What happened during the Nuremberg trials
The Nuremberg trials were a series of military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute major war criminals from the Nazi regime. The trials took place in Nuremberg, Germany from 1945 to 1946.
During the trials, 24 high-ranking Nazi officials were indicted for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against peace. These included individuals such as Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, and Joachim von Ribbentrop.
The trials were groundbreaking in establishing the principle that individuals could be held accountable for their actions, even if they were acting on behalf of a government. The defendants were given a fair trial with legal representation, witnesses, and evidence presented.
Ultimately, 12 of the defendants were sentenced to death by hanging, three were acquitted, and the rest received prison sentences or other forms of punishment. The Nuremberg trials set a precedent for future international tribunals and laid the foundation for the development of international law.