| Original caption: “Nazi war criminals are seated in the defendant’s box in the courtroom at Nuremberg, Germany, during the International Tribunal.” In the 1st row, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946), Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (“Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force”); Reichsminister Rudolf Heß (April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987), Stellvertreter des Führers (“Deputy Leader”); Reichsminister des Auswärtigen (“Foreign Minister”) Joachim von Ribbentrop (April 30, 1893 – October 16, 1946); Generalfeldmarchall Wilhelm Keitel (September 22, 1882 – October 16, 1946); Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht (“Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces”); Alfred Rosenberg (January 12, 1893 – October 16, 1946), Beauftragter des Führers für die gesamte geistige und weltanschauliche Erziehung der NSDAP (“Führer’s representative for the entire intellectual and ideological education of the Nazi Party”); in the 2nd row, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (September 16, 1891 – December 24, 1980), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (“Commander-in-Chief of the Navy”) 1943-1945, Leitenden Reichsminister (“Chief Reich Minister”) May 1945; Großadmiral Erich Raeder (April 24, 1876 – November 6, 1960), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine 1933-1943; Reichsjugendführer (“Reich Youth Leader”) Baldur von Schirach (May 9, 1907 – August 8, 1974); and Reichsstatthalter Thuringia (“Reich Governor of Thuringia”) Fritz Sauckel (October 27, 1894 – October 16, 1946), Generalbevollmächtigter für den Arbeitseinsatz (“General Representative for Labor Deployment”). The Manchester Guardian reported on November 21, 1945, “When Lord Justice Lawrence [(December 2, 1880 – August 28, 1971)], the British President of the International Tribunal, opened the great Nuremberg war trial this morning, he called it unique in the history of the jurisprudence of the world, and on that note, proceedings were begun against the surviving leaders of the Third Reich, arraigned as major war criminals.” “Ribbentrop, taking advantage of the wide powers granted by the rules of the Court in calling witnesses for the defence, has applied through his counsel, Doctor Fritz Sauter [(June 9, 1908 – May 24, 1983)], for a number of prominent British witnesses to testify on his behalf, including Lord Robert Vansittart [(June 25, 1881 – February 14, 1957)], who was Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office during Ribbentrop’s tenure as Ambassador to London; Max Aitken, First Baron Beaverbrook [(May 25, 1879 – June 9, 1964)], Harold Harmsworth, First Viscount Rothermere [(April 26, 1868 – November 26, 1940)] and Lord Kemsley [(May 7, 1883 – February 6, 1968)]. Ribbentrop also included Bertrand Dawson, First Viscount Dawson of Penn [(March 9, 1864 – March 7, 1945)], apparently in ignorance of his death.” “Only three in uniform” “The prisoners appeared in the order of their names in the indictment and are seated in two rows, with Goering occupying the right-hand corner of the dock facing the raised judges’ bench. Behind him, beginning the second row of ten, is Admiral Doenitz, an almost insignificant figure in civilian clothes. Only three of the prisoners, indeed, are in uniform, stripped of insignia and badges – Goering in an elegant pale grey Luftwaffe uniform, presumably his own creation, and the soldiers Keitel and Generaloberst Alfred Jodl [(May 10, 1890 – October 16, 1946)], Chef des Wehrmachtführungsstabs im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (“Chief of the General Staff in the High Command of the Armed Forces”), in the familiar grey green of the Wehrmacht.” “Looking at the men in the dock, there was little in their bearing or appearance to suggest that they were on trial for their lives. The enormity of the charges against them, involving the deaths of millions of people, somehow eluded reality in this unemotional, analytical atmosphere.” “The whole day’s sitting was taken up with the reading of the twenty-four-thousand-word indictment, and as counsel of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia took up the sections on which they are leading the accused barely followed the proceedings. They had the German text in their hands thirty days ago and, in the solitude of their cells, have had time to assimilate its resonant words.” “Goering’s smile” “Goering, far less gross than in the old days and looking remarkably fit save for the heavy sadness of his eyes, permitted himself a discreet smile at the mention of the million bottles of champagne looted from France and it was Hess at his side who for the general tenseness of his bearing was constantly to be remarked among the defendants – Hess and the insolent laugh of Generalgouverneur Hans Frank [(May 23, 1900 – October 16, 1946)], Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete (“General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories”), seated in the middle of the front row.” “Heß was strained and taut. His dark, burning eyes were continually roving about the court when they were not absorbed in a novel he had brought into the dock with him, and he smiled cynically when at the outset the batteries of floodlights were switched on overhead for the cameramen operating from apertures constructed for the purpose high in the walls. Sometimes he engaged Ribbentrop on his left in animated conversation, once he made a remark to Goering, but Goering, chin in hand and gazing thoughtfully at nothing, ignored him.” “As for the others, they might almost have been attending some business convention. Reichswirtschaftsminister 1934-1937 Hjalmar Schacht [(January 22, 1877 – June 3, 1970)] has never looked more benign or the chief of the German Army and Navy more Prussian and stolid. So the case of the United States of America, the French Republic, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union was opened.” In the 1st row, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946), Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (“Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force”); Reichsminister Rudolf Heß (April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987), Stellvertreter des Führers (“Deputy Leader”); Reichsminister des Auswärtigen (“Foreign Minister”) Joachim von Ribbentrop (April 30, 1893 – October 16, 1946); Generalfeldmarchall Wilhelm Keitel (September 22, 1882 – October 16, 1946); Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht (“Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces”); Alfred Rosenberg (January 12, 1893 – October 16, 1946), Beauftragter des Führers für die gesamte geistige und weltanschauliche Erziehung der NSDAP (“Führer’s representative for the entire intellectual and ideological education of the Nazi Party”); in the 2nd row, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (September 16, 1891 – December 24, 1980), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (“Commander-in-Chief of the Navy”) 1943-1945, Leitenden Reichsminister (“Chief Reich Minister”) May 1945; Großadmiral Erich Raeder (April 24, 1876 – November 6, 1960), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine 1933-1943; Reichsjugendführer (“Reich Youth Leader”) Baldur von Schirach (May 9, 1907 – August 8, 1974); and Reichsstatthalter Thuringia (“Reich Governor of Thuringia”) Fritz Sauckel (October 27, 1894 – October 16, 1946), Generalbevollmächtigter für den Arbeitseinsatz (“General Representative for Labor Deployment”). The Manchester Guardian reported on November 21, 1945, “When Lord Justice Lawrence [(December 2, 1880 – August 28, 1971)], the British President of the International Tribunal, opened the great Nuremberg war trial this morning, he called it unique in the history of the jurisprudence of the world, and on that note, proceedings were begun against the surviving leaders of the Third Reich, arraigned as major war criminals.” “Ribbentrop, taking advantage of the wide powers granted by the rules of the Court in calling witnesses for the defence, has applied through his counsel, Doctor Fritz Sauter [(June 9, 1908 – May 24, 1983)], for a number of prominent British witnesses to testify on his behalf, including Lord Robert Vansittart [(June 25, 1881 – February 14, 1957)], who was Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office during Ribbentrop’s tenure as Ambassador to London; Max Aitken, First Baron Beaverbrook [(May 25, 1879 – June 9, 1964)], Harold Harmsworth, First Viscount Rothermere [(April 26, 1868 – November 26, 1940)] and Lord Kemsley [(May 7, 1883 – February 6, 1968)]. Ribbentrop also included Bertrand Dawson, First Viscount Dawson of Penn [(March 9, 1864 – March 7, 1945)], apparently in ignorance of his death.” “Only three in uniform” “The prisoners appeared in the order of their names in the indictment and are seated in two rows, with Goering occupying the right-hand corner of the dock facing the raised judges’ bench. Behind him, beginning the second row of ten, is Admiral Doenitz, an almost insignificant figure in civilian clothes. Only three of the prisoners, indeed, are in uniform, stripped of insignia and badges – Goering in an elegant pale grey Luftwaffe uniform, presumably his own creation, and the soldiers Keitel and Generaloberst Alfred Jodl [(May 10, 1890 – October 16, 1946)], Chef des Wehrmachtführungsstabs im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (“Chief of the General Staff in the High Command of the Armed Forces”), in the familiar grey green of the Wehrmacht.” “Looking at the men in the dock, there was little in their bearing or appearance to suggest that they were on trial for their lives. The enormity of the charges against them, involving the deaths of millions of people, somehow eluded reality in this unemotional, analytical atmosphere.” “The whole day’s sitting was taken up with the reading of the twenty-four-thousand-word indictment, and as counsel of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia took up the sections on which they are leading the accused barely followed the proceedings. They had the German text in their hands thirty days ago and, in the solitude of their cells, have had time to assimilate its resonant words.” “Goering’s smile” “Goering, far less gross than in the old days and looking remarkably fit save for the heavy sadness of his eyes, permitted himself a discreet smile at the mention of the million bottles of champagne looted from France and it was Hess at his side who for the general tenseness of his bearing was constantly to be remarked among the defendants – Hess and the insolent laugh of Generalgouverneur Hans Frank [(May 23, 1900 – October 16, 1946)], Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete (“General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories”), seated in the middle of the front row.” “Heß was strained and taut. His dark, burning eyes were continually roving about the court when they were not absorbed in a novel he had brought into the dock with him, and he smiled cynically when at the outset the batteries of floodlights were switched on overhead for the cameramen operating from apertures constructed for the purpose high in the walls. Sometimes he engaged Ribbentrop on his left in animated conversation, once he made a remark to Goering, but Goering, chin in hand and gazing thoughtfully at nothing, ignored him.” “As for the others, they might almost have been attending some business convention. Reichswirtschaftsminister 1934-1937 Hjalmar Schacht [(January 22, 1877 – June 3, 1970)] has never looked more benign or the chief of the German Army and Navy more Prussian and stolid. So the case of the United States of America, the French Republic, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union was opened.” In the 1st row, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946), Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (“Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force”); Reichsminister Rudolf