Defendants
There were 22 defendants, out of which 19 were convicted.
Herman Goering was the second most influential person if the Nazi Regime, after Hitler. He organized the Reichstag fire, which symbolized the beginning of the Nazi Regime over the previous government. He was the head of the operation that worked to exclude Jews from the German economy. This operation also put all the blame for Kristallnacht on the Jews and implemented anti-Semitic laws. Goering was sentenced to death, but committed suicide in his cell.
Rudolf Hess was next in command after Goering. He was originally not considered a “major war criminal”, be actually was (Austin). He was an administrator for a school of genocide, or “preparatory school for murder” where they developed new methods for more efficient massacres (Austin). Although, Hess was only sentenced to life imprisonment. He served 40 years in Spandau Prison before killing himself.
Hans Frank was Minister and Reich Commissioner for Justice. Under
his control, 2.5 million Jews were put into slavery and the construction of
extermination camps was started. Seeing there seemed to be no evidence to
convict him, he first pleaded not guilty. After his 36 volume journal was uncovered
and brought to court, he admitted he was guilty and condemned Hitler. He begged
the court for mercy, something he never gave others. No matter, he was
sentenced to death by hanging.
Wilhelm Frick was the Reich Minister in Hitler's interior Cabinet. He had knowledge of Hitler's plans to execute Jews. He was sentenced to death by hanging.
Julius Streicher was part of Der Stuermer, an anti-Semitic newspaper. It was consider the most “venomous” of all newspapers (Austin). He was not affiliated with the military, but was described as “the most rabid anti-Semitic in Germany” (Austin). The paper was so impactful that Julius Streicher was sentenced to death by hanging.
Walter Funk was the Press Chief, Minister of Economics, and President of the Reichsbank. The bank was assigned the role of economic planning for the war effort. He was charged for his large involvement in war planning and “crimes against humanity” through his various positions (Austin).
Fritz Sauckle solicited much slave labor to help with Nazi war efforts. At the time, many of Germany’s men were in the war and so Germany imported unwilling slaves from Eastern Europe and Slavic states. Sauckle was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for his crime.
Alfred Jodl promoted forced labor. He primarily dealt with Denmark, Holland, France, and Belgium. His strongest defense was a “higher authority”, or just to let God be the judge. He was convicted for “crimes against humanity” and was sentenced to death by hanging (Austin).
Martin Bormann’s case was included in the trials even though his location and hatter of being were unknown. He was thought to have fled and in hiding or assumed dead. None the less the court took on his case. There was substantial documentary evidence linking him to two major crimes and even among peers in the Nazi regime he was considered brutal, harsh, and uncivilized” (Austin). He was convicted for “expulsion” of Jews to Poland and enslaving Ukrainian women (Austin). The court determined his sentence as death by hanging.
Franz von Papen was charged with using his position as Vice Ambassador of Vienna, to promote the expansion of the Nazi regime. Hitler had originally encouraged the former Vice Ambassador to give Papen a position in Vienna’s government. When the Vice Ambassador resigned, Papen stepped in and took his position upon Hitler’s request. It was all a plan to gain more control to expand the Regime. The court ruled not guilty, and Franz von Papen was acquitted.
Joachim von Ribbentrop replaced Neurath as Foreign Minister. As the Foreign Minister, he knew of, supported and suggested deportation of Jews of France and Italy to camps in the east. He also encouraged “aggressive war” (Austin). Ribbentrop was mainly convicted for his knowledge of Hitler’s intent to deport Jews. He sentenced to death by hanging for his crimes against humanity.
Wilhelm Keitel was Hitler’s Military Chief of Staff, so he was of the utmost involvement in war planning. He openly admitted his crimes and involvement, but also expressed his loyalty to the Nazis and his commander in chief. He was thus sentenced to death by hanging.
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was Chief of the Reich Security main office. As Chief of the Reich Security, it was verified by an SS officer that Kaltenbrunner had to have known of the Einsatzgruppen, a “mobile killing unit” (Austin). The documentary evidence and witnesses linking him to the extermination and cremation of Jews got him convicted. Such extensive and solid conviction earned him death by hanging.
