The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany. These trials served as a landmark in international law, establishing the principle that individuals can be held accountable for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Throughout the trials, many powerful and thought-provoking quotes were spoken by the defendants, prosecutors, and judges involved. These quotes not only shed light on the atrocities committed during the war but also reflect the importance of justice and accountability. In this article, we will explore some of the most impactful Nuremberg trial quotes that continue to resonate with us today.
Read these Nuremberg trial quotes
“The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant, and so devastating that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored because it cannot survive their being repeated.” – Robert H. Jackson, Chief United States Prosecutor
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke, British Philosopher
“War is essentially an evil thing. Its consequences are not confined to the belligerent states alone, but affect the whole world.” – Sir Norman Birkett, British Judge
“Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience…Therefore, individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring.” – Nuremberg Tribunal
“The defendants in this case are charged with crimes against humanity. It is a crime against humanity that is being judged here.” – Ben Ferencz, United States Prosecutor
“We must never forget that the record on which we judge these defendants today is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow.” – Sir Geoffrey Lawrence, British Judge
“The real complaining party at your bar is Civilization. In all our countries it is still a struggling and imperfect thing. It does not plead that the United States, or any other country, has been blameless of the conditions which made the German people easy victims to the blandishments and intimidations of the Nazi conspirators.” – Telford Taylor, United States Prosecutor
“It is not the purpose of an international criminal court to give the victor a chance to denounce the vanquished as the perpetrators of crimes which the former did not commit.” – Sir Hartley Shawcross, British Prosecutor
“Let the world know that in the pursuit of my aims I did not become a killer.” – Hermann Göring, Defendant
“I am not in the least sorry. I would do everything again exactly as I did it.” – Julius Streicher, Defendant
“We were all in the war, and we all share the guilt.” – Karl Dönitz, Defendant
“I had to obey the orders given to me, just as the other defendants had to obey orders given to them.” – Rudolf Hess, Defendant
“It is not only the right but the duty of a soldier to defend his country against enemy attacks.” – Alfred Jodl, Defendant
“It is difficult to understand why I was acquitted and the others sentenced to death. We all thought the same way and had the same intentions.” – Baldur von Schirach, Defendant
“I am guilty as a nationalist. I loved my country, and I still do.” – Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Defendant
“The concentration camps were founded on the basis of an order that I issued.” – Heinrich Himmler, Defendant
“I had to choose between a high sense of duty and obedience and a sense of responsibility towards the people of the world. I chose the former.” – Albert Speer, Defendant
“I did not participate in the planning or carrying out of the war, but I am morally responsible for the consequences of the war.” – Hjalmar Schacht, Defendant
“I had to take responsibility for the people of Germany.” – Wilhelm Keitel, Defendant
“I, for my part, am not inclined to make any excuses whatsoever.” – Joachim von Ribbentrop, Defendant
These powerful quotes from the Nuremberg Trials serve as a reminder of the horrors of war and the importance of justice. They highlight the need for accountability and the responsibility of individuals to stand up against crimes against humanity. These quotes continue to inspire us to strive for a world where such atrocities are never repeated.
