0:04 Oh.
3:21 These old buildings go up like cellophane. There's a wall that separates the old section of Nuremberg from the new. It goes back to... How far does it go back, Schmidt? 1219, sir. 1219. This is where the Nazi party held their rallies, isn't it? They all came here. Hitler, Goebbels, the whole crew. Thousands of them from all over Germany. It's not necessary to blow the horn so much, Schmidt.
4:16 You both know your duties. Well, here we are. A little bit of old German. Senator Paquette? Captain Byers, this is Judge Haywood. Byers here will be your aide. My what? Any capacity you wish to use me. This will be your staff, sir, Mr. and Mrs. Halberstadt. Hello. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Your Honor. Welcome. You've already met your driver, Schmidt. I'm at your service, sir, any time you need me, day or night. Thanks. Let's show him around the rest of the place, then. We're in the reception room. Living room. Study is in there. There are two bedrooms on this floor, three upstairs.
5:03 Part antique, part US Army. The piano is showing signs of wear and tear, but it's a genuine Beckstein. Quite a view, isn't it, sir? Yes. Uh, Senator, I really, really don't need all this. When the United States government does something, it does it right. You know that, Dan. Who used to live here? An important Nazi general and his wife, sir. Well, let's see. Is there anything else Judge Haywood ought to know? Sir, any questions? Yes, yes. You're West Point, aren't you, Captain? Yes, sir. What's your first name? Harrison. Harry. Well, Harry, look, I'm not West Point. And all this formality kind of gets me down a little. Not to say, puts
5:49 me ill at ease. Do you think it would be too much of an infraction of the rules if you were to call me Judge or Dan or something? Okay, Judge. We do all our shopping at the army commissary. There isn't enough food at the local markets for the Germans. The driver knows where the commissary is. Here's a copy of the indictment of the case. I thought you might want to look it up. I hope you'll be comfortable here, sir. Captain, I think the whole state of Maine would be comfortable here. My office is next to yours at the Palace of Justice if you need anything. Thank you. Senator? Do you think I really need the three servants? It kind of makes me feel like a damn fool. Well, it helps them out as well as you. You see,
6:34 here they eat. Well, I need three servants. It's good to have you here, Dan. Good to have a man of your stature here. Sure, sure. I was the only man in America qualified for this job. Senator, you know I wasn't the first choice, nor even the tenth. You know it, and I know it. What do you mean? Well, let's face it. Hitler is gone, Goebbels is gone, Goering is gone, committed suicide before they could hang him. Now we're down to the business of judging the doctors, businessmen and judges. Some people think they shouldn't be judged at all. So? So it makes for a hell of a lack of candidates for the job. You had to beat the backwoods of Maine to come up with a hick like me. I hope you're not sorry you came. No, I'm not sorry I came. I just wanted you to know that I know where the body's buried. No, I
7:22 think the trial should go on. Especially the trials with the German judges. I hope I'm up to it. You're up to it. Well, relax. Thanks. Enjoy this place while you can. You're gonna be a pretty busy fellow. Well, thanks, Senator. Thanks for everything. See you tomorrow, Judge. Bye. So will you take these upstairs? Oh, yes, yes. Thank you. Here, I can take that one, but... No, no. Let me take it. Please.
9:05 The tribunal is now in session. God bless the United States and this honorable tribunal. The tribunal will now arraign the defendants. The microphone will be placed in front of the defendant, Emil Hahn.
9:58 Emil Hahn, are you represented by counsel before this tribunal? Emil Hahn, are you appointed by a judge for this court? Not guilty. The question was, are you represented by counsel before this tribunal? I am represented. How do you plead to the charges and specifications and the indictment against you? Guilty or not guilty? Not guilty on all counts. Friedrich Hofstetter. Are you represented by counsel before this tribunal? I am represented. How do you plead? Guilty or not guilty? You may be
10:46 seated. Wunderlampy. Are you represented by counsel before this tribunal? Counsel? Yes, yes, of course, I am represented. How do you plead to the charges? Guilty or not guilty? Nicht schuldig. You may be seated. Ernst Janning. Ernst Janning, are you represented by counsel before this tribunal?
12:04 I represent the defendant, Your Honor. How do you plead to the charges and specifications set forth in the indictment against you? Guilty or not guilty? Your Honor, may I address the court? The defendant does not recognize the authority of this tribunal and wishes a larger formal protest in lieu of pleading. A plea of not guilty will be entered.
