NUREMBURG TRIALS
Nuremburg Germany was home to the first international war crimes trial. The town was significant because before the war the police of the town celebrated many of the 21 defendants in the National Socialist Party (Nazi Party) with a festival. Ironically, these men were now on trial for their lives. Some were there because of their direct leadership as senior politicians, while others were deputies or seconds that stood on trial for head politicians had committed suicide rather than be put on trial. Such men that had refused to live to be put on trial were Heinrich Himmler, head of the feared SS, and Joseph Goebbels. Many of the defendants had difficulty coming to terms with the accusations. Some committed suicide they were so ashamed. They were charged with: “Conspiring to wage war, and committing crimes against peace, crimes against humanity (including the newly defined crime of genocide) and war crimes in the ordinary sense (abuse and murder of prisoners, killing of civilians and so on). This catalogue of sin was difficult for many of the defendants to come to terms with” Says Nuremburg: Nazis on Trial, World Wars In-depth, 11-15-09. Goering and Fritz Saukel among others were executed. Some, such as Albert Speer got off much easier. Speer was convicted and was sentenced to 20 years. Although many got off, it the Nuremburg trials still showed that the world could come together to enforce law. Although, they still lacked the effectiveness to get things done.
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