(00:00:00) Good luck. I should be established for the benefit of mankind and promote Liberty and equality. We celebrate a commitment to these standards on Lodi. Bad laws can lead to human suffering and violations of human rights the inalienable rights. We believe in Minnesota Public Radio has granted the Minnesota State Bar Association the opportunity to bring to you a perspective on human suffering in a three-part program to be aired at noon today, May 8th and May 15th. We will hear actual tapes of the Nuremberg trials which reveal how far human rights violations have gone in the past. On May 8th, we examine human rights violations in Chile the union of South Africa and the Ukraine on May 15th. We will look at how three organizations take the position that through Collective efforts the human rights condition in the world can be improved. I am pleased to introduce you to Richard T Ox founding dean of Hamline University School of Law and full-time faculty member Professor. Oak's is committed to raising the Consciousness level of those around him on the subject of ethics and the laws of organized human conflicts. This is also known as the law of War. This concern has led him to the study of the nurnberg tapes. Professor Oak's between November 1945 in July 1946 The Trial of 24 leading Nazis were held. The recordings you are about to hear are authentic reproductions of the highlights of those proceedings, which took place in the Palace of Justice in nürnberg. The quality of the recordings is appropriate to the technology of the time and the age of the recording they have not been altered you will hear the voices of interpreter speaking in several languages before the for nation tribunal of the 24 Nazis originally indicted three of them never appeared in the prisoner's dock. Robert lay leader of the German labor front committed suicide Gustav Krupp head of crop Armament Works was released from trial because of Advanced age and ill health Martin bormann remains at Large. You will now hear the voices of the defendants pleading not guilty to the 35,000 word indictment. I will now call upon me. the defendants if you plead (00:02:28) guilty or not guilty to the charges against them. They will. (00:02:36) proceed intern to the pivotal point in the dock opposite to the microphone German Wilhelm Goering Before I Ste froggen script office and product of his maturity or the next release McKenna. I informed the court that the defendants were not entitled. To make a statement. You must plead guilty or not guilty. Academicians in a tank dragon is traded. Rudolf Hess All right. It will be entered as a plea of not guilty. If there is any disturbance in court. Naked would have to leave the court. Joachim Von (00:04:21) ribbentrop Generations in Ada unclouded finished salad (00:04:28) dish Wilhelm Keitel It's became his mistress. in the absence of Ernst kaltenbrunner The trial will proceed against him. But he will have an opportunity of cheating when he is sufficiently will be brought back into (00:05:06) court. Alfred Rosenberg (00:05:14) the convictions in adults Target missed your Sunday. hangs Frank (00:05:31) Wilhelm Frick (00:05:36) Miss childish Julius streicher this charity Wonka Enemies miss out slowly. Yum are shocked. pinion kind of Eyes Were Soldiers Gary Rader it became his mistress. Now do I want (00:06:46) fira? This became enemies infinite unclog has (00:06:51) mistress. Alfred Europe This tradition (00:07:13) has become harder to muster and it's raining division Scott. What are you fixed for my employee gift? Gramps one partner enemies kind of salt shortage after after size (00:07:36) impa enemy connectivity Albert Square Miss Julie konstantin Von neurath (00:08:12) and picture design care giving you the list really (00:08:23) notice that some of the defendants here equivocate in their guilty pleas beginning with Goering who ultimately says not guilty in the sense of the indictment the next section of this recording deals with Rudolf Hess on May 10th 41's flew to Scotland when he was returned to Germany for trial. He claimed to be suffering from Amnesia. He continued to pretend Amnesia through the second week of this trial had been examined by psychiatrists who found him to be sane, but suffering from hysterical Amnesia on the afternoon of November 30, 1945 defense counsel for has argued that he was not fit to stand trial at this point has made his startling disclosure that he had been faking Amnesia all along (00:09:14) we make a declaration. Mr. President I would like to begin that the unemployment benefit Society of iron Kipling Lawson just invite study come I don't life has begun to front-load recently of pictures. We have become well known you'd like to begin believing her keep me footsteps to poison. It was rumored to be put right at the start of the session. I sent a note to my attorney that I was of the opinion that these proceedings could be considerably shortened by were given the opportunity to speak for myself. My statement is as follows quote the word stop it your problems will face a few of the other in order to prevent any possibility of my being declared incapable of standing trial the poorly invite them for hunger and privation even get mine from around his own. And fun Lucius renamed with my comrades