12:57 It will begin its opening address. Slow and easy, Junior. The case is unusual... in that the defendants are charged with crimes committed in the name of the law. These men, together with their deceased or fugitive colleagues, are the embodiment of what passed for justice during the Third Reich. The defendants served as judges during the period of the Third Reich. Therefore, you, Your Honors, as judges on the bench,
13:47 will be sitting in judgment of judges in the dock. And this is as it should be. For only a judge knows how much more a court is than a courtroom. It is a process and a spirit. It is the house of law. The defendants knew this too. They knew courtrooms well. They sat in their black robes and they distorted, they perverted, they destroyed justice and law in Germany. The prosecution will please watch the light. The interpreter cannot follow you. I'm sorry, Your Honor. They distorted, they perverted, they destroyed justice and law in Germany.
14:37 Now, this in itself is undoubtedly a great crime. But the prosecution is not calling the defendants to account for violating constitutional guarantees or withholding due process of law. The prosecution is calling them to account for murder. Brutalities torture atrocities. They share with all the leaders of the Third Reich responsibility for the most malignant, the most calculated, the most devastating crimes in the history of all mankind. And they are perhaps more guilty than some of the others. For they had attained maturity long before Hitler's rise to power. Their minds weren't warped at an early age by
15:27 Nazi teachings. They embraced the ideologies of the Third Reich as educated adults when they, most of all, should have valued justice. Well, here they'll receive the justice they denied others. They'll be judged according to the evidence presented in this courtroom. The prosecution asks nothing more. Herr Rolf will make the opening statement for the defense.
16:19 Who is the court? My Mr. Richter. May it please the tribunal. It is not only a great honor, but also a great challenge for an advocate to aid this tribunal in its task. The entire civilized world will follow closely what we do here. For this is not an ordinary trial by any means of the accepted parochial sense. The unerkannte sinn dieses Gerichts... The avowed purpose of this tribunal... ...is broader than the visiting of retribution on a few men. It is dedicated... ...to
17:07 the re-consecration... ...of the temple of justice. It is dedicated to finding a code of justice... ...the whole world will be responsible to. How will this code be established? will be established... in a clear, honest evaluation... of the responsibility for the crimes in the indictment stated by the prosecution. In the words of the great American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes... this responsibility will not be found only in documents that no
17:52 one contests or denies... It will be found in considerations of a political or social nature. It will be found, most of all... in the character of men. What is the character of Ernst Janning? Let us examine his life for a moment. He was born in 1885. Received the degree of Doctor of Law in 1907. became a judge in East Prussia in 1940. Following World War I, he became one of the leaders of the Weimar Republic and was one of the framers of its democratic constitution. In subsequent years, he achieved international fame, not only for his work as a
18:37 great jurist, but also as the author of legal textbooks which are still used in universities all over the world. He became Minister of Justice in Germany in 1935. If Ernst Janning is to be found guilty, certain implications... It must arise. A judge does not make the laws. He carries out the laws of his country. The statement, my country, right or wrong, was expressed by a great American patriot. It is no less true for a German patriot. Should Ernst Janning have carried out the laws of his country... or should he have
19:27 refused to carry them out and become a traitor? This is the crux of the issue at the bottom of this trial. The defense is as dedicated to finding responsibility... as is the prosecution. For it is not only Ernst Janning who is on trial here... The tribunal will recess until further notification.
20:42 with you, the buyers can file these briefs later. That was quite a damning speech by Colonel Lawson, wasn't it? I wonder if those men in the dock can really be responsible for the things he listed in the indictment. Well, I've been here for two years, and after you hear that long, you'll find that responsibility is not a cut and dried thing. What are you fellows up to over the weekend? My wife and I are going to Liege. Nothing in Liege. I've been there. My son was in the 101st. He's buried in the American cemetery outside Liege. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, it's all right. See you Monday, Dan. Coming my way? No, I'm gonna stay here for a moment. I'm waiting for some
21:28 records from Bynes. Right. What reports you asked for, sir? Oh, thank you. Captain, do you think you could get me a copy of the books Ernst Johnning wrote? There are quite a few of them. I'd like all of them. And also a copy of the Weimar Constitution. Do you think you could get that for me? Yes, of course. Thank you. How long have
22:17 you been here, Captain? Two years. Two years? That's a long time. Yes, sir. Any friends? Sure. German friends? Yes. Gerald? Yes. Her parents were Nazis, but she was eight years old when they came in. I didn't ask you that. I know, but maybe you were thinking it. It's natural to think about it. I thought if anybody was going to indoctrinate her, it might as well be me. Will there be anything else? No, no. I think I'll just take a walk around town on my own. Try the old section. Everybody stops for a beer and a sausage there. Thank you.