Alfred Rosenberg was Chief Racial Ideologist for Hitler and later the Reich Minister. Rosenberg thought that the Russian Revolution was an “international Jewish conspiracy” (Austin). He plead guilty to knowledge “of the Einsatzgruppen’s extermination of Jews and he admitted participating in the forced labor programs involving of subjugated people in the eastern Occupied Territories” (Austin). For such crimes he was sentenced to death by hanging.
Hjalmar Schacht aided the Nazi army rise to power because he wanted Germany to bounce back from their failure in WWI and have a strong military once again. He was not involved in any war crimes or had any major influence. Since there was no real offense, and people questioned why his case was even included in the trials and he was therefore acquitted.
Wilhelm Frick was the Reich Minister in Hitler's interior Cabinet. He had knowledge of Hitler's plans to execute Jews. He was sentenced to death by hanging.
Julius Streicher was part of Der Stuermer, an anti-Semitic newspaper. It was consider the most “venomous” of all newspapers (Austin). He was not affiliated with the military, but was described as “the most rabid anti-Semitic in Germany” (Austin). The paper was so impactful that Julius Streicher was sentenced to death by hanging.
Walter Funk was the Press Chief, Minister of Economics, and President of the Reichsbank. The bank was assigned the role of economic planning for the war effort. He was charged for his large involvement in war planning and “crimes against humanity” through his various positions (Austin).
Fritz Sauckle solicited much slave labor to help with Nazi war efforts. At the time, many of Germany’s men were in the war and so Germany imported unwilling slaves from Eastern Europe and Slavic states. Sauckle was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for his crime.
Alfred Jodl promoted forced labor. He primarily dealt with Denmark, Holland, France, and Belgium. His strongest defense was a “higher authority”, or just to let God be the judge. He was convicted for “crimes against humanity” and was sentenced to death by hanging (Austin).
Martin Bormann’s case was included in the trials even though his location and hatter of being were unknown. He was thought to have fled and in hiding or assumed dead. None the less the court took on his case. There was substantial documentary evidence linking him to two major crimes and even among peers in the Nazi regime he was considered brutal, harsh, and uncivilized” (Austin). He was convicted for “expulsion” of Jews to Poland and enslaving Ukrainian women (Austin). The court determined his sentence as death by hanging.
Franz von Papen was charged with using his position as Vice Ambassador of Vienna, to promote the expansion of the Nazi regime. Hitler had originally encouraged the former Vice Ambassador to give Papen a position in Vienna’s government. When the Vice Ambassador resigned, Papen stepped in and took his position upon Hitler’s request. It was all a plan to gain more control to expand the Regime. The court ruled not guilty, and Franz von Papen was acquitted.
Joachim von Ribbentrop replaced Neurath as Foreign Minister. As the Foreign Minister, he knew of, supported and suggested deportation of Jews of France and Italy to camps in the east. He also encouraged “aggressive war” (Austin). Ribbentrop was mainly convicted for his knowledge of Hitler’s intent to deport Jews. He sentenced to death by hanging for his crimes against humanity.
Wilhelm Keitel was Hitler’s Military Chief of Staff, so he was of the utmost involvement in war planning. He openly admitted his crimes and involvement, but also expressed his loyalty to the Nazis and his commander in chief. He was thus sentenced to death by hanging.
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was Chief of the Reich Security main office. As Chief of the Reich Security, it was verified by an SS officer that Kaltenbrunner had to have known of the Einsatzgruppen, a “mobile killing unit” (Austin). The documentary evidence and witnesses linking him to the extermination and cremation of Jews got him convicted. Such extensive and solid conviction earned him death by hanging.
Alfred Rosenberg was Chief Racial Ideologist for Hitler and later the Reich Minister. Rosenberg thought that the Russian Revolution was an “international Jewish conspiracy” (Austin). He plead guilty to knowledge “of the Einsatzgruppen’s extermination of Jews and he admitted participating in the forced labor programs involving of subjugated people in the eastern Occupied Territories” (Austin). For such crimes he was sentenced to death by hanging.
Hjalmar Schacht aided the Nazi army rise to power because he wanted Germany to bounce back from their failure in WWI and have a strong military once again. He was not involved in any war crimes or had any major influence. Since there was no real offense, and people questioned why his case was even included in the trials and he was therefore acquitted.
