otto Stahmer called Swedish businessman, Birger Dahlerus, to the stand as part of the defense of Hermann Goering. This vignette shows the translators in action as Dahlerus testied regarding Germany's desire to come to an understanding with Great Britain on the Poland affair. Dahlerus had a meeting with Lord Halifax at the insistence of Goering.

Nuremberg Day 86 Goering

This is an excerpt of the third day of Justice Robert H Jackson's cross-examination of lead Defendant Hermann Goering. The testimony concerned preparations for the Final Solution of the Jewish Question, Heydrich's report on Crystal Night and Goering's conference on the Jewish Question.

Nuremberg Day 86 Goering

On March 20. 1946, Justice Robert H Jackson, chief American Prosecutor, continued his cross-examination of the lead Defendant, Hermann Goering. There was dialog between Justice Jackson and Sir Geoffrey Lawrence regarding the ability of Goering to answer questions briefly of with explanation. Goering testified regarding preparations for the Final Solution of the Jewish Question, Heydrich's report concerning Crystal Night and his conference on the Jewish Question.

Nuremberg Day 86 Goering (Jackson Cross re Jewish Issue)

Excerpts from United States government film of Justice Robert H. Jackson, the chief U.S. prosecutor before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, Germany, cross-examining defendant Hermann Goering on March 20, 1946. Specific topics covered in these excerpts include: (1) Goering's plan to eliminate Jews from Germany's large industries; (2) Goering's September 1935 proclamation of the Nuremberg laws; (3) Goering's April 1938 publication of penalties for concealing Jewish participation in business enterprises; and (4) Goering's July 31, 1941, directive regarding "solution of the Jewish question." Regarding the last, Goering, reading from the German document, states that Jackson's English translation of the document mistranslates "total solution" as "final solution."

Nuremberg Day 86 Jackson/Lawrence

On March 18,1946, Robert H Jackson, Chief American Prosecutor, began the session with a legal argument with Sir Geoffrey Lawrence, President Judge of the Tribunal, regarding the previous day's questioning of Goering where he said he did not recall the United States publicizing its mobilization plans. Jackson worried about whether to respond to this. This lead to a debate between Jackson and Judge Lawrence concerning the rules of cross examination and the extent of the permitted response. Lawrence ruled that the defendant "may make a short explanation' and is not confined simply to answering yes or no.

Nuremberg Day 86 Jackson/ Lawrence on Goering's answers

On March 20, 1946, Robert H Jackson argues various points with Chief Justice Sir Geoffrey Lawrence regarding the length of Goering's response to cross examination questions. Jackson shows his displeasure with the ruling which permits Goering to elaborate on his answers to Jackson's questions.

Nuremberg Day 86-87 Goering

On March 20-21, 1946, Sir David Maxwell- Fyfe, Chief Deputy Proecutor of the British Delegation followed Robert H jackson in cross-examining Hermann Goering. Nearly half of his examinationwas devoted to the murder of the fifty British flyers who escaped Stalag Luft III. On the extermination policy, Goering answered: "As far as Hitler is concerned, I have said I do not think so. As far as I am concerned, I have said that I did not know, even approximately, to what extent these things were taking place."

Nuremberg Day 87 Goering

Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, counsel for the British Delegation followed Justice Robert H Jackson in cross examining Hermann Goering. Nearly half of the cross was devoted to the murder of the fifty British flyers who escaped from Stalag Luft III. On the concentration camps, Goering said he was ignorant on what was going on and "in my opinion, not even the Fuehrer knew the extent of what was going on." Despite reviewing several documents mentioning the disappearance and extermination of the Jews, Goering maintained his ignorance.

Nuremberg Day 87 Goering Cross

Following the three day cross examination of Hermann Goering by American Chief Prosecutor Justice Robert H Jackson, Britiish Chief Prosecutor Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe took the podium. Nearly half of the his examination was devoted to the murder of the fifty British flyers who escaped Stalag Luft III. This was the so-called Sagan Order ( depicted in thh film "The Great Escape") Goering testified that the exetent of the activities at the concentration camps " were kept a secret from me. I might add that in my opinion not even the Fuehrer knew the extent of what was going on."
On the following day, March 21, 1946, Chief Prosecutor for the Soviet Union Roman Rudenko continued the cross examination. Goering conceded that he was the closest collaborator of Hitler on matters concerning the Air Force and economics. On invasion of Russia, he confirmed a prior statement to the troops that "you are sent there not to work for the welfare of the population, but for the purpose of extracting everything possible out of these territories."

Nuremberg Day 90 Seidl/Fyfe

On March 25, 1946, Dr.Alfred Seidl, counsel for defendants Frank and Hess, sought a ruling from the Tribunal regarding the use of documents that were in a book but not read into evidence. Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, Deputy Prosecutor for the British delegation, suggested that the Tribunal defer the decision and see how Sr. Seidl chooses to use the documents and then an argument over its evidentiary value could be considered.