It was 1945, the war was over. Slowly, painfully, life came back to the ruins of europe. The war was over, but there was no peace. Despair crouched over the continent. Hopelessness circled europe like a bird of prey. Why . What were the forces . What were the issues in a war that turned nations into rubble heaps . And populations into beggars . The people wanted the answers. They wanted to know what happened and why. In the palace of justice in nuremburg, the people of the world came together. For there is at the International Military tribunal to judge the chief nazi war criminals. Justice robert jackson, the chief american prosecutor, makes the Opening Statement for the prosecution. Of opening the first trial in history. [inaudible] the privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the piece of the world, imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish, have been so calculated, so malignant and so devastating, that civilization cannot tolerate theyre being ignored because it cannot survive theyre being repeated. That four great nations, flushed with victory and stung with injury, stay the hand of vengeance and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law, is one of the most significant tributes that power has ever paid to reason. This inquest represents the practical effort of four of the most mighty of nations. With the support of 15 more, to utilize International Law to meet the greatest menace of our times, aggressive war. The common sense of mankind demands that law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. It must also reach men who possess themselves of great power and who may deliver it and make concerted use of it, to set motions evils that leave no home in the world untouched. He will stand 20 odd broken man, reproached by the actions they have led, almost as bitterly as the desolation of those they have attacked. Their personal capacity for evil is forever past. Merely as individuals, their fate is of little consequence to the world. What makes this inquest significant is that these prioeaaauners represent sinister influences that will lark in the world long after their bodies have returned to test. They are living symbols of the arrogance and cruelty of power, of racial hatreds, of terrorism and violence. They are symbols of fierce nationalism and of militarism, of intrigue and war making, which have embroiled europe generation after generation, crushing its manhood, destroying its homes and impoverishing its life. They have so identified themselves with the philosophies they conceived, and with the forces they directed, that any tenderness to them is a victory and an encouragement to all the evils which are attached to their names. What these men stand for, we will patiently and temporarily disclose. We will give you undeniable proof of incredible events. The catalog of crimes will omit nothing. It may be that these men of troubled conscience do not regard a trial as a favor, but they do have a fair opportunity to defend themselves. A favor which they rarely extended to their fellow countrymen. We will not ask you to convict these men on the testimony of their foes. There is no count of the indictment they cannot be approved by books and records. And we will show you the defendants own films. You will see their own conduct and hear their own voices as they reenact for you, from the screen, some of the events in the course of the conspiracy. The acts of the defendants have bathed the world in blood. And set civilization back a century. They have subjected their european neighbors to every spoliation and deprivation. They have brought the german people to the lowest ebb of wretchedness. They have stirred hatreds and insighted Domestic Violence on every continent. These are the things that stand in the dark shoulder to shoulder with these prisoners. The real complaining party at your bar is civilization. The United States of america present count one of the indictment, that all the defendants participated as organizers or accomplices in a common plan or conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The aims of this conspiracy were open and notorious. It was far different from any other conspiracy ever unfolded before a court of justice. Its history is a history of the nazi party, which grew from the brawling streets of munich in the 20s. And from the beginning, adolf hitler and his followers were committed to the use of any means, whether or not they were legal or honorable. Their aim was the highest degree of control over the german community. Their intentions were blatantly put forth in mein kampf and the party program. And they preached their favorite doctrine, up and down the land. They said that persons of a socalled german blood were a master race, entitled to subjugate or even exterminate other races. They said that the germans should be ruled under the leadership principle by which each subleader owed unconditional obedience to his leader. They said that war was a noble and necessary activity of germany. And they said that the nazi party alone had the right to rule germany and the right to destroy the partys enemies. Their rise to power was based on fraud, deceit, intimidation and coercion. Culminating finally in terror and flame. Into that flame went the democratic constitution of the republic and the freedom of the german people. For the fires set by the nazis extended to the very reich. A witness who formerly held a high position in the Berlin Police administration tells of his investigation into the