germany in november 1948. allied films, documents, and testimony it chronicles the rise of nazi germany, annexation of countries, war crimes, and death camps. this version has english narrowed -- english language narration and contains scenes of war and death that some viewers may find disturbing. ♪

>> it was 1945, the war was over. slowly, painfully, life came back to the ruins of europe. ♪ the war was over, but there was no peace. despair crouched over the continent, hopelessness circled europe like a bird of prey.

why? what were the forces, what were the issues in a war that turned nations into rubble heaps and populations into beggars? wanted the answers, wanted to know what happened, and why. in the palace of justice in nuremberg, the people of the word came together, for it is there that the international military tribunal, set to judge nazi war criminals. ♪

>> justice robert h jackson, the chief american prosecutor makes the opening statements for the prosecution. >> the equivalent of opening the first trial in history. >> the privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world and poses a grave responsibility, the wrongs which

we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant, and devastating that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored because it cannot survive they being repeated. that four great nations flushed with victory and stung with injury stay the hand of vengeance and voluntary submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that power has ever paid to reason. this inquest represents the practical effort of four of the most mighty of nations with the support of 15 more, to utilize international law to meet the greatest menace of our times, aggressive war. mankindon sense of demands that law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. it must also reach men who possess themselves of great

power, and who make concerted use of it to set in motion evils which leave no home in the world untouched. docks sit 20ners' broken men, reproached by the humiliation of those they have led almost by -- almost as much as by the humiliation of those they attacked. their personal capacity for evil is of no question. their fate is of no consequence to the world. what makes this significance is that these prisoners represent sinister influences that will lurk in the world long after their bodies have returned to dust. the are living symbols of arrogance and cruelty of power, of racial hatred, of terrorism and violence. they are symbols of fierce nationalism and of militarism,

of intrigue. and, of warmaking, which has embroiled europe generation after generation, crushing its manhood, destroying its homes, and impoverishing its lives. they have so identified themselves with the philosophies they conceived and the forces they directed, that any tenderness is a victory and encouragement to all of the peoples which -- evils attached to their names. what these men stand for, we will disclose. we will give you undeniable proof of incredible events, a catalog of crimes and we will omit nothing. consciousof troubled do not regard a trial as a favor, but they have a fair

opportunity to defend themselves, a favor which they rarely extended to their fellow countrymen. we will not ask you to convict these men on the testimony of their foes. there is no count of the indictment that cannot be proved by books and records. and, we will show you the defendants' own films. you will see their own conduct and hear their own voices as they reenact for you from the screen some of the events in the course of the conspiracy. hasacts of the defendants' based the world -- bathed the world in blood. civilization back a

century. they have subjected their european neighbors to every deprivation. brought the german people to the lowest ebb of wretchedness. they have stirred hatreds and incited domestic violence on every continent. standare the things that in the dark, shoulder to shoulder with these prisoners. the real complaining party at the bar is civilization. of americaed states present count one, that all the defendants percent is abated as organizers or accomplices in a common plan or conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against

humanity. conspiracy of this were open and notorious. anyas far different from other conspiracy ever unfolded before a court of justice. >> the heart leapt as old war experiences were relived. >> this is a history of the nazi party, which grew from the 20's --of munich in the 1920's. and, from the beginning, adult hitler's -- adolf hilter -- werer and his followers committed to any means. their aim was the highest degree of control over the german communities. their intention was blatantly

andforth in "mein kampf" the party program. preached their favorite doctrines up and down the land. they said that persons of a so-called german blood were a master race, entitled to subjugate or exterminate other races. they said that the german should be ruled under the leadership principle by which each sub leader owed unconditional obedience to his superior and so on right up to adolf hitler. was a noble and necessary activity in germany. and, they said that the nazi party alone has the right to rule germany, and the right to destroy the party's enemies. ♪

their rise to power was based on fraud, defeat, intimidation, and coercion. culminating in terrible flames. flame went the democratic constitution of the republic andmar the german people, for the fire set by the nazis extended to the very reichstag. , a witness who formerly held a high position told of his investigation of the reichstag fire.