Karl Doenitz was commander of the U-boats, or German submarines, which had been banned in the Treaty of Versailles. He and his troops had sunken a British merchant ship. But, his defense was that American ships had sunken a Japanese merchant ship as well. There was little to no evidence linking him to the extermination or enslaving of Jews so he was only sentenced to
Erich Raeder was a German Naval Commander. He was under the same charges as Doenitz, except he was involved in the planning of aggressive war. Instead of just following orders he helped construct the orders. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but released in 1960, about 16 years later for failing health.
Baldur von Schirach prepared Germany’s youth for war. In court clearly expressed his anti-Semitism. He was charged for aggressive war, he knew Jews were being deported from Vienna to extermination camps, plus he knew about the murders committed by the Eizengruppen around Poland. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Spandau Prison, he served the entire sentence and died later in 1974.
Artur Seyss-Inquart was the Austrian Chancellor, by Hitler’s appointing and allowed the Germans into Austria. Then he became the Deputy Governor-General of Poland and involved himself in the Lublin plan, the deportation of Jews from the Reich. Finally, Hitler appointed him Reich Commissioner of the Occupied Netherlands where he deported Jews to Poland’s extermination camps. He was charged on all four Counts of the indictment and sentenced to death by hanging.
Albert Speer had various titles, he worked under Hess and as something roughly like a lieutenant general in the army and attended many of the Nazi Party’s conventions and rallies. Upon admitting such positions, he verified he had knowledge of the Nazi’s plans and overall goals. He was sentenced to 20 years in Spandau prison, released in 1966. He later wrote 3 books about the Holocaust and died in 1981.
Constantin von Neurath was at one point the Foreign Minister. The most serious charge that he was brought up on was his actions involving the recolonization of Czechoslovakia. The court had strong suspicion that he had knowledge of Hitler’s aggressive war plans, but had no evidence for such claims. He was sentenced to 15 years in Spandau Prison but was released in 1954 for his health and died 2 years later.
Hans Fritzsche was a radio broadcaster in Germany. His station aired very influential, anti-Semitic material. Although, the court could not present any evidence to indicate the anti-Semitic views expressed on air were Fritzche’s or were forced upon him by the government. Under these terms Hans was acquitted.
Erich Raeder was a German Naval Commander. He was under the same charges as Doenitz, except he was involved in the planning of aggressive war. Instead of just following orders he helped construct the orders. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but released in 1960, about 16 years later for failing health.
Baldur von Schirach prepared Germany’s youth for war. In court clearly expressed his anti-Semitism. He was charged for aggressive war, he knew Jews were being deported from Vienna to extermination camps, plus he knew about the murders committed by the Eizengruppen around Poland. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Spandau Prison, he served the entire sentence and died later in 1974.
Artur Seyss-Inquart was the Austrian Chancellor, by Hitler’s appointing and allowed the Germans into Austria. Then he became the Deputy Governor-General of Poland and involved himself in the Lublin plan, the deportation of Jews from the Reich. Finally, Hitler appointed him Reich Commissioner of the Occupied Netherlands where he deported Jews to Poland’s extermination camps. He was charged on all four Counts of the indictment and sentenced to death by hanging.
Albert Speer had various titles, he worked under Hess and as something roughly like a lieutenant general in the army and attended many of the Nazi Party’s conventions and rallies. Upon admitting such positions, he verified he had knowledge of the Nazi’s plans and overall goals. He was sentenced to 20 years in Spandau prison, released in 1966. He later wrote 3 books about the Holocaust and died in 1981.
Constantin von Neurath was at one point the Foreign Minister. The most serious charge that he was brought up on was his actions involving the recolonization of Czechoslovakia. The court had strong suspicion that he had knowledge of Hitler’s aggressive war plans, but had no evidence for such claims. He was sentenced to 15 years in Spandau Prison but was released in 1954 for his health and died 2 years later.
Hans Fritzsche was a radio broadcaster in Germany. His station aired very influential, anti-Semitic material. Although, the court could not present any evidence to indicate the anti-Semitic views expressed on air were Fritzche’s or were forced upon him by the government. Under these terms Hans was acquitted.