fire. To speak briefly and to state the facts, first of all, we ascertain that quite generally, hitler had wished for a large scale propaganda campaign. He took on the job of making the necessary proposals and it was goebbels who first thought of setting the rice stack on fire. A group of 10 reliable was made ready. And he was informed about every detail of the plan. It was expected from goering and he gave his assurances that he should do so that the police would be they would take up a false trail. Using the fire as a pretext for seizing power, the nazi conspirators lost no time in tearing germany away from a policy of peace. Late in 1933, they led their nation out of the disarmament conference, embarked on a course of secret rearmament. By 1934, the new armaments program, designed by defendants goring, and funk, was going full blast. German industry was again turning out the tools of war. One year later, goring could announce, from the Strong Foundation of the National Socialist ideology, today rises once again the german armed forces. A few days later, the general announced the new law for compulsory military service. The law was signed by defendants goring, hess, frank, and frick. The training began. Finally, in spring of 1936, the nazis sent their new troops marching into the land. On march 7, 1936, soldiers of the army which was created by order of the furor, crossed the sacred river of german history. They pledged the furor, whatever decisions he may make, unbreakable faith and obedience and they vowed to follow him and to prove their sincerity by their neverending love for germany. The sound of boots grew louder on the streets of nuremberg. But hitler said [speaking foreign language] the german people is not a people which welcomes a war today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. It is not in the character of the germans. It is by nature, not only peaceful and peaceloving but above all conciliatory. Our country, they want to bring in their the millions of workers. They want to perform their work. [speaking foreign language] but the nazi conspirators, continued to plot new aggressions against peace. In november 1937, hitler called a special meeting with defendants goring, and raider, and general frick. The meeting was secret but a lieutenant colonel, hitlers personal agitant, faithfully recorded hitlers words. The german question can be solved only by way of force, for the improvement of our military political position, it must be our first aim, in every case of entanglement by war, to conquer czecoslovakia and austria simultaneously. The annexation of the two states to germany, militarily and politically, would constitute a considerable relief. This meeting set the stage for nazi expansion and act one came only three months later, where defendant von papen finally engineered a meeting between the austrian chancellor and hitler. Schmidt, who was Austrian Foreign minister at the time, also attended the meeting. And now he takes the witness stand. Did hitler demand that he be made minister of security . That was one of the demands on their program. Were there also demands made with regard to Currency Exchange and customs . It was of a economic nature of every kind. Hitler told you that you had until february 15 to accept his terms, didnt he . And he told you that if you didnt do so, he would use force . The ultimatum was that he intended, as early as february, to march into austria and that, for the last time, he was prepared to postpone it. Faced by these threats, the austrians carried out all hitlers demands. But the nazi conspirators werent satisfied. A month later, when he announced a plebiscite on austrian independence, hitler demanded that it be cancelled. Another ultimatum demanded that he resign within three hours. Fearing invasion, he resigned and finally someone else was appointed the new chancellor of austria. That same day, goring in berlin called kepler of the German Embassy in vienna. The conversation was transcribed. Kepler spoke first. We represent the government now. Yes. Youre the government. Listen carefully. The following should be sent here. Take the notes. The provisional austrian government sends to the German Government the urgent request to support it in its task to help prevent bloodshed. For this purpose, it asks the German Government to send german troops as soon as possible. Im watching through street. Everything has collapsed. Hes the only one who stirs power in austria. There are troops across the border today. The act was written. Joining austria to germany and signed by the defendant, goring, frick, and hess. Hitler, of course, had said germany neither intends nor wishes to interfere in the internal affairs of austria, to annex austria. 