May 16: Nuremberg and National Socialism, Part II

Inside the Courtroom

Immediately after the tour was over the group rushed to see the the Nuremberg Trial Memorial and Palace of Justice, a large court complex that was home to one of the most infamous court cases in history. Immediately following the conclusion of the war, 23 high ranking German officials and officers were tried by an international military tribunal for war crimes committed during World War II. Nuremberg’s court was chosen both because of its massive size which allowed enough offices and space for all of the representatives from various respective countries involved and because it had escaped total destruction from Allied bombs. 

The Courtroom from the Exhibition Floor

Eight judges presided over the case with two each from the four main “victor” countries: France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States. The trials would go on for nearly a year during 1945-1946, and would leave many of the defendants with a guilty verdict, which carried for most a death penalty sentence. This is very important, because this joint international effort was almost considered  a miracle in that all countries managed to succeed with the proceedings, and to this very day the lessons learned from Nuremberg are still used today as precedence for international trials, especially those involving war crimes.

The memorial's exhibition covered the trial in great detail, providing strong coverage of the various personalities and issues involved in the proceedings. Less well-known obstacles, such as the creation of a simultaneous translation system for numerous languages, were presented in clear and concise ways. In the courtroom itself, visitors could listen to the testimony of witnesses and defendants, allowing spectators to truly experience history. [Editor's Note: Simply sitting inside the courtroom and listening to these testimonies was a truly unforgettable experience.]

The different sites that we visited today connected with the Jesuit ideals of Life, Leadership, and the Service with and among Others. When visiting such locations it was frightening to see what could happen when those principles are ignored. After walking through the buildings and grounds of the Rally Grounds, or listening to the witness testimonies of survivors from Ravensbruck concentration camp, it was clear to see what can occur when the life of individuals is devalued.