Film Analysis: The Nuremberg Trials

The Nuremberg Trials introduced the concept of war crimes and set the precedent in how to try war criminals. Before the Nuremberg Trials, crimes committed during war were, for the most part, pardoned simply because it was the times of war. There were the few exceptions in history with the most significant being the Leipzig War Crimes Trials. But the Nuremberg Trials was the first time that people were held fully accountable for their actions during war. It was also the first time “losers of war” were allowed to defend themselves. Despite being stripped of their titles and power, they were still treated as humans who maintain the right to a fair trial. It maintained the idea of consistently treating even your enemies as rational human beings …show more content…
But before 1945, there were no definite and universal way to punish people for atrocious actions committed during war. After the war, there were different ideas in how to treat them. In the beginning of the movie, you can see Hermann Goring being treated with a soldier’s welcome by American soldiers. He is seen as a fellow soldier who deserves to be treated with a code of honor. There are others (particularly Russian officials) who want the quick death of all members of the Third Reich- from the high ranked officials to the foot soldiers. Ultimately, the major powers after World War II decided it was important to send the message of accountability for actions committed during war. The formation of the Nuremberg Trials introduced new concepts like war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the movie, Robert Jackson stated when he was forming the Nuremberg Trial that this was a “trial of superior morality with aggressive war dealt with as a crime.” This was a trial that defined morality and forbade immorality even during times of war. War and position did not grant immunity. It is not a free pass to treat people as less than human