21st of may, 1935, adolf hitler. The curtain fell on act one. But already the nazi conspirators prepared for act two. With this 1938 memorandum from hitler to his high command. It is my unalterable decision to smash czecoslovakia by military action in the near future. It is the job of the political leaders to bring about the politically and militarily suitable moment. Conrad hennlime was designated political leader. The plan was labeled operation green and the defendant issued another memorandum, reading operation green will be set in motion by means of an incident in the fixing for the exact time of this incident is of the utmost importance. A few months later, germany signed the munich pact with england, france and italy. This pact involved the transfer of the land to germany. The conspirators called it their last territorial demand. But before the ink was dry, they were making other plans. For hitlers goal was the complete absorption of czechoslovakia. And now the czech president was called to a meeting with hitler and defendants goring, and kettel. They gave him the ultimatum. They would be incorporated into germany immediately or czechoslovakia would be invaded and prague destroyed from the air. He was helpless. Defendants signed the decree, making bohemia and moravia a german protectorate. Hitler had said i have promised and repeated here that there will be no more territorial problems for germany and europe. Now, according to more of his agitants notes, hitler reviewed the nazi plan of violence and treachery from 1934 to 1939. The notes read first, in 1935, the introduction of compulsory military service. After that, militarization of the land. One year later, austria. Brought about a considerable reinforcement of the reich. The next step step was bohemia and moravia. Then follow the direction of the protectorate, and with that the action against poland was laid. Basically, i did not prepare the armed forces with decision to strike, the decision was always in me. In the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern ireland, we present count to, crimes against peace. Charging that all of the defendants participated in the planning and waging of wars of aggression, wars in violation of international treaties, agreements and assurances. First step was the rhineland and the next step was austria. The ryan land is occupied. Austria and czechoslovakia are seized by germany. Now the nazi conspirators turn to the next problem, the conquest of poland. Again, and adjutant transcribed hitlers words. The solution of the problem demands courage. It is impossible without invasion of foreign states or attacks on foreign property. As therefore, there is no question of bearing poland. We are left with the decision to attack poland at the first suitable opportunity. We cannot expect a reputation of the czech affair. There will be war. Meanwhile, according to their wellestablished practice, the conspirators stirred up the dancing issue to finish frontier incidents which could justify an attack on poland. Then, on 23 august, the nazis signed their nonaggression pact with russia. Now poland is in the position in which i want. I am only afraid that, at the last moment, someone will make a cause for mediation. Appeals were made twice by the pope and by president roosevelt. Finally, mr. Roosevelt asks and assurance be given him that the German Forces will not attack, and above all, not invade the territory or possessions of the following independent nations. He then names as those coming into question, denmark, belgium. On september 1st, 1939, the nazis sent the vermont smashing into poland and into a new world war. France and england, faithful to their mutual assistance packed with poland, they immediately declared war on germany. The air force open mass attacks on College Towns and cities. Hitler, according to the notes said, destruction opponent in the foreground, i shall give a propaganda cause for starting the war. Never mind whether it is possible or not. No pity, take a brutal attitude. But, as usual, before the attack on poland, hitler told the world, during the trouble months of the past year, the friendship between poland and germany has been one of the reassuring factors in the political life of europe. January, 1939, adolf hitler. The path of destruction started in poland, but soon it lid north and south across all europe. Each new aggression was based on hitlers principle that, in war, victory, not right, is what matters. Nonaggression treaty. It is firmly resolved to maintain peace between denmark and germany in awe circumstances. 31st of may, 1939. But on nine april, 1940, german troops invaded denmark. We go the German Government is determined, and view of the friendly relations that exist between norway in germany, under no circumstances to prejudice the in viability and integrity of the norwegian state. 2nd of september, 1939. But on april 9th, 1940, german troops invaded norway. Im sure the governments of belgium, holland and luxembourg, that germany will not violate their neutrality. 6th of october, 1939, and off hitler. But on may 10th, 1940, german troops invaded belgium, holland and luxembourg. The firmly established reliable relationship from germany to yugoslavia, will represent an element of calm for our nerve wrecked continent. 1st of june, 1939, adolf hitler. But on april 6th, 1941, german troops invaded yugoslavia. These criminal methods of the nazi conspirators brought them early success. By 1941, they had most of europe under their heel. Now, and evil ambition for power and more power drove them on. But two of the worlds mightiest nations, the United States and soviet russia, remained to block the nazi drive for world supremacy. They had to be dealt with firmly, immediately, and now germany asked for cooperation from her full partner integration to the east aggression to the east, and her junior partner to the south. In berlin, they drew up the axis packed. The blueprint of the new order and they parcel doubt the continents of the world for access domination. Italy was to get the mediterranean sphere. Japan was to get the orient. And to germany would go the rest of the world. In june, 1941, in violation of their nonaggression pact, nazis sent their forces deep into soviet territory. According to military plans along made. As usual, there was no