24:28 Goodbye Grandeur.
25:49 I have some friends who have contact with the American authorities. I can tell them if they're not treating you all right. They are treating me all right. Dr. Janning... we are both in an embarrassing position. I know you didn't want me as your counsel. I know you didn't want anyone. But I must tell you something. Will you listen to me? Yes. I intend to represent your case with complete dignity. There will be no... appeal to your sentiment. There will be no falling at the mercy of the
26:34 court. The game... will be played according to their own rules. We'll see whether they have the courage to sit in judgment on a man like you. The way I see it, the most important elements in the case are the sterilization decrees and the Felsenstein-Hoffmann affair. Herr Dr. Janning, I must tell you something. I admired you. since I was a boy in the university.
27:23 It was because I thought I might be able to achieve some of the things you have done that... saw me through the war. You have been somebody to look up to for all of us. Is that all, Hérold? Yes. Thank you. Dr. Wieck, do you know the defendant Ernst Janning?
28:10 Yes, I know him. Will you tell us in what capacity? We served in the Minister of Justice together from 1929 till 1935. Did you know him before that? Yes. He was a law student of mine. Did you know him well? Yes. Was he a protege of yours? Yes. Why? He was always a man of great intelligence. He was a man born for the qualities of a great legal mind. Dr. V, would you, uh... Would you tell us from your own experience The position of the judge in Germany, prior to the advent of Adolf Hitler. The
28:55 position of the judge was one of complete independence. Mm-hmm. Now, would you describe the contrast, the event, after the coming to power of National Socialism in 1933? Judges became subject to something outside of objective justice. They became subject to what was necessary for the protection of a country. Would you explain this, please? The first consideration of the judge became the punishment of acts against the state, rather than objective consideration of the case. And what other changes were there? The right to appeal was eliminated. The Supreme Court of the Reich was replaced by
29:43 peoples and special courts. The concept of race was made a legal concept for the first time. And what was the result of this? The result? The result was to hand over the administration of justice into the hands of the dictatorship. Now, Dr. Deegan... Colonel Lawson, I'd like to ask a few questions. Did the judiciary protest these laws abridging their independence? A few of them did. Those who did resign, were forced to resign. Others... adapted themselves to the new situation. Do you think the
30:30 judiciary was aware of the consequences to come? At first, perhaps not. Later, it became clear to anyone who had eyes and ears. Thank you. Now, would you please describe for us the changes in criminal law? It was characterized by an ever-increasing inflation of the death penalty. Sentences were passed against defendants just because they were Poles or Jews or politically undesirable. Novel national socialist measures were deduced, among them, Sexual sterilization for those who were categorized as asocial. Did it become necessary for judges to
31:19 wear any distinctive mark on their robes in 1935? The so-called Führer's decree required judges to wear the insignia of the swastika on their robes. Did you wear such an insignia? No. I would have been ashamed to wear it. Did you resign in 1935? Yes, sir. Did Ernst Janning wear a swastika on his robe? Yes. That's all? Thank you. Here Rolf.
32:07 You sit, Dr. Wick. You used the phrase, what was necessary for the protection of the country. Would you explain for the tribunal the conditions in Germany at the time National Socialism came to power? What conditions? Would you say there was widespread hunger? Yes. Would you say there was internal disunity? Yes. Was there a Communist Party? Yes. Was it the third largest party in Germany? Yes. Would you say that... National Socialism helped to cure... some of these conditions? Yes, but at a terrible price, and I... Please, confine yourself to answering the questions only.
32:58 Therefore, was it not possible that a judge might wear a swastika and yet work for what he thought was best for his country? No, it was not possible. Dr. Wieck, you were not in the administration from the years 1935 to 1943 by your own admission. Is it not possible that your view of the administration might be distorted? No, it is not. How can you testify about what was going on in the administration if you were not there? I had many friends in the legal administration. There were journals and books.
