Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal

Following World War II, the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union entered into an agreement establishing a tribunal for the trial of alleged war criminals. In October 1945, an indictment was entered against members of the Nazi regime, including Hermann Göring and Joachim Von Ribbentrop (defendants), charging them with crimes against peace, including planning, preparing, initiating, and waging war. The indictment alleged that Göring was the commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe (i.e., the German air force) and the second-most-prominent man in the Nazi regime after Adolf Hitler. The indictment further alleged that Göring helped to bring the Nazis to power in Germany, developed the Gestapo, and created the first concentration camps. According to the indictment, Göring was responsible for planning and executing numerous attacks during the war. The indictment alleged that Von Ribbentrop was Hitler’s foreign-policy adviser and eventual foreign minister. In that role, Von Ribbentrop allegedly suggested ways to prevent England and France from intervening in a German-led war to effect regime change in Europe. The indictment further alleged that Von Ribbentrop participated in plans to incorporate Austria into the German Reich through threats of invasion and eventual occupation and to attack Czechoslovakia and other European countries. Von Ribbentrop also allegedly knew in advance that Germany planned to attack certain countries and engaged in diplomatic efforts to justify Germany’s aggression. Furthermore, Von Ribbentrop also became involved in efforts to kill Jewish people in the territories that Germany had invaded. Both Göring and Von Ribbentrop testified before the tribunal. Von Ribbentrop asserted that Hitler had made all of the decisions during the war and that Von Ribbentrop had never questioned Hitler’s reasons for engaging in aggressive actions.