declaration of war. Hitler had said, today germany, tomorrow the world, and this was tomorrow. Plant warfare in the east, air warfare in the west. Now the air forces were hurled with full force at the cities and people of britain. They told i will flat out their cities. Then, on december 7th, 1941, the japanese, keeping their end of an infamous bargain, struck at the United States, also without declaration of war. Japanese bombs rained on pearl harbor, spreading war finally to the pacific. The new order was on the march. World war ii flamed around the globe. In the name of the union of soviet socialist republics, we present count three and four, charging that all the defendants committed war crimes in germany and in all those countries occupied by germany. The nazi conspirators committed crimes against enemy armies, against prisoners of war, against the civilians of occupied lands. They believed in the barbaric doctrine of total war, and consider themselves freed from the restraints of International Law or the established customs of war. Theyre ruthless policies were ordered in directives like this one, the bolsheviks soldier has lost all claim to treatment as an honorable opponent. Active or passive resistance must be broken immediately by force of arms. Prisoners of war attempting to escape are to be fired upon without previous challenge. No warning shot must be fired. More proof of this savage nazi policy comes from the affidavit of the former gestapo officer. There existed in the prisoner of war camps on the eastern front, small screening teams headed by lower ranking members of the gestapo. It was the duty of these teams to segregate the prisoners of war who were candidates for execution according to the orders that had been given, and to report them to the officer of the gestapo. A letter from defendant rosenberg to defendant title in 1942 stated clearly, a large part of the soviet prisoners of war has starved or died because of the hazards of the weather. In many cases, prisoners of war could no longer keep up in the march because of hunger and exhaustion. And numerous camps will, no shelter for the prisoners were not provided at all. Even tools were not provided to dig holes or caves. Yet, when some objected that this treatment violated the geneva convention, the defendant answered with this memorandum. We are concerned with the destruction of an ideology. Therefore, i approve and back the measures. This is approved by the testimony of a general who worked under an admiral. The general attended conferences where crimes against whole populations were plotted in advance by the nazi conspirators. Will you please explain exactly what took place at this conference in gaza . First of all, we had a short top. Particularly, as it regards to the polish region. Secondly, they spoke vehemently against the measures that they had found out about, to which they projected extermination measures that were being directed against the polish intelligentsia, nobility in clergy, as well as all elements that could be considered embodiments of the National Resistance movement. [noise] he said at the time, more or less, verbatim, that the world will at some time make the armed forces under whose eye these events have occurred, also responsible for these events. Defendant frank, nazi governor of poland, was another of the conspirators guilty of directing mass murder. In his diary, he speaks of taking advantage of the focus of attention on the western front by caring out wholesale liquidation of thousands of pols. These atrocities were not restricted to the east. Here is the proof, in the village of france. Here is the proof, in the town of belgium. Here is the proof, in the caves of italy, where 350 hostages were carefully listed. And systemically murdered. And here is czechoslovakia. In blind retaliation for the assassination of ss man heydrich, the nazis murdered all the men and sent their women and children into slavery in germany. But this was not enough. Boys were moved and were ordered to level the village to the ground. It was to be the nazis example to all occupied people. But more terrible still were the concentration camps, which from the beginning had been the conconspirators chief weapon against opposition of every kind. German antinazis were the first victims. But with the war, their numbers swelled to include citizens of all the nations of europe. Their fate is described. I commanded auschwitz on the 1st of december 1943 and estimate that at least 2. 5 million victims were executed and exterminated there by gassing and burning. At least another half million have come to starvation and disease, making the total dead about three million. Included among the executed and burned were approximately 20,000 russian prisoners of war, the remainder of the total number included about 100,000 german jews and great numbers of citizens from holland, france, belgium, poland, hungary, czechoslovakia, greece and other countries. Medical experiments, too, were standard procedure at many concentration camps. These included lowering the body temperature to 28 degrees centigrade, High Altitude tests in pressure chambers, experiments with poison diseases and even sterilization experiments. This was genocide, the premeditated destruction of entire people. Genocide, the direct result of the nazis claim that they had the right to destroy the partys opposition. Tomorrow the world. Dead or alive. In the fame of the french republic, closes count three and four, the final charges of the indictment. All the