33:49 From journals and books? That's it. Dr. Wick, you referred to novel National Socialist measures introduced, among them sexual sterilization. Are you aware that sexual sterilization was not invented by National Socialism, but had been advanced for years before as a weapon in dealing with the mentally incompetent and the criminal. Yes, I'm aware of that. Are you aware that it has advocates among leading citizens in many other countries? I'm not an expert on such laws. Then permit me to read one to you. This is a High Court
34:35 opinion upholding such laws in existence in another country. I quote. We have seen more than once... that a public welfare may call upon the best citizens for their lives. It would be strange, indeed, if it could not call upon those... who already sapped the strength of the state for these lesser sacrifices... in order to prevent our being swamped by incompetence. It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate upsprings for crime... or to let them starve for their imbecility... society can prevent their propagation by medical means in the first place. Three generations of imbeciles
35:24 are enough. You recognize it now, Dr. Wieck? No, sir, I don't. Actually, there's no particular reason you should. Since the opinion of wholesale sterilization law in the state of Virginia, of the United States, and was written and delivered by that great American jurist, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. Now, Dr. Wieck, in view of what you have just learned, can you still say that sexual sterilization was a novel national socialist measure? Yes, I
36:13 can say it. Because it was never before used as a weapon against political opponents. Do you personally know of a case where someone was sterilized for political reasons? I know that such things were done. That's not the question. Please answer the question. Do you know of a case? I don't know of any specific case or specific date. I am asking you if you have any first-hand personal knowledge of such a case. No. I have no such personal knowledge. Thank you.
36:58 Dr. Wieck. You are aware of the charges in the indictment against Bernst Janning. Can you honestly say he's responsible for them? Yes, I can. Do you consider yourself free of responsibility? Yes, I do. Dr. Wick, did you ever swear to the civil servant loyalty oath of 1934?
37:44 Your Honor, I object. The witness doesn't have to answer that question. He's not on trial. All Germany's on trial, Your Honor. This tribunal placed it on trial when he placed Ernst Janning on trial. If responsibility is to be found, the widest latitude is to be permitted. Objection overruled. Did you ever swear to the civil servant Lloyd the oath of 1934? Everyone did. We are not interested in what everyone did. We are interested in what you did. Would you read the oath from the Reisler Gazette, March 1933? I swear that I shall be obedient to the leader of the German-Reishan people, Adolf Hitler, that I shall be loyal to him, that I will observe the laws, and
38:32 that I will conscientiously fulfill my duties. So help me God. Everyone swore to it. It was mandatory. You're such a perceptive man, Dr. Wieck. You could see what was coming. You could see that National Socialism was leading Germany to disaster. It was clear to anyone who had eyes and ears. Didn't you realize what it would have meant... if you, a man like you, would have refused to swear to the oath? It would have meant... that Hitler could never have come to absolute power. Why didn't you?
39:22 Dr. Vick, why didn't you? Can you give us an explanation? Has it something to do with your pension? Did your pension mean more to you than your country? Your Honor, I object to the entire line of questioning and ask her to be stricken from the record. I thought prosecuting counsel was dedicated to finding responsibility. Your Honor, I made an objection. Prosecution is not interested in finding responsibility. There's responsibility for more here than swearing to a loyalty oath, and you know it. There is indeed. One thing that even the German machine, with its monumental efficiency, has been unable to destroy. Order. Order. All the victims, more victims than the world has ever known. They'll walk into this courtroom and show you... Order. Order. The tribunal will
40:10 admonish both counsel. It will tolerate nothing of this kind again. We're not here to listen to outbursts of this kind, but to serve justice. Your Honor, I made an objection. The objection is overruled. The witness is excused.
40:58 Did you ever read any books by Yanni? No, don't think so. The meaning of the law. How is it? Interesting? All the books by Yanni are interesting. They're more than that. They're a picture of an era. Hopes, aspirations. They weren't very different from ours, really. Listen to this on the signing of the Weimar Constitution. Now we can look forward to a Germany without guns and bloodshed. A Germany of justice where men can live instead of die. A Germany of purpose, of freedom, of humanity. A Germany that calls for the best in man. Now, how could a man who wrote words like these be part of sterilizations and murders? How could he be? Dan, there are a lot of things that happen here that nobody understands. I know.