and receive judgment with them. Maybe he's been good. He's not for the record. I'm not giving the quarter for when you were supposed to and people said Francis participate even waiting for my originally intended to make the statement later. Abu mere statement addition is of Nelson hidden video approval as of now my memories again in order Since the reasons why simulated loss of memory with other tactical nature thought that he is leading lease minor constituents fished, right? It was happy that actually does only my part of concentration which has been somewhat diminished. Bob always good to double my fee strides but my ability therefore I'm going to hold him to follow the proceedings. Mr. But I didn't defend myself organ uncertain to spill any stupid questions to the witnesses Who develops forearms to the aren't working or to answer questions myself is not affected. I emphasize that is developer unbroken Frogger. I carry full responsibility for others what has become real and I have done Uber for even signed over with beautiful even bother putting cosigner of Minor group sex which I'm still a fundamental attitude, but we're going to scan this is this tribunal is not counted. It's not affected by the above statement. How would you feel able to now open mind, but it's also tell your computer. Englishness solution operator - upheld the pretense of loss of memory with my attorney. Yeah, but in Bahia which employed and separated he has represented me in good faith. (00:12:34) On May 3rd 1946 Justice Jackson Prosecuting on behalf of the United States began examining shocked Hitler's financial genius who designed Nazi rearmament Jackson took shock through a cross-examination focusing on Hitler's aggressions in Europe. No translation is necessary since shocks answers are either absolutely or unfortunately. Yes. (00:13:02) Why are you in this car? I'm getting testified. To his threat the bomb frog the beautiful city of Prague donkey behind. I don't publish beautiful. Yes. I suppose you approve that use of the force, which you had created in the Vermont Miss village with the unknowns thing. You didn't think that was a didn't think that was right dealing than hey, that's probably firstly you suffer. Well, we found something we agree on darker, you know of the invasion of Poland the whole you regarded it. As an unqualified Act of aggression on Hitler's part into absolute the same was true of the invasion of loops and Barb wasn't it? Absolute and of Harlem absolute. and of Denmark absolute and of Norway absolute and of Yugoslavia, absolute and of Russia absolute And no vegan will take in hands if I get invisible. Yes when I got to the end of my paper. The entire course was a course of aggression absolute to both tires. And the success of that aggression at every step was due to the Vermont which you'd have so much to do with creating light off. I intend to take up another subject and perhaps it would be almost recess time (00:14:57) Goering presented a star witness for the defense in the name of burger Dolores a Swedish. Businessman his star witness backfired and ended up condemning during in the summer of 1939. The witness had embarked on a peace Mission acting as a secret Emissary between Goering and the British foreign office Gardens Real purpose was to isolate England from Poland. His direct testimony indicated that he believed Goering to be sincerely seeking peace and only later realized that he was being used. So David Maxwell Fyfe British Deputy prosecutor conducted this cross-examination on March 19 1946. (00:15:43) Now I don't want to play upon words. And if you would say my reference to it as personal as a play upon words, you'll force me to go into what you told us about Gary. Is it not a fact that you told major killing? Hitler I called an admiral pipe but Goering I can only regard as immoral and criminals by Nature endowed with a certain Bond honey, which he managed to exploit for his popularity. He was the most egocentric being imaginable the Assumption of political power Was for him only a means for personal enrichment and personal good living. the success of others filled him with Envy his greed knew no bounds his predilection for Jewels gold and finery was unimaginable. He knew no comradeship. Only so long as someone. Was useful to him was he friends with him, but only on the surface. Gary has knowledge in all Fields equal zero. especially in the economic field of all the economic matters Which Hitler entrusted to him? in the Autumn of 1936 He had not the faintest notion. Don't he created an immense official apparatus? And misused his powers as Lord of all economy most outrageously. In his personal appearance, he was so theatrical that you could only compare him with Nero. A lady who had tea with his second wife reported that he appeared at this teeth. And I sort of Roman toga and sandals studded with jewels. His fingers, they decked with innumerable jeweled rings and generally covered with ornaments his face painted and his lips rude. Did you give us a statement to make give that statement the major Tilly the whole? Yeah, and you say you have no different. No personal differences with Gary. (00:18:35) The indictment of the Nazi war criminals included the seven leading Nazi organizations. Thus the