>> to speak re-fleet, and to state the fact -- briefly and state the facts. state the wish for a large-scale cop -- propaganda campaign. goebbels made the necessary proposals and first thought of setting the reichstag on fire. sa men of 10 reliable were made ready and during -- goring was told of every detail of the plan. he gave us her and says -- assurances that the police would -- uptructed to take off a false trail. >> using the fire as a pretext for seizing power, the conspirators lost no time in tarrying germany away from a policy of peace.

late in 1933, they lead to their nation out of the disarmament conference, the league of nations, and embarked on a course of secret rearmament. 1934, the new armaments program designed by goring, s funk was going for blast. was turning out the tools of war. the plants calmed, and one year later goring could announce -- from the strong foundation of the national socialist ideology, today rises the german armed forces. ora few days later, general

-- the general announced a new law from all sorry military service -- for compulsory military service. ♪ g, law was signed by gorin schacht, and the training began. ♪ finally, the spring of 1936, the nazis send their troops marching into the rhineland. >> on march 7, 1930 six, soldiers of the army created by order of the fuhrer crossed the

sacred river of german history and occupied their former garrisons. they pledge the fuhrer whatever decisions they make, unbreakable faith and obedience and vowed to follow him and prove their sincerity and their never-ending love for germany. >> the columns grew longer. boots grew louder on the streets of nurnberg. hitler's said -- a the german people is not people which welcomes a war, today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. it is not in the character of the germans. he is by nature, peaceful and peaceloving. he wants to work. country are millions of hands and they want to bring in their harvest. who want toworkers,

perform their work. but the nazi conspirators, and -- continued to plot new aggressions against peace. hitler called a special meeting and the generals. secret, butwas hitler's personal adjutant faithfully recorded his word. the german question can be solved by force. the improvement of our military and political position, it must be our first aim, in every case of entanglement to conquer check level test chuckles -- czechoslovakia and austria simultaneously. constituteion would

a considerable relief. stages meeting set the for nazi expansion, and act one ame three months later where meeting was engineered between , andustrian chancellor hitler. schmidt also attended the meeting and he takes the witness stand. >> did hitler demand that he be made minister? >> that was one of the demands. >> were there also demands made in regard to currency exchange and customs. >> demands of economic nature of every time. haditler told you that you until february 15 to accept his terms, and that if you did not do so he would use force?

>> the ultimatum was that he intended as early as february to march and austria, and he was prepared to purse opponent. >> faced by these threats, the austrians carried out all of hitler's demands. but the nazi conspirators were not satisfied. later, when it was announced a plot beside on austrian independence, hitler and goring demanded it be canceled. another ultimatum -- demanded that the chance to resign in three hours. during the invasion, he resigned, and a new chancellor of austria was appointed. goring called

kepler in vienna, and the conversation was transcribed. kepler spoke first. >> we represent the government now. >> the following telephones should be sent here. take the notes. the provisional austrian government sends to the german government the urgent task to support it the -- in preventing bloodshed. fast asman troops as possible. >> everything had collapsed with the provisional votes -- groups. >> the troops will cross the border today. >> the act was written, joining austria to germany and signed by hess., fricke, and

hitler had said -- to --many neither intends does not in -- intend to interfere with austria. ♪ the curtain fell on act i, already the nazi conspirators compared for act two. with this memorandum from hitler to his high command -- >> it is my decision to smash checkless a voc by military action. czechoslovakia by military action. it is to the military leaders to bring about the suitable moment. was designated political leader and the plan was labeled operation green. and there was another memorandum leading -- saying that >> it will be set in motion with

an incident in czechoslovakia. the fixing of the exact time is of the utmost importance. germany months later, signed the munich pact with england, france, and italy. this pact involved the transfer of the sedating land -- sudeten land to germany. they called it their last territorial demand. before the ink was dry, they were making other plans. hitler's goal was the complete absorption of czechoslovakia. president was called to a meeting with hitler and goring and keitle. they gave him the ultimate ultimatum, though he mia would be incorporated into germany or czechoslovakia would be invaded. the president was helpless.

two defendants signed the decree making bohemia and morelia a a german moravia protectorate. speaking months earlier hitler had said -- >> i have repeated that there will be no more territorial province for germany in europe. i will be no longer interested in the czech state. ♪ >> now, according to more of his he renewed thes, plan of violence and treachery from 1934 to 1939. >> first rearmament, the induction of compulsory military service. after that, militarization of the rhineland.

