The History Of The Nuremberg War Crimes Trials

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From November 20th, 1945 to October 1st, 1946 (the first phase) and November 1946 to April 1949 (the second phase), one of the most significant trials took place in Nuremberg, Germany. The trials were held over the issue of recent violations of war; the violations being debated had disrupted civilized peace and humanity like never before. The Holocaust had just ended, and those being charged were the Nazi leaders who were accredited to the killing of millions of Jews; a case like this had never before been tried, calling for new measures in the court case. Those charged were held against breaking international humanitarian laws, or war crimes (Wallenberg, Trials, 2014). The Nuremberg War Crimes Trials would change and define not only how to try people for war crimes, but would influence the majority of court cases that have taken place since that deal with war crimes. The 24 accused during the first phase of the trial at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg had several charges held against them, which were as follows: crimes against peace (the organizing and conducting of wars that desecrated international treaties), crimes against humanity (the deportation, mass execution, and extermination/genocide of numerous groups of people), war crimes (those previously stated acts against peace and humanity that violated the "guidelines" of war that had been established as a result of World War I and other international agreements), and, conspiracy to commit any and all of the crimes listed in the first three counts (Cooper, 1999, 56-57). Those tried during the first phase were the most major Nazi war criminals, those who had the most involvement with the Holocaust and manipulated young German soldiers to partake in the activities related to ... ... middle of paper ... ...ver been tried nor punished, and simply returned back to Germany to lead their normal lives. Even today, Axis and German war criminals are still being pursued, found, and punished (Wallenberg, 2014). The Nuremberg War Crimes Trials were comprised of 216 court sessions in all (Persico, 1994, 126). These 216 court sessions have been considered to be some of the most influential court cases of all time concerning international wartime law and are still being studied today. They changed how courts would try defendants, not only in war, but in more commonly acknowledged crimes as well. It gave new understanding and importance to an individual’s rights and helped set a mutual understanding for court on an international level. These trials were not only important in constructing modern court as we know it today, but will serve as a basis for court in generations to come.

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