tribunal had indicted the SS the SD the essay the Gestapo the general staff and high command the leadership of the Nazi party and the cabinet it was Justice Jackson that argued to the tribunal that these organizations should be declared criminal of their very nature defense counsel objected that there were so many members of these organizations that such an indictment would reach into every German home Justice Jackson tells us about the illegal purposes of these organizations and the nature of (00:19:10) responsibility. I find some difficulty understanding. The argument which has been Advanced by several. of the representatives of the organizations that there would be some great Injustice in dishonoring a members of these organizations with the Declaration of criminality. I should have thought. That if they were not already dishonoured by the evidence that has been produced here. Dishonor would be difficult to achieve by mere words of the Declaration. Doesn't we who are dishonoring? Organizations it's the evidence in this case originated largely with these defendants. That may well bring dishonor to the members of these organizations. But the very purpose of this organizational investigation. Used to determine that part of German society which did actively participate in the promulgation of these offenses and that they that those elements may be condemned. And of course if it carries some discredit with us, I think we must say that the discredit was not originated by any of our countries that is honor originated mainly in this dock together with those Whom The Fortunes of War have removed from our reach. It's a little hard if your honors please For an American patiently to listen to the arguments made here again, and again that there's some plan here to punish with death penalties. Or extremely severe penalties people who innocently got caught in this web of organizations. If there was a slightest purpose. the go through Germany with death We wouldn't we wouldn't have bothered to set up this tribunal and stand here openly before the world without evidence. We weren't out of ammunition when the surrender took place and the physical power to execute anyone. Was what's present these Powers have voluntarily in their hour of Victory submit it to the Judgment of this tribunal the question of the criminality of these organizations. And it seems to me a little trying on the patience of Representatives of those powers to be told the back of this is some purpose to wreak Vengeance on innocent people. I think it's difficult for those who have survived this Nazi regime to understand how reluctant we are to kill any human being. The commentary on the state of mind that survive this Nazi regime rather than upon us (00:22:34) when the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia 1941. They captured dr. Franzblau, aha, he was sent to Dachau in April of 1941 and remain there until Liberation in April 45. He was a direct witness to tortures without number and performed approximately 7,000 autopsies on Nazi victims. What you hear now is an excerpt from dr. Block has affidavit as read by. Mr. Dodd of the prosecution staff. This is graphic testimony. Listeners are cautioned that this may be disturbing. (00:23:09) 1942 and experiments on human Russia determine the effect of changing air pressure as many as 25 persons were put at one time into a speedily constructed van into a specially constructed van and which pressure could be increased or decreased as required. The purpose was to find out the effects of high altitude and a rapid descent by parachuted. I have seen the people lying on the floor of the van through a window in the van. Most of the prisoners used died from his experiments from internal hemorrhages of the lungs or brain. The rest cough blood when taken out it was my job to take the bodies out and defend the internal organs to Munich for study as soon as they were found to be dead. About 400 to 500 prisoners were experimented on those not dead were sent the invalid flax and liquidated shortly afterwards only a few Escape. It was common practice to remove the skin from dead prisoners. I was commanded to do this on many occasions, dr. Russia and dr. Walter in particular asked for this human skin from Human faction ship it was chemically treated and placed in the sun to dry. After that. It was cut into various sizes for use as saddle riding breeches love house slippers and ladies handbags. Had to steal was especially valued by SS men. Russians poles and other inmates were used in this way, but it was forbidden to cut out the skin of a German. The skin has to be from healthy prisoners and free from defects. Sometimes we did not have enough body with good skin and raqqa would say more like you will get the body. The next day we would receive 20 or 30 bodies of young people. They would have been shot in the neck or struck on the head so that the skin would be uninjured. Also, we frequently got request for the skulls and skeletons of prison. In those cases we boil the scholar the body then the stockpot were removed and the bones were bleached and dried and reassemble the case of skulls. It was important to have a good set of teeth. When we got an order for skulls from radiant bird the SS men would say we will try to get you some with Good Feet. So it was dangerous to have a good skin or good seats. Transport survived frequently. In fact how some stewed Hop belson's House which mauthausen and other camp Many of these with 10 to 14 days on the way without water or food. On One Transport, which arrived in November 1942. I found evidence of cannibalism living persons it eating the flesh from the dead body. another transport arrived from company in France professor at the Museum of Claremont Braun who was later. My assistant told me that there had been two thousand persons on this transport when it started there was food available, but no water. 