one year later austria brought about a considerable reinforcement. the next step was bohemia and moravia, the election of the protectorate and action against poland was laid. i did not organize the armed forces to strike, the decision to strike was always in me. the name of the united kingdom of great britain and shorecrosseland, presentscrime -- article two, crimes against peace. it says that this was in violation of international treaties, agreements, and assurances. occupied,neland is austria and czechoslovakia are seized by germany and the nazi conspirators turned to the next problem, the conquest of poland. again, and adjutant transcribed

hitler's world -- words. >> the solution is impossible without invasion of foreign states or attack on foreign property. there is no question of sparing poland, and we are left with the decision to attack poland at the first suitable opportunity. we cannot expect a repetition of the czech affair. theirording to well-established practice, the conspirators spurred up an issue to furnish incidents that could justify an attack. august, the nazis signed their nonaggression pact with russia. then hitler told his high command -- >> poland is now in the position i wanted. now i am just concerned that someone would make mediation. >> appeals were made, twice by the poles and once by president

roosevelt. ♪ finally, mr. roosevelt asks that assurance be given to him that the german armed forces will not attack, and above all not invade the territory of possessions of the following independent nations. he then named those coming into question. >> [speaking in foreign language] ♪ on one september, 1939, the nazis smashed into poland and into a near old -- new world war.

faithfule and england, to their mutual assistance pact, immediately declared war on germany. ♪ ffa opened massive attacks on polish towns and city and hitler, said -- propagandagive a starting the war, never mind if it be plausible or not. no cities be taken in this attitude. >> as usual, before the attack, hitler told the world -- >> during the trouble months of the past year, the friendship between poland and germany has been run up into reassuring sect theirs. -- sectors. >> the path of destruction started in poland, but soon it

led north and south across all of europe. each new aggression was based on hitler's principal that in war victory, not right is what matters. hasonaggression treaty resolved to maintain peace between denmark and germany in all circumstances. on nine april, 1940, german troops invaded denmark. ♪ the german government is

determined, in view of the relations that exist between norway and germany, but under nurse circumstances to prejudice the integrity of the norwegian state. september, 1939. 1940, germanril, troops invaded norway. ♪

>> i assure the governments of belgium, holland, luxembourg that germany will not violate their neutrality. 10, 1940, german troops invaded belgium, holland, and luxembourg. explosions] ♪ >> the firmly established reliable relationship of germany to yugoslavia will represent an

element of calm. who arethe goal of all disposed to really instructive work. six april, 1941, german troops invaded yugoslavia. [sirens] ♪ these criminal methods of the nazi conspirators brought them they success, and by 1941, had most of europe under their heel. evil ambition for power

and more power drove them on. but, two of the world's mightiest nations, the united states and soviet russia remained to block the root -- the nazi drive for world supremacy. they had to be dealt with firmly, and immediately. cooperationd from from her full partner of cooperation in the east and her junior partner in the south. in berlin they drew up the axis packed and parceled out the continents of the world for domination. italy was to get the mediterranean sphere. japan was to get the orient. to germany would go the rest of the world.

♪ in june, 1941, in violation of their nonaggression pact, the nazis sent their army into soviet territory. as usual, there was no declaration of war. [explosions] today germany,d, " tomorrow the world." and this was tomorrow. [explosions] land warfare in the east, air warfare in the west, and now uftwaffe wasring's l thrown against britain.

hitler said "i will blot out their cities." [sirens] [explosions] ♪ [sirens] ♪ and then, on seventh

december, 1941, the japanese, keeping their end of the bargain, struck the united states without declaration of war. on pearlbombs rained harbor, spreading war to the pacific. march, order was on the world war ii flamed around the globe. of the union of soviet socialist republics, we present count three and four, charging that all of the defendants committed war crimes in germany and in all those countries occupied by germany. >> the nazi conspirators committed crimes against enemy war, therisoners of civilians of occupied land. they believed in the barbaric doctrine of total war, and considered themselves freed from

the restraints of international law and the established customs of war. their ruthless policies were ordered in directives like this one from the general in the high command. has lostevik soldier all claims of treatment as an honorable opponent. active or passive resistance must be broken immediately. prisoners of war attempting to escape are to be fired on without previous challenge. no warning shots must be fired. more proof of the savage policy comes from the affidavit of a former gestapo officer. prisoner of war camps small screening teams headed by lower ranking memos. -- members. theduty was to segregate prisoners of war who were candidates for execution according to the orders given, and to report them to the office of the gestapo.

