The Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals held after World War II prosecuting prominent Nazi officials for war crimes, establishing significant precedents in international law.
Prosecuting senior officials of a defeated regime for crimes that had never before been formally codified in international law, these trials established legal precedents that continue shaping how the world addresses atrocities committed during war.
Prosecuting Nazi War Criminals
The Nuremberg Trials prosecuted prominent surviving Nazi officials for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities committed during World War II.
Establishing New Legal Precedents
The trials established significant new precedents in international law, including formal legal recognition of "crimes against humanity" as a distinct prosecutable category.
Rejecting "Just Following Orders"
The trials significantly established that defendants could not simply claim they were "just following orders" as a complete legal defense against war crimes charges.
A Foundation for International Criminal Law
The Nuremberg Trials established important foundations for subsequent international criminal law, influencing the later creation of international courts prosecuting genocide and war crimes.
