Landmark War Crimes Trials: The Nuremberg Trial

In November 1945, Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States converged on Nuremberg, Germany with the goal of convening an historic trial in which a defeated nation would be held accountable for crimes against peace and humanity. The Nuremberg trial, which would last almost a year, targeted the 24 surviving members of Hitler's elite circle. Did the outcome bespeak the voice of humanity's conscience or was it merely victor's justice? Produced by Court TV and introduced by Steven Spielberg, The Nuremberg Trial, one of four titles in the Landmark War Crimes Trial series, examines both the conduct of the trial and its goal of establishing a benchmark for human rights while extending the reach of international law. A fitting location for the trial, Nuremberg was not only the site of infamous rallies celebrating Hitler, but the birthplace of the 1935 "Nuremberg laws," which laid the Holocaust's foundation with restrictions on the human rights of Jews. Old newsreels and still photos set the scene, while eyewitnesses describe the demeanor of the defendants: a defiant Hermann Goering; the befuddled Rudolph Hess, who claimed bizarre memory lapses; and a somewhat remorseful Albert Speer. Most (not all) were found guilty and some were hanged for their war crimes. The video ends with a provocative question: was "judgment at Nuremberg" an end or a beginning?--an especially interesting question in light of the failure of the Nuremberg trial to prevent later war atrocities in the Balkans, Cambodia, and other countries. With the caveat for high school audiences that this documentary includes graphic (and sadly commonplace today) views of concentration camps, this accessible introduction to a complex issue is recommended for school, college, and public library collections. The other titles in the series are: The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, The Court-Martial of Lt. Calley and The Bosnia War Crime Trials. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)