a letter from defendant elsenberg to defendant keit stated clearly -- >> a large part of the soviet prisoners died because of the weather. prisoners of war could no longer keep up on the march because of exhaustion. in numerous camps, no shelter was provided. even tools were not made to dig holes. >> yet, when some objected that this treatment violated the geneva convention, defendant keitel answered with this memorandum. >> i approve and affect the measures. >> this is proved by the testimony of a general, who worked under an animal -- an admiral. the general account -- attended conferences where crimes against

whole populations were plotted in advance by the nazi conspirators. will you please explain exactly what took place at this conference? first of all, they had a short talk. particularly as regards to the polish region. secondly, they spoke against the measures that he had found out about, the project did shooting and extermination measured -- andprojected shooting extermination measures against the intelligentsia, clergy, or embers of the national resistance movement. -- members of the national resistance movement.

[car engine] time that thethe --ld will at some time's will make the armed forces under which this occurred make -- responsible for these events. defendant frank, nazi governor of poland was guilty of directing mass murder. in his diary he speaks of -- >> taking advantage of the focus of the western front by carrying out liquidation of thousands of poles. >> these atrocities were not restricted to the east. here is the proof in the village -- in this village.

♪ here's the proof in a town in belgium. ♪ caves the proof, in the in italy, where 350 hostages were carefully lifted. ♪

and, systematically murdered. ♪ and, here is a town in czechoslovakia. for the retaliation assassination of an ss officer, the nazis murdered the men, and sent their women and children into slavery in germany. but, this was not enough. it was ordered that the village the leveled to the ground. ♪ [explosions]

exampleo be the nazis' to all occupied peoples. still whererrible the concentration camps, which from the beginning had been the chief weapon against opposition of every kind. anti-nazisgerman where the first victims. they swelled to include citizens of all nations of europe, and their fate is described by rudolph hess. untilommanded auschwitz the first of december 1943, an estimated 2.5 million victims were exterminated by gassing. at least another .5 million succumbed to starvation and disease making a total debt of about 3 million. included among the executed

where approximately 20,000 russian prisoners of war, who were delivered in transports. the remember -- the remainder of a total number will included 100,000 germans use and a great number of citizens from holland, france, belgium, poland, hungary, czechoslovakia, greece, and other countries. ♪ were acal experiments standard procedure at many concentration camps. these included lowering the body temperature to 28 degrees centigrade, high-altitude tests in pressure chambers, experiments with poisoned bullets and contagious diseases, and sterilization experiments. genocide, the

premeditated destruction of entire peoples. genocide, the direct result of the nazi's claim that they had the right to destroy the party's oppositions. tomorrow the world, dead or alive. >> in the name of the french republic, we close count three and four, the final charges of the indictment. all of the defendants committed crimes against humanity, including the murder and persecution of all people opposed to the nazi party and the enslavement, exploitation, and deportation of the civilian population. the slave labor policy was the responsibility of one of the defendants who admitted that in 1944 -- >> out of the 5 million workers who arrived, not even 2000 came

voluntarily. >> forced labor meant degrading treatment. he suggested it. >> all the men must be fed, sheltered, and treated in such a way to exploit them at the highest possible extent with the lowest expenditure. >> defendant bormann added. >> the slobs are to work for us, and as far as we do not need them, they may die. >> slavery was only one aspect of exploitation. and a talkoring, with german occupation authorities discussed another. plunder. we were not sent out to work for the welfare of the people, but to get the most out of them so that the german people can live. we were never concerned about what the foreign people would say.

i expected to deliver. it makes no difference to me to say that your people will starve. >> but nazi crimes against humanity are not limited to foreign peoples. as minister ofe a programirected against insane or incurable germans. thousands were committed to special institutions and few ever returned. evidence proved that they were murdered because they were useless to the plans of the nazi conspirators. but, perhaps the greatest crime against humanity that the nazis committed against the jews, a campaign of hate and murder goes to the heart of the nazi movement.

