Nürnberg Executions - 72 years ago right now

[Steve Sherlock]

As I write this, 72 years ago now Ribbentrop just minutes ago was hanged, (1:11 am 16. October 1946) (I'm allowing for the 8 hour difference from California). The executions would continue until the last one was pronounced dead at 2:57 am ( 6:57 pm California time.)

That, and $2 will get you a cup of coffee.

Steve

[tgn]

$2 will get you a cup of coffee.

Steve

Not if you go to Starbucks

Tom

[Steve Sherlock]

Steve

[CPB]

As I write this, 72 years ago now Ribbentrop just minutes ago was hanged, (1:11 am 16. October 1946) (I'm allowing for the 8 hour difference from California). The executions would continue until the last one was pronounced dead at 2:57 am ( 6:57 pm California time.)

That, and $2 will get you a cup of coffee.

Steve

Sobering indeed. Thanks for posting.

[BrianK]

They missed one by not hanging Albert Speer, who BSed his way out of it. And perhaps one or two should have received prison sentences instead of hanging.

[Kyle Harrington]

Speer

Without Speer it would have been close to impossible to visualize how Germany could have carried on with the prosecution of the war. It has always baffled me as to how any serious person could accept he knew nothing about the extermination centres, yet he got away with it whilst his number 2 swung !!!!!!

[BrianK]

Exactly my point. Speer was a very smooth talking criminal.

[Wartime Collectables]

They missed one by not hanging Albert Speer, who BSed his way out of it. And perhaps one or two should have received prison sentences instead of hanging.

Agreed, and Von Schirach certainly got off lightly.

[bodes]

They missed one by not hanging Albert Speer, who BSed his way out of it. And perhaps one or two should have received prison sentences instead of hanging.

Fritz Sauckel's charges were the same as Speer's and received the death penalty.....Bodes

[bodes]

Agreed, and Von Schirach certainly got off lightly.

Schirach was one of the few defendants to denounce Hitler at the trials.....His wife Henrietta is reknown for openly confronting Hitler about his persecution of the Jews....Bodes

[Wartime Collectables]

Schirach was one of the few defendants to denounce Hitler at the trials.....His wife Henrietta is reknown for openly confronting Hitler about his persecution of the Jews....Bodes

Yes, she questioned what she saw and it got them cut from the 'guest list' and lost him the HJ post. But as Gauleiter he certainly was part of those who knew what the deportations he ordered meant. I can't help but read his denunciation of Hitler as nothing more than opportunism. ...and it worked for him.

[bodes]

I can't help but read his denunciation of Hitler as nothing more than opportunism. ...and it worked for him.

Later in the war, Schirach pleaded for better treatment of eastern Euopean inhabitants and complained about conditions regarding the deportation of the Jews...Part of his trial defense included a letter to Bormann regarding his disatisfaction over this...Bodes

[Wartime Collectables]

Later in the war, Schirach pleaded for better treatment of eastern Euopean inhabitants and complained about conditions regarding the deportation of the Jews...Part of his trial defense included a letter to Bormann regarding his disatisfaction over this...Bodes

Yet he had no problem spouting NSDAP rhetoric such as Germany would be better off without the Jews, or overseeing the deportation of 65,000? Jews from Vieena.

[bodes]

Yet he had no problem spouting NSDAP rhetoric such as Germany would be better off without the Jews, or overseeing the deportation of 65,000? Jews from Vieena.

I don't believe the tribunal would've been deemed a success without the contrition shown by Speer and von Schirach.....Goring tried to form a united front amongst the defendants, saying they were incapable of making independant decisions......Thus they were merely following orders and subequently innocent of the charges.....

The tribunal wanted the defendants to denounce the regime, denounce Hitler, and admit their guilt in partaking in the bringing about of a global war that left over 50 million dead.....Speer did this.....Would the same have saved Sauckel?....The rest?......I would say Speer and von Schirach were wise in realizing this and saving their necks....

In the end, the tribunal wanted it to be known that leaders and their subordinates would be held accountable for future conflicts.....And that the trials weren't just the victors taking revenge on the vanquished.....Whether justice was served or not will continue to be debated for generations...Bodes