defendants committed crimes against humanity. Including the murder and persecution of all people opposed to the nazi party and the enslavement, exploitation and deportation of civilian population. The slave labor policy was the responsibility of this defendant, who admitted in 1944 out of the five million workers who arrived in germany, not even 200,000 came voluntarily. Forced labor often meant brutal and degrading treatment. He himself suggested all the men must be fed, sheltered and treated in such a way to exploit them to the highest possible extend, at the lowest possible expenditure. And defendant borman added the slavs are to work for us in so far as we do not need them, they may do. Slavery was only one aspect of nazi exploitation. The defendant, in a talk with German Occupation authorities in 1942, discussed another plunder. God knows you are not sent out to work for the welfare of the people in your charge but to get the utmost out of them so that the german people can live. This everlasting concern about foreign people must cease now, once and forever. I have here before me reports in what you are expected to deliver. It makes no difference to me in this case if you say that your people will starve. But nazi crimes against humanity were not limited to foreign peoples. Defendant frick, as minister of interior, directed a program aimed at aged, insane or incurable germans. The socalled useless eaters. Thousands were committed to special institutions. Few ever returned. Evidence proves they were murdered, because they were useless to the plans of the nazi conspirators. But perhaps the greatest crime against humanity the nazis committed against the jews. The campaign of hate and murder that goes to the heart of the nazi movement. [chanting] [yelling] [speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] german citizens are only those of german or related blood, willing to serve the german reich and people. Marriages between jews and citizens of german or related bloods are prohibited. Ss Brigadier General stroop, in charge of the warsaw ghetto in 1943 had learned his nazi lessons well. In a secret report he said the reich, ordered on the 23 of april 1943, the cleaning out of the ghetto with utter ruthlessness. I therefore decided to destroy and burn down the entire ghetto. Jews frequently left their hideouts but occasionally remained in the burning buildings and jumped out of the windows only when the heat became unbearable. Life was not pleasant. After the first week. Bombs were thrown into the manholes and the jews were driven out and captured. Countless numbers of jews were liquidated in sewers and bunkers through blasting. The longer the resistance continued, the tougher became the members of the ss, police. Always discharged their duties in an excellent manner. Little by little, the nazis were reaching what they called the final solution, the total extermination of the jews in europe. We had two ss doctors on duty at auschwitz to examine incoming transports of prisoners. The prisoners would be passed by the doctors. Those who were fit for work were sent into the camp. Others were sent immediately to the extermination plot. Children of tender years were invariably exterminated, since for reasons of their youth they were unable to work. We endeavored to fool them into thinking they were to go through a delousing process. It took from three to 15 minutes to kill the people in the death chamber, depending upon climatic conditions. You knew when the people were dead because their screaming stopped. We usually waited about one half hour before we opened the doors and removed the bodies. After the bodies were removed, our special commanders took off the rings and extracted the gold from the teeth of the corpses. Much of this loot was then transferred to secret vaults of the reich at the mine. Labor chief robert lye knew that six million jews died in the nazifinal solution. In his will, he said in antisemitism we violated a basic command of gods creation. It is hard to admit mistakes, but the whole existence of our people is in question. We must have the courage to rid ourselves of antisemitism. God has taught me that. In my cell in nuremberg. Defendant frank himself said before this court [speaking foreign language] we have allowed ourselves to make utterances which are terrible. A thousand years will past and this guilt of germany will still not be erased. The prosecution rests. The defense begins. They call 61 witnesses and introduce 38,000 affidavits on the defendantsbehalf. They submit 136,000 more affidavits, 7,000 on behalf of vsd, 3,000 on behalf of the general staff and okw. 2,000 on behalf of the gestapo. These attorneys were personally selected by the defendants. Many are wellknown german lawyers. And each now rises to plead acquittal for his client. Some make blanket denials of all guilt. [speaking foreign language] some of the defendants had, without doubt, a great influence in those spheres which did not interest hitler. They had no powers whatsoever in the great decisions concerning war and peace, armistice, et cetera. Other Attorneys Lead their clients through a carefully prepared defense. Here striker is examined. [speaking foreign language] and i will continue. It has also been stated by the prosecution that they would have had no one to carry out their orders to kill if you havent made that propaganda and if you hadnt conducted the education of the german people in that sense. [speaking foreign language]
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