Heß (April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987), Stellvertreter des Führers (“Deputy Leader”); Reichsminister des Auswärtigen (“Foreign Minister”) Joachim von Ribbentrop (April 30, 1893 – October 16, 1946); Generalfeldmarchall Wilhelm Keitel (September 22, 1882 – October 16, 1946); Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht (“Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces”); Alfred Rosenberg (January 12, 1893 – October 16, 1946), Beauftragter des Führers für die gesamte geistige und weltanschauliche Erziehung der NSDAP (“Führer’s representative for the entire intellectual and ideological education of the Nazi Party”); in the 2nd row, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (September 16, 1891 – December 24, 1980), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (“Commander-in-Chief of the Navy”) 1943-1945, Leitenden Reichsminister (“Chief Reich Minister”) May 1945; Großadmiral Erich Raeder (April 24, 1876 – November 6, 1960), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine 1933-1943; Reichsjugendführer (“Reich Youth Leader”) Baldur von Schirach (May 9, 1907 – August 8, 1974); and Reichsstatthalter Thuringia (“Reich Governor of Thuringia”) Fritz Sauckel (October 27, 1894 – October 16, 1946), Generalbevollmächtigter für den Arbeitseinsatz (“General Representative for Labor Deployment”). The Manchester Guardian reported on November 21, 1945, “When Lord Justice Lawrence [(December 2, 1880 – August 28, 1971)], the British President of the International Tribunal, opened the great Nuremberg war trial this morning, he called it unique in the history of the jurisprudence of the world, and on that note, proceedings were begun against the surviving leaders of the Third Reich, arraigned as major war criminals.” “Ribbentrop, taking advantage of the wide powers granted by the rules of the Court in calling witnesses for the defence, has applied through his counsel, Doctor Fritz Sauter [(June 9, 1908 – May 24, 1983)], for a number of prominent British witnesses to testify on his behalf, including Lord Robert Vansittart [(June 25, 1881 – February 14, 1957)], who was Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office during Ribbentrop’s tenure as Ambassador to London; Max Aitken, First Baron Beaverbrook [(May 25, 1879 – June 9, 1964)], Harold Harmsworth, First Viscount Rothermere [(April 26, 1868 – November 26, 1940)] and Lord Kemsley [(May 7, 1883 – February 6, 1968)]. Ribbentrop also included Bertrand Dawson, First Viscount Dawson of Penn [(March 9, 1864 – March 7, 1945)], apparently in ignorance of his death.” “Only three in uniform” “The prisoners appeared in the order of their names in the indictment and are seated in two rows, with Goering occupying the right-hand corner of the dock facing the raised judges’ bench. Behind him, beginning the second row of ten, is Admiral Doenitz, an almost insignificant figure in civilian clothes. Only three of the prisoners, indeed, are in uniform, stripped of insignia and badges – Goering in an elegant pale grey Luftwaffe uniform, presumably his own creation, and the soldiers Keitel and Generaloberst Alfred Jodl [(May 10, 1890 – October 16, 1946)], Chef des Wehrmachtführungsstabs im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (“Chief of the General Staff in the High Command of the Armed Forces”), in the familiar grey green of the Wehrmacht.” “Looking at the men in the dock, there was little in their bearing or appearance to suggest that they were on trial for their lives. The enormity of the charges against them, involving the deaths of millions of people, somehow eluded reality in this unemotional, analytical atmosphere.” “The whole day’s sitting was taken up with the reading of the twenty-four-thousand-word indictment, and as counsel of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia took up the sections on which they are leading the accused barely followed the proceedings. They had the German text in their hands thirty days ago and, in the solitude of their cells, have had time to assimilate its resonant words.” “Goering’s smile” “Goering, far less gross than in the old days and looking remarkably fit save for the heavy sadness of his eyes, permitted himself a discreet smile at the mention of the million bottles of champagne looted from France and it was Hess at his side who for the general tenseness of his bearing was constantly to be remarked among the defendants – Hess and the insolent laugh of Generalgouverneur Hans Frank [(May 23, 1900 – October 16, 1946)], Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete (“General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories”), seated in the middle of the front row.” “Heß was strained and taut. His dark, burning eyes were continually roving about the court when they were not absorbed in a novel he had brought into the dock with him, and he smiled cynically when at the outset the batteries of floodlights were switched on overhead for the cameramen operating from apertures constructed for the purpose high in the walls. Sometimes he engaged Ribbentrop on his left in animated conversation, once he made a remark to Goering, but Goering, chin in hand and gazing thoughtfully at nothing, ignored him.” “As for the others, they might almost have been attending some business convention. Reichswirtschaftsminister 1934-1937 Hjalmar Schacht [(January 22, 1877 – June 3, 1970)] has never looked more benign or the chief of the German Army and Navy more Prussian and stolid. So the case of the United States of America, the French Republic, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union was opened.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0968.jpg |
| Image Size | 896.89 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 4260 x 3186 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 21, 1945 |
| Location | Justizpalast |
| City | Nuremberg |
| State or Province | Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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