75 years ago, in january it was 1945. The war was over. Slowly, painfully, life came back to the ruins of europe. [music] the war was over. But there was no peace. Despair crouched over the countenance. Hopelessness circled europe like a bird of prey. Why . What were the forces . What were the issues in a war that turns 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 nuremberg, the people of the world came together, for there, that the International Military tribunal, to judge the war criminals. [music] Justice Robert h. Jackson, the chief american prosecutor, makes the Opening Statement for the prosecution. The privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so mag maglignant and so devastating that civilization cannot tolerate there being ignored because it cannot survive their being repeated. That four great nations 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 mightiest nations, to utilize International Law to meet the greatest menace of our times, aggressive war. The commonsense 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 ofof those ty 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 prisoners represent sinister influences that will lurk in the world long after their bodies have returned to dust. They are living symbols of the arrogance and cruelty of power, of racial hatreds, of terrorism and violence. They are symbols of fierce nationalisms and of militarism, of intrigue. And war making, which have imbroiled europe generation after generation, crushing its manhood, destroying its homes and impoverishing its life. They have so identified themselves with the forces they directed that any tenderness to them is a victory and encouragement to all the evils which are attached to their names. What these men stand for, we will patiently and temperately disclose. We will give you undenial 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 that cannot be proved by books and records. And we will show you the defendantsown 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. [music] 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 rule under the leadership principle by which each subleader owed unconditional oa 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. music their rise to power was based on fraud, deceit, intimidation and coercion. Culminating finally in terror. 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 tells of his investigation into the fire. To speak briefly and to state the facts, first of all, we ascertain that quite generally, it was 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 him 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 for compulsory military service. The law was signed by defendants goring, hess, frank, 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. [music] 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. 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 generals frick. The meeting was secret but 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 czechia 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 total you that you had until 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. music [music] music mus ic but the nazi conspirators werent satisfied. A month later, when he announced an attack 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 collapsed. Hes the only one who stirs power in austria. There are troops across the border today. music [music] music mus ic the act was written. Joining austria to german 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 czechia 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 will be set in motion by means of an incident in the fixing for the exact time of this incident is of the utmost important. 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. 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 immediately or czechoslovakia would be invaded and prague destroyed from the air. He was helpless. Defendants signed the decree, making bohemia german protectorate. Hitler had said i have promise and repeated here that there will be no more territorial problems for germany and europe. Now, according to more of his 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 was bohemia and arabia. And with that, the basis for action against poland was laid. Basically i did not organize the armed forces. The decision to strike was always in me. In the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern ireland, we present count two, crimes against peace. Charging that all the defendants participated in the planning and waging of wars of aggression, wars in violation of international treaties, agreements and assurances. The first step was the rhineland, the next step. The land is occupied, austria and czechoslovakia are seized by germany. Now the nazi conspirators turned to the next problem. The conquest of poland. Again, an agitant transcribed hitlers word. It is impossible. There is therefore no question of sparing poland and we are left with the decision to attack poland at the first suitable opportunity. We cannot expect a repetition of the czech affair. There will be war. Meanwhile, the conspirators stirred up the issue to furnish frontier incidents which could justify an attack on poland. Then on 23 august, the nazis signed their nonaggression pact with russia. He told his high command now poland is in the position in which i want them. Im only afraid that at the last moment appeals were made. Twice by the pope. And by president roosevelt. The path of destruction started in poland. But soon it led north and south across all europe. And each new aggression was based on hitlers principle that in war, victory, not right, is what matters. Denmark, belgium, portugal all music [music] music music on 1 september 1939, the nazis sent it smashing into poland. And to a new world war, for france and england, faithful to their mutual assistance pact with poland, immediately declared war on germany. They opened mass attacks on polish towns and cities. Hitler, according to the notes, said destruction of poland in the foreground. I shall give a propaganda score, starting the war. Never mind will it be plausible or not. Have no pity. Take a brutal attitude. But, as usual, before the attack on poland, hitler told the world during the troubled months of the past year, the friendship between poland and german 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 led north and south across all europe. And 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 under all circumstances. 31 st of may, 1939. But on 9 april 1940, german troops invaded denmark. The german reich government is determined, in view of the relations which exist between norway and germany, under no circumstances should prejudice, the invilability and the integrity of the norwegian state. But on 9 april 1940, german troops invaded, norway. I assure the governments of belgium, holland and luxembourg, germany will not violate their neutrality. Adolf hitler. But on may 10, 1940, german troops invaded belgium, holland and luxembourg. music [music] music mus ic to firmly establish reliable relationship of german to yugoslavia will represent an element of calm to our nervewracked continent. First of june 1939, ad a. D. Adolf hitler. But on 6 april 1941, german troops invaded yugoslavia. music [music] music mus ic these criminal methods of the nazi conspirators brought them early success. By 1941, they had most of europe under their heels. Now an 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 in aggression to the east, and from her junior partner to the south. In berlin, they drew up the axis pact, the blueprint of a new order, and parceled out the continents of the world for access domination. Italy was to get the mediterranean sphere. Japan was to get the orient. And to german would go the rest of the world. music [music] music mus ic in june 1941, in violation of their nonaggression pact, the nazis sent trrops deep into soviet territory, according to military plan long made. As usual, there was no declaration of war. music [music] music mus ic hitler had said, today germany, tomorrow the world. And this was tomorrow. Planned warfare in the east, air warfare in the west. It was hurled with full force against the people and cities of britain. Hitler, after all, had said, i will blot out their cities. music [music] music mus ic music [music] music music and then, on 7 december 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, the general presents counts three and four, charging that all the defendants committed war crimes in germany and in all those countries occupied by germany. [speaking foreign language] 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 considered themselves freed from the restraints of International Law or the established customs of war. Their ruthless policies were ordered in directives like this one, from the general of the high command. The bolshevik 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 on without previous challenge. No warning shot must be fired. More proof of this savage nazi policy comes to the affidavit of the former gestapo officer. They existed in the prisoner of war camps on the eastern front, small screening teams. 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 office of the gestapo. And a letter from defendant roseburg to the defendant in 1942 stated clearly. A large part of the soviet prisoners of war have starved or died because of the hazards of the weather. In many cases, prisoners of war could no longer keep up on the march because of hunger and exhaustion. In numerous camps, no shelter for the prisoners was provided at all. Even tools were not made available 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 proved by the testimony of the general, who worked under admiral. The general attended conferences where crimes against whole populations were pl