[chanting in german] >>[speaking foreign language] citizens are only those willing to serve the german people. relations between jews and germans of related blood are

prohibited. ♪ >> ss brigadier general strope in charge of the warsaw ghetto had learned his nazi lessons well. he said -- >> it was ordered the cleaning out of the ghetto with utter ruthlessness. i therefore decided to destroy and burn down the entire ghetto. left, butently

occasionally remained and jumped out of the windows only be -- only when the heat became unbearable. life in the sewers was not pleasant after the first week. bombs were thrown into the manholes and that y -- the jews were driven out. thousands were liquidated through blasting. officers always to start -- just charged their duties. >> the nazis were released -- were reaching the final solution, the total extermination of the juice of lord -- of europe. towe had two ss doctors observe the prisoners. they would be marched past one of the doctors who would make spot decisions.

those fit for work were sentenced to the camp, others were sent to the extermination plot. children were exterminated because they were unable to work. we endeavored to fool them into thinking that they were going through a delousing process. it took from three to 15 minutes to kill the people in the chamber depending on conditions. we knew when they were dead because the screaming stopped. we usually waited about half an hour before we opened the doors and removed the bodies. after the bodies were removed, the special commanders extracted the gold and rings from the course -- from the corpses. >> much of which were transferred to the secret

vaults. labor chief robert ley knew that 6 million juice -- jews died. in his will he said -- >> and anti-semitism we have violated god's creation. it is hard to admit mistakes, but the whole existence of our people is in question. god has taught me that from myself. -- from my cell. >> defendant frank himself said before the court -- have fought against

jewery, and allowed ourselves to make utterances that were terrible. for thousands of years, this guilt will not be erased. >> the prosecution rests. the defense begins. witnesses and introduce 68,000 affidavits. they submit 160,000 more affidavits on behalf of the ss, 7000 on behalf of the sd, 3000 on behalf of the general staff and a 2000 on their behalf. they were personally selected by their defendants, and many are well-known german lawyers and each now rises for a equivalent time. some make frank denials.

>> they had no power whatsoever to make decisions concerning war, armistice or combat, etc.. they lead their plans we carefully planned defense. >> it has also been stated by the prosecution that himmler would have no one to carry out the orders, if you hadn't made the propaganda and conducted the education of germany. i do not believe that those who had been given the order by the

fuhrer to carry out the killings , that those people would have been made to do this. and thempf" existed book was the authority. >> you are accused of establishing, and visiting this regulatory. camp and seen you the further testified having seen you at the inspection of the gas chambers, and while they were in operation. >> the testimony is wrong. ofry concentration camp, which i know anything, was established by himmler. prosecution is

allowed to cross-examine the defendants. rosenberg's question. -- is questioned. did your ministry forced people to leave their homes, to work for the german state? it is not true that force was used and it is not denied that terrible encroachments occurred. . of may, hitler said that he would give you an indoctrination on the political situation, and he said, "we are left with a decision to attack poland at the first opportunity." did you still think he had no aggressive intentions? i believed that for a long

said,just as the general after hitler had solved the czech problem without bloodshed, it was hoped that he would solve the poland problem without bloodshed. i believed it until the last moment. yesterday your counsel showed dated 16order september, 1941. it said it is necessary to take immediate and cruel measures and that human life in the east is worthless. do you remember the basic idea of the order, that human life costs absolutely nothing? please answer the question. you signed this order with this statement? >> yes. >> do you remember any other reason for such great mortality among soviet prisoners of war?

i did not know the reason, but they seemed to be completely wrong, that i do know. telling the tribunal on your oath that you knew nothing about the effect of military pressure on austria? i wish to stress again that i knew nothing about military measures, and that if i had known something i would not see any reason not to say so. it is a fact that during the days before and after the meeting, i was so busy taking over the foreign office that i could only give slight attention to the austrian problem. >> goring is cross-examined.