800 died on the way and was thrown out. When it arrived after 12 days more than 500 persons with it on the train. Of the remainder most died shortly after arrival. I investigated this transport because the International Red Cross complain and the SS men wanted to report that the death had been caused by fighting and rioting on the way. I detected a number of bodies and found that they had died from Suffocation and lack of water. It was Midsummer and 120 people had been packed into each other. (00:27:19) On January 8th, 1946 major elwin Jones assistant British prosecutor presented to the tribunal the statements of Hitler from his own book mine Kampf. The speech you are about to hear became known as The Prisoner of a generation speech. (00:27:42) My duty to draw to the tribunals attention a document which became the statement of faith of these defendants. I refer to Hitler's Mein Kampf. It is perhaps appropriate that this should be considered at this stage of the trial just before the PD prosecution presents to the tribunal the evidence against the individual defendant under counts one and two of the indictment for this book Mein Kampf gave to the defendant adequate for knowledge of the unlawful aims of the Nazi leadership. It was not only Hitler's political Testament by adoption it became there. This book mine comes might be described as the blueprint of Nazi aggression. It's her Tena and continent enforce the prosecution submission that the Nazi pursuit of aggressive designs was no mere accident arising out of the immediate political situation in Europe and the world which existed During the period of Nazi power mind Camp establishes unequivocally The use of aggressive War to serve their AIMS in foreign policy was part of the very Creed of the Nazi party. A great German philosopher has said that ideas have hands and feet. It became the deliberate aim of these defendants to see to it that the ideas doctrines and policies of mine. Come should become the active faith and guide for action of the German nation and particularly of its malleable youth as my American colleagues have already submitted to the tribunal from 1933 to 1939 and in an extensive indoctrination in the ideas of mine come was pursued in the schools and universities of Germany as well as in the Hitler Youth under the direction of the defendant Baldor van Shiva. And in the sa and SS and amongst the German population as a whole by the agency of the defendant present. A copy of this book Mein Kampf was officially presented to all neurin newly married couple in Germany, and I now end to the tribunal such a wedding present from the Nazis to the newlyweds of Germany and for the purposes of the record. It will be exhibit number GB 128. The tribunal will see that the dedication on the Flyleaf of that copy reads to the newly married couple Frederick Rose block and Elsa and Nate some Vic with best wishes for a happy and blessed marriage presented by the communal Administration on the occasion of their marriage on the 14th, November 1944. The mayor the registrar the tribunal will see at the bottom of the page opposite to the content page that that edition of mine come which was the 1940 Edition brought the number of copies of mine Camp published to 6 million two hundred and fifty thousand. This was the scale upon which this book was distributed. It was blasphemously called the Bible of the German people. As a result of the efforts of the defendants in their Confederate this book Poison degeneration and distorted the Outlook of a whole people. As the SS general fund him that box the lipsky indicated yesterday. If you preach for years as long as 10 years that the Slavic peoples are inferior races and that the Jews are subhuman. And it was logically follow that the killing of millions of these human beings is accepted as a natural phenomenon from 9 Camp the way leads directly to the furnaces of Auschwitz and the gas chambers of my (00:32:36) neck the defendants in these trials were given the right to have documents reproduced printed and distributed in order to Aid them in their defense. Alfred Rosenberg one of the defendants was the Nazi party philosopher and minister of the Eastern occupied territories Rosenberg introduced as evidence an endless chain of anti-Semitic documents. Finally Mr. Justice Jackson had all he could take and voiced his frustration to the tribunal on April 9th 1946. (00:33:12) I should like to take up a matter before the examination of the witnesses. Proceeds if I may ask the Indulgence of the tribunal, I regret to say that this matter of printing documents has proceeded. in its abuses to such an extent that I must