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Volume 19, Fall 2006
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Nuremberg Trials 60th Anniversary
Defendants of Nuremberg Trial: Verdicts and Sentences
Count I - Conspiracy: Leaders, organizations, instigators, and accomplices in the formulation or execution of a common plan, or conspiracy to commit any of the following crimes are responsible for all acts performed by any persons in execution of such a plan;
Count II - Crimes Against Peace: namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing;
Count III - War Crimes: namely, violations of the laws or customs of war. Such violations shall include, but not be limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for any other purpose of civilian prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity;
Count IV - Crimes Against Humanity: namely, murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war; or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, whether or not in violation of the domestic law or the country where perpetrated.
| Defendant |
|
Sentence |
| Martin Bormann |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by hanging-in absentia |
| Karl Doenitz |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
|
Ten Years Imprisonment |
| Hans Frank |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Wilhelm Frick |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Hans Fritzsche |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count III |
Not Guilty |
| Count IV |
Not Guilty |
|
Acquitted |
Walther Funk |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Life Imprisonment |
| Hermann Goering |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging (suicide before hanging) |
| Rudolf Hess |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Not Guilty |
| Count IV |
Not Guilty |
|
Life Imprisonment (suicide 1987) |
| Alfred Jodl |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Ernst Kaltenbrunner |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Wilhelm Keitel |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Erich Raeder |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Life Imprisonment |
| Alfred Rosenberg |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Fritz Sauckel |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Not Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Hjalmar Schacht |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Not Guilty |
|
Acquitted |
| Arthur Seyss-Inquart |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by hanging |
| Albert Speer |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Not Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Twenty Years Imprisonment |
| Julius Streicher |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Konstantin von Neurath |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Fifteen Years Imprisonment
(released after 8 years - poor health) |
| Franz von Papen |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count II |
Not Guilty |
|
Acquitted |
| Joachim von Ribbentrop |
| Count I |
Guilty |
| Count II |
Guilty |
| Count III |
Guilty |
|
Death by Hanging |
| Baldur von Schirach |
| Count I |
Not Guilty |
| Count IV |
Guilty |
|
Twenty Years Imprisonment |
Reactions of the Defendants to their Sentences
Dr. G. M. Gilbert, a prison psychologist, assigned the responsibility of monitoring the behavior of the defendants, became familiar with all the defendants and was present when each was escorted from the courtroom to his prison cell after hearing the verdict. Gilbert’s description of the defendants’ reactions provides insight into the mindset of the Nazi hierarchy.
For his observations:
Goering “came down first and strode into his cell, his face pale and frozen, his eyes popping. 'Death!' he said as he dropped on the cot and reached for a book. His hands were trembling in spite of his attempt to be nonchalant. His eyes were moist and he was panting, fighting back an emotional breakdown. He asked me in an unsteady voice to leave him alone for a while.
When Goering collected himself enough to talk, he said that he had naturally expected the death penalty, and was glad that he had not gotten a life sentence, because those who are sentenced to life imprisonment never become martyrs. But there wasn't any of the old confident bravado in his voice. Goering seems to realize, at last, that there is nothing funny about death, when you're the one who is going to die.”
Hess “strutted in, laughing nervously, and said that he had not even been listening, so he did not know what the sentence was and what was more, he didn't care. As the guard unlocked his handcuffs, he asked why he had been handcuffed and Goering had not. I said it was probably an oversight with the first prisoner. Hess laughed again and said mysteriously that he knew why. (A guard told me that Hess had been given a life sentence.)”
Ribbentrop “wandered in, aghast, and started to walk around the cell in a daze, whispering, 'Death!-Death! Now I won't be able to write my beautiful memoirs. Tsk! Tsk! So much hatred! Tsk! tsk!' Then he sat down, a completely broken man, and stared into space.”
Keitel “was already in his cell, his back to the door, when I entered. He wheeled around and snapped to attention at the far end of the cell, his fists clenched and arms rigid, horror in his eyes. 'Death-by hanging!' he announced his voice hoarse with intense shame. 'That, at least, I thought I would be spared. I don't blame you for standing at a distance from a man sentenced to death by hanging. I understand that perfectly. But I am still the same as before. If you will please only - visit me sometimes in these last days.' I said I would.”
Frank “smiled politely, but could not look at me. 'Death by hanging,' he said softly, nodding his head in acquiescence. 'I deserved it and I expected it, as I've always told you. I am glad that I have had the chance to defend myself and to think things over in the last few months.’”
Doenitz “didn't know quite how to take it. 'Ten years! - Well - anyway, I cleared U-boat warfare. - Your own Admiral Nimitz said - you heard it.' He' said he was sure his colleague Admiral Nimitz understood him perfectly.”
Jodl “marched to his cell, rigid and upright, avoiding my glance. After he had been unhandcuffed and faced me in his cell, he hesitated a few seconds, as if he could not get the words out. His face was spotted red with vascular tension. 'Death—by hanging! —that, at least, I did not deserve. The death part—all right, somebody has to stand for the responsibility. But that—' His mouth quivered and his voice choked for the first time. 'That I did not deserve.’”
Speer “laughed nervously. 'Twenty years. Well; that's fair enough. They couldn't have given me a lighter sentence, considering the facts, and I can't complain. I said the sentences must be severe, and I admitted my share of the guilt, so it would be ridiculous if I complained about the punishment.’”
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