>> at the end of the meeting you use the following words. ry must forfeit 100 million marks, then the pigs would not commit any more crimes. do you still say that neither hitler nor you knew of the policy to exterminate the jews. i i have already said that did not know to even approximately to the degree to which this took place. >> you did not know to which degree, but you knew there was a policy aimed at the liquidation of the jews. no, not liquidation. i only knew that certain perpetration's had taken place. present on april you will pres,

1945 when hitler's received a goringam from suggesting that he take over power. what did he say on that occasion ? >> hittner was most excited about the contents of a in aram, and he expected clear manner about bearing. he said he knew for sometimes that giving had failed, that he was corrupt and that he was a drug addict. it was typical of hitler's attitude that he followed the statement by saying, but he cannot nevertheless negotiate the capitulation. manner,d in an offhand it doesn't really matter who does it his disregard for the german nation was expressed in the way he said this. narrator: after months of examination and cross examination, several defendants made final statement to the

tribunal. frank is first. >> i myself, speaking from the very depths and the experience of five months of this trial, want to say this. now that i have gained the last insight into all that which has been committed in terms of dreadful atrocities, i feel a terrible guilt within me. >> funk declares. >> when these measures of terror and violence against jews were put up to me, i suffered a nervous breakdown, because at the moment it came to my mind, with full clearness that from here on, the catastrophe took its course all the way up to the terrible and atrocious things about which we have heard and about which i only knew in part at the time of my imprisonment.

i felt ashamed and guilty at that moment, and i feel the same today. but it is too late. narrator: now, chirac speaks. >> it is my guilt that i educated german youth for a man who committed murders million-fold. narrator: shaq too's next --schacht is next. >> everything he promised to the german people and thereby to himself he did not afterwards keep. he promised equal rights for all citizens, and without regard to their capabilities, his adherence cut privileges for all -- before all other citizens. he promised to fight against political allies, and together with his minister goebbels, and

himself, he never did anything but disseminate political allies and political fraud. he released criminals and put them into his service. he did everything in the way of not keeping his promises. he deceived the world, germany, and me. narrator: speer once more. >> the tremendous danger contained in this totalitarian system only became really clear the moment we were approaching the end. everything that has happened during this trial, everything you are seeing in the way of orders which were carried out without any hesitation did after all turnout to be mistaken. that is why this trial must contribute to the prevention of such distorted wars in the future, and the establishment of principles for human cooperation.

narrator: keitel again. >> i was not able to prevent what should have been prevented, that is my guilt. i can only wish that out of the clear recognition of the causes of the disastrous methods and the terrible consequences of this war, there will arise for the german people a new hope for a better future in the community of nations. narrator: now frank. >> we call on the german people, whose representatives we were, to abandon this way which was doomed to failure in the will and justice of god, which is doomed for everyone who may try to follow it anywhere in the world. narrator: the last defendant to fritzsche

>> you of the prosecution did not speak anything good on about hitler. you are amazed about the extent of what happened. but try to understand the indignation of those who did expect something good from hitler and were betrayed. i am one of these betrayed. narrator: finally, both defense and prosecution sum up their arguments for the tribunal. >> an aggressor can be branded only by the world's conscience. that supreme organ of humanity must have not only real, but also moral authority. its impartial judgment must be looked upon with general confidence. it must stand above the contesting parties. narrator: >> in the name of the united states of america, justice jackson delivers his summation. >> according to the testimony of each defendant, these men saw no evil, spoke none, and none was uttered in their presence.

if we combined only the stories from the front bench, this is the ridiculous composite picture of hitler's government that emerges. it was composed of a number two man, who never suspected the jewish extermination program, although he signed over a score of anti-semitic decrees. in number three man, who was merely an innocent middleman transmitting hitler's orders , without reading them, like a postman or delivery boy. a foreign minister, who knew little of foreign affairs and nothing of foreign policy. a field marshal, who issued orders to the armed forces, but had no idea of the results they would have in practice. a security chief, who was of the impression that the policing

functions of his gestapo and sd were somewhat on the lines of directing traffic. a party philosopher, who had no idea of the violence for which his philosophy was inciting in the 20th century. a governor general of poland, who reigned but did not rule. one whose occupation was to pour forth filthy writing about the jews, but who had no idea that anybody would read them. a minister of the interior who knew not even what went on in his own office, much less the interior of his own department, and nothing at all about the interior of germany. a reichsbank president, who was totally ignorant of what went in and out of the vaults of his bank. to say of these men that they are not guilty, it would be as true to say there has been no

