Handout 3 The Subsequent Trials: An Overview By Doug Linder © 2000

On December 20, 1945, the issued Control Law No.10, establishing the basis for “the prosecution of war criminals and similar offenders.” Each of the occupying authorities was authorized, in its occupation zone, to try persons suspected of committing war crimes. The Military Governor of the American Zone subsequently enacted ordinance No. 7, establishing military tribunals with the power to try and punish. Each of the tribunals was comprised of three America lawyers, usually past or present members of state judiciaries. The judges were recruited by the War Department.

Case Name Defendants and Charges Trial Dates Verdict (Numbered by (Opening to date of verdict) indictments)

#1 Twenty-three Nazi physicians charged Dec. 9, 1946 Sixteen defendants The Doctors with conducting human experiments to convicted (or Medical) on German civilians and nationals of Aug 20, 1947 (including seven Case other countries. The experiments sentenced to death) ranged From studying the effects of Seven acquitted high Altitude and malaria to sterilization.

#2 Former German Field Marshall Jan 2, 1947 Convicted and Milch Case charged with murder and cruel treatment of to sentenced to life in POW’s and with participation in experiments Apr. 16, 1947 prison dealing with effects of high altitude and freezing

10 defendants #3 Nine members of the Reich Ministry of Mar. 5, 1947 convicted, 4 The Justice Justice and seven members of the People’s to acquitted (one (or Judges) and Special Courts charged with using their Dec. 4, 1947 defendant died power as prosecutors and judges to commit before verdict and a Case war crimes and . mistrial was (This trial inspired the movie Judgment at declared in one Nuremberg) case)

#4 Oswald Pohl and seventeen other members of Apr. 8, 1947 15 defendants the WVHA (Economic and Administrative to convicted, 3 The Office) charged with war crimes against Nov 3, 1947 acquitted. Three Pohl/WVHA POW’s in concentration camps which WVHA defendants were Case controlled after spring of 1942. sentenced to death, the rest to prison terms.

Six members of the Flick Concern, a group of Three defendants industrial enterprises (including coal mines (including #5 and steel plants) charged with using slave Apr 19, 1947 Frederich Flick) The Flick labor and POW’s, deporting persons for labor to convicted and in German-occupied territories, and Dec 22, 1947 sentenced to prison, Case plundering private property- the three acquitted. “” of Jewish properties.

#6 Twenty-four defendants, all in the IG Farben Aug 27, Thirteen defendants The industrial concern, charged with plunder and 1947 found guilty on one I.G. Farben spoliation of private property in German- to or more charges Case occupied territories and other war crimes. Jul 30, 1948 and sentenced to prison

#7 Twelve defendants, officers in the German Eight defendants The Armed Forces, charged with murdering Jul. 15, 1947 found guilty and Hostage Case thousands of civilians in Greece, Yugoslavia, to sentenced to prison, and Albania, committing acts of devastation in Feb 19, 1948 two acquitted. Two and other countries, drafting orders other defendants denying POWs rights, and ordering the committed suicide slaughter of surrendered troops. before the verdict.

#8 Fourteen defendants, officials in the Race and Oct 20, 1947 Thirteen defendants The Settlement Office and the Office for to found guilty on one R.U.S.H.A. Strengthening of Germandom, charged with Mar 10, 1948 or more charges, Case crimes against humanity relating to murder, one defendant deportation, and on political, racial, acquitted. and religious grounds.

#9 Twenty-four defendants, all members of All twenty-four German mobile killing units, the Sept 29, 1947 defendants were The , charged with the murder to found guilty on one Einsatzgruppen and ill-treatment of POWs and civilians in Apr 9, 1948 or more charges. occupied countries, and with wanton Fourteen Case defendants were destruction not justified by military sentenced to die, necessity. but ten later had their sentences reduced.

#10 Alfred and eleven other defendants, all Eleven The members of the Krupp industrial concern, Dec 8, 1947 defendants were Krupp charged with enslavement and other war to found guilty on Case crimes, including the plunder of public and Jul 31, 1948 one or more private property. charges and sentenced to jail terms, one defendant acquitted.

#11 Twenty-one defendants, including three Reich Nineteen The ministers, as well as other members of the Jan 6, 1948 defendants found Ministries Nazi Party hierarchy, charged with waging to guilty on at least Case wars of aggression, violating international Apr 13, 1949 one charge and treaties, and committing various crimes of war sentenced to terms and crimes against humanity. ranging from four to twenty-five years.