close the document rule. writing documents or German counsel Now that's a drastic step. But I know of nothing less that I can do and I submit the situation to the tribunal we received from the general secretaries office in order to print. and have printed a document book number one or Rosenberg that document book does not contain one item in its 107 pages that by any stretch of the imagination can be relevant to this proceeding. It is violent anti-semitism. And the United States simply cannot be put in the position even at the order of which I have no doubt was an ill-considered one of the Secretary of this tribunal to print and disseminate to the Press just plain anti-Semitism and that's what this document is. Now. I ask you to consider what it is here. this I should say it consists of two kinds of things. anti-semitism and what I would call with the greatest respect to those who think otherwise rubbish and this is an example of the rubbish. We're required to print at the expense of the United States and I simply cannot sit silent any longer with this the philosophical method suited to bushwa Society is the critical one. That holds true in a positive as well as the negative sense the rule by the purely rational form the subjection of nature. The freeing of the autonomous personality all that is contained in the method of thinking classically formulated by can't at the same time though. It speaks also of the isolation of the individual. The inner depletion of Nature and Community Life the connection with the secluded world of forms, which all critical thinking is striving. What in the world are we required to print that for? Let's look at some of the anti-semitism. Is it red light is on? I don't know why. Let's look at the what we're actually asked her to disseminate. Actually the page 47 of his documents. Actually the Jews as do the Canaanites in general the Phoenicians and carthaginians represent a bastard population. And it goes on it enlarges upon that theme then it goes on. The Jews are arrogant and success submissive in Failure shrewd and crooked wherever possible greedy and of remarkable intelligence and not created. I don't want to take This time Bill most time. But last night we received we received an additional order the print 260 copies more of this sort of thing and I have had to stop the presses and we cannot accept the duty of putting this stuff unless it's reviewed by the tribunal. The matter of fact, most of this book is far as we've been able to check it has already been rejected by the tribunal and nobody plays the least attention to the tribunal has rejected and we are ordered to print now I have the greatest with the greatest efforts. I want to say that the United States will print any documents that a member of this tribunal or an alternate certified, but we can no longer. Print these things at the request of German counsel nor at the ill-considered directions, which we've been receiving (00:38:00) the last part of this tape includes excerpts from the opening statement at the beginning of the trial and the closing argument both are done by Mr. Justice Jackson. They need no further introduction. I would Now call upon (00:38:22) the United States of (00:38:23) America. (00:38:36) the privilege I'm opening the first trial in history. for crimes against the Peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility the wrong which we seek to condemn and punish. I've been so calculated. malignant I cannot tolerate their being ignored. Because it cannot survive their being repeated. That for great nation. What's with Victory and son with injury they the hand of vengeance? And voluntarily submit that captive enemies to the Judgment of the law. one of the most significant figures that power has ever played three. This tribunal pilot is novel and experimental. Is not the product of abstract speculation. Nor is it created to vindicate legalistic Theory? This inquest represents the spectacle effort of four of the most Mighty relation with the support of 15 more. utilize international law to make the greatest Menace of our time aggressive War the common sense of mankind and I wasn't large enough. Stop was a punishment of petty Crimes by little people. It must also reach man who possessed themselves of great power and make deliberate and some Second Use of it to set in motion evils, which leave no home in the world. I'm pregnant. It is a cause of that magnitude. The United Nations will lay before your eyes. in the prisoner's dock That's what he odd Broken Man. Proposed by the humiliation of those they have land almost as generally as by the desolation of those they have attacked their personal capacity for you believe whatever path it is hard now to proceed in these manners captain. The power which has nothing leaders, they want dominated most of the world and terrified most of the nearly as individual their faith is of little consequence to the world. But like this inquest significant. Is that these prisoners represent Sinister influences that will work in the world long after their bodies of returns it up. We will tell them to be the living symbols of racial hatred. Terrorism and a vial and of the arrogance and cruelty of power. They are the symbols of fierce nationalism and militarism of intrigue