war, there are no slain, there has been no crime. narrator: in the name of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, sir hartley shawcross delivers the submission. >> this trial must form a milestone in the history of civilization, not only marking that right shall, in the end, triumph over evil, but also that ordinary people of the world, and i make no distinction here between friend and foe, are now determined that the individual must transcend the state. the state and law are made for man. that through them, he may achieve a fuller life, a higher purpose, and a greater dignity. narrator: in the name of the union of soviet social republics, general rodenko delivers his summation. , have then we ask charges against the defendants been approved before the court, have the defendants been convicted of their guilt, there

is only one answer. their crimes have been proved. neither the statements of the defendants nor the arguments of the defense were able to refute our grave accusations. it has been impossible to cast doubt on events which actually took place. the truth cannot be challenged. that is the real meaning of this trial. that is the lasting result of our long and strenuous effort. narrator: in the name of the onsieru deublic, mism ribes delivers his submission. >> when this international trial is closed and the principal war criminals sentenced, we shall go back to our own countries. the fate of these men now lies entirely with their conscience. -- with your conscience. this is beyond our competence. our task is finished. now it is for you, in the silence of your deliberations, to listen to innocent blood crying for justice. narrator: lord justice lawrence,

great britain. mr. francis biddle, united states. fabres, france, and major general nikitchenko, ussr, and their alternates prepare the verdicts. it will be based on the opinion of the majority. ♪

narrator: on october 1, 1946, the verdict is delivered by lord justice lawrence, president of the tribunal. >> of the organizations, the ss, sd, gestapo, and leadership core are found guilty. the high command, sa and right reichcabinet not guilty. , as for the individual, hermann goring, guilty of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. death by hanging. rudolph hess, guilty of conspiracy and crimes against peace. life imprisonment. your keen von ribbentrop -- joachim von ribbentrop guilty of , conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. death by hanging.

wilhelm keitel, guilty of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. death by hanging. ernst kaltenbrunner, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. death by hanging. alfred rosenberg, guilty of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. death by hanging. hans frank, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. death by hanging. wilhelm frick, guilty of crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

death by hanging. julius streicher, guilty of crimes against humanity. death by hanging. walter funk, guilty of crimes against peace, or crimes, and crimes against humanity. life imprisonment. hjalmar schacht not , guilty on this indictment, released. karl donitz, guilty of crimes against peace and war crimes. 10 years imprisonment. eric radar, -- erich raeder, guilty of conspiracy, crimes against peace, and war crime. life imprisonment. baldur von schirach, guilty of crimes against humanity. 20 years imprisonment. fritz sauckel, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

death by hanging. alfred jodl, guilty of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. death by hanging. franz von papen, not guilty on this indictment. released. albert speer, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 20 years imprisonment. konstantin von neurath, guilty conspiracy, crimes against peace war crimes, and crimes against humanity. 15 years imprisonment. arthur seyss-inquart, guilty of crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. death by hanging.

hans fritzsche, not guilty on this indictment. released. martin bormann, tried in censure, guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity. death by hanging. ♪ narrator: the trial is over. ♪ narrator: seven begin their prison sentences. goring chooses to die by his own hand. the other 10 wait for the gallows. ♪

narrator: in nuremberg, the people of the world found out, and why. but nuremberg is more than just an answer to a question. as justice jackson said, this trial is part of the great effort to make the peace more secure. it constitutes action of a kind to ensure that those who start a war will pay for it personally. nuremberg stands as a warning to all those who plan and wage aggressive war. >> featuring events, interviews, archival thome and visits to college classrooms, museums and historic places. exploring our nation's past, every weekend on c-span3.

tv u.s.american history , naval academy superintendent sean buck talks about the life and career of stephen decatur, a war of 1812 war hero. a war of 1812 hero later killed in a duel with disgraced fellow naval officer james barron. two naval officers then read the increasingly tense correspondence between the two men leading up to their march 22, 1820 face-off. the white house historical association hosted this event to commemorate the duel's 200th anniversary. >> good afternoon, everyone, happy new year. it's a real honor to be here, to