(1945 – 46) Trials of former
Nazi Party leaders held in Nürnberg, Ger. At the end of World War II, the International Military Tribunal was established by the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union to indict and try former Nazis as war criminals. The tribunal defined the offenses as crimes against peace (planning and waging of war in violation of treaties), crimes against humanity (extermination, deportation, and
genocide), and
war crimes. After 216 court sessions, 3 of the original 22 defendants were acquitted, 4 (including
Karl Dönitz and
Albert Speer) were sentenced to prison for terms of 10 to 20 years, 3 (including
Rudolf Hess) were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 12 (including
Wilhelm Keitel,
Joachim von Ribbentrop,
Alfred Rosenberg,
Arthur Seyss-Inquart, and
Julius Streicher) were sentenced to death by hanging.
Hermann Göring committed suicide before he could be executed, and
Martin Bormann was convicted in absentia.
For more information on
Nürnberg trials,
visit Britannica.com.