and war-making which is embroiled Europe generation after generation crushing its manhood trying at homes and impoverishing its life. It's identified themselves with the philosophies. They conceived and with the forces. They have directions. But any tenderness of em is a victory under the encouragement to all the evils. Which are attached to their name? Civilizations have board no compromise with the social forces that would gain renewed strength. If we deal Ambiguously Autumn decisively with the man in whom these forces now precariously survived. It's the president and members of the tribunal and Advocates can be confronted with few more formidable task. Then to select his closing argument where there is great disparity between is appropriate time and is available material in eight months. They thought time as take files Go you've introduced evidence which Embraces Advanced and very the Panorama of events as has ever been compressed within the framework of a litigation. It is impossible information to do more has an outline with wholesome the vitals of this files map and Melancholy record, which will live as a historical text of the 20th century game and development. It is common to think about own time and standing at the Apex of civilization from which the deficiencies of proceeding ages. May patronizingly be viewed in the light of what is assumed to be project. The reality is that in the long perspective of History. The present Century will not hold an admirable position unless it's second half is to redeem its first these two score years of the 20th century will be recorded in the book of years. And one of the most bloody in all animal Wars have left a legacy of debt, which number more than all the armies engaged in any war that made agent or mediaeval history know half-century ever witnessed water on such a scale but cruelty and inhumanity, but wholesale deportations of peoples in the slavery such annihilation of Manara the power of Park LaMotta tails before the Nazi in position. These are the over shadowing historical fact by which generations to come will remember this day. If we cannot eliminate the causes and prevent the repetition of these barbaric events. It is not an irresponsible property to say that this 20th century May yet succeed in bringing the Doom of civilization. Goaded by these facts. We have moved to redress the blight on the record of our era. The defendants complained that our pace is too fast. Enjoying the charter of this tribunal. We thought we were recording and accomplished Advanced and international law. But they say that we have outrun our time that we have anticipated an advance that could be but has not yet been made. I've one thing we may be sure. The future will never have to ask with misgivings. What could the Nazis have said in their favor? History will know that whatever could be said they were allowed to say they have been given the kind of a trial which they in the days of their Pomp and power never gave to any man. But furnace is not weakness. The extraordinary fairness of these hearings is an attribute of our strength. The prosecution's case at its close seemed inherently unassailable because it rested so heavily on German documents of unquestioned authenticity. But it was a weeks upon weeks of pecking at this case by one after another of the defendants that has demonstrated its true strength. The fact is that the testimony of the defendant has removed any doubts of guilt which because of the extraordinary nature and magnitude of the crimes may have existed before they spoke. They have helped write their own judgment of condemnation. But just as in this case has nothing to do with some of the arguments put forth by the defendants or their counsel. We have not previously and we need not now discuss the merits of all their obscure and tortuous philosophy. We are not trying them for the possession of obnoxious ideas. It is their right if they choose to renounce the hebraic heritage in the civilization on which Germany was once a part nor is it our Affair that they repudiated the Hellenic influence as well? The intellectual bankruptcy and moral perversion of the Nazi regime might have been no concern of international law had it not been utilized to goose-step the herrenvolk across the International Frontiers. It is not there for us. It is their overt acts which we charge to be crimes their Creed and teachings are important only as evidence of motive purpose knowledge and intent (00:47:25) these trials raised a number of issues. Those issues include the question of Justice imposed by The Victors in a war. the notion of crimes against humanity the very notion of having an international tribunal the Vindication of Human Rights. And finally and perhaps most importantly the question of personal accountability of leaders for the acts of their governments. (00:47:52) This is our 38th reporting from 9 Berg. Well, the combined American Network. I was an eyewitness to the execution of the flower of Nazism. But I only saw 10 Nazis die Wilhelm Hammond Goering guilty on all four count the man whom Justice Jackson described as cat militaristic and half gangster escaped his fate of hanging my committing suicide at 10:45 last night less than three hours before he would have been executed.