41:43 But the prosecution is going to have to prove every inch of its allegation against a man like Janning if I'm to pronounce sentence on him. Well, gentlemen, I'm on my way. Coming, Kent? Right. Well, there's just this business on the containment of rights. Tomorrow. Dan, my wife's planning a little get-together tomorrow night at the Grand Hotel. She wants you to come. All right, thank you. And she'd like to provide you with some kind of female companionship. She has a feeling that you might be lonely here. Oh, no. No, thanks, Curtis. Thanks for... You know how these wives are. They love to play Cupid. Well, I think I'll keep it staying, Curtis. All right. How about you, Ken? Thanks. My wife and I have an engagement. Good
42:49 night. Good night. Good night, Dan. Good night. Mrs. Halstead, could I... Hello. This is Madame Bertold. This is his honor, Judge Haywood. Madame Bertold, this is her house. She came to get some of her belongings from the basement. I didn't know she was coming tonight. This is my responsibility, Mrs. Halberstadt. I've been storing some of my things here until I could get a room large enough to keep them in. I hope you don't mind. No, no, not at all. You can examine what I have here if you like. Of course not. Then I'll just take these out. Thank you, Mrs. Halbors. No, no, no, I can manage it. I'll just take her outside, please. Good night,
43:37 citizen. It's heavy. It's full of books and pictures. Things that mean nothing to anyone but me. Mr. Schmidt, Your Honor. Can I drive Mrs. Bertholdt home, please? Yes, Your Honor. I hope you're comfortable here. Yes, I am. Very. My favorite spot was always the garden. Remind Mr. Halberstadt to take good care of the rock garden. You'll get a great deal of pleasure out of it in summer. I'll sit in front, thank you. Good night. Good night. Karolinsstraße 115, please. Yes, madam.
44:50 Sit down. Mrs. Halmstedt, you worked for Mrs. Berthold, didn't you? Yes, Your Honor. How long did she live here? Madame Berthold? Madame Berthold and her family have lived here for many generations, Your Honor. Thank you. Your Honor, you came in here for something? Oh, oh, yeah. Well, I'm just gonna make myself a sandwich. Oh, we will make it for you. We will make you anything you want. No, no, it's nothing. I always used to do it for myself back home. What would you like? I have some ham and cheese and liverwurst. Oh, cheese will be fine. Yeah. That's very kind of you.
45:41 Mr. Halberstadt. What was it like living under National Socialism? What was it like? Yes, I mean, day to day. You know, I know many people at home like you. You're good people. I believe that. What was it like for you living under Hitler? We were not political. Mr. Halberstadt and I are not political. And last for the march, please. Yeah, yeah. No, but... You must have been aware of some of the events that were going on. Any things were going on, Mr. Hubbard? There was parades. Hitler, Debbels came here every year. What was it like?
46:31 We never attended meetings. Never. I'm not trying to put you on trial. I'm just curious. I'd like to know. I'll get your sandwich, Your Honor. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. For instance, there was a place called Dakal, which was not too many miles from here. Did you ever know what was going on there? We knew nothing about it. Nothing about it. How can you ask if we knew anything about that? Your Honor, we are only little people. We lost a son in the
47:22 army... and our daughter in the bombing. During the war, we almost starved. It was terrible for us. I'm sure it was. Hitler... Hitler did some good things. I won't say he didn't do some good things. He built the autobahn. He gave more people work. We won't say he didn't do some good things. But the... the other things... the things they say he did to the Jews and the rest, we knew nothing about that. Very few Germans did.
48:12 And if we did know... Could we do? But Mrs. Halberstedt said you didn't know. Mrs. Berthold, how did she react to all this? Madame Berthold is a very fine woman, Your Honor. I'm sure she is. What about her husband? He was in the army. He was one of the defendants in the Malmedy case. General Berthold. Carl Berthold. He was
48:59 executed, Your Honor. Yes, I knew that. The document then states that the photographer, Rudolf Lenz, is requested to present himself within two weeks at one of the hospitals mentioned below for medical treatment. Next, prosecution presents affidavit document number 488, which concerns the seamstress Annie Munch. Document reads as follows. District Court, Frankfurt-on-Mine, has decided the following. The seamstress Annie Munch, daughter of Dilhelm Munch, is to be sterilized. She's therefore requested to present herself within two weeks at one of the hospitals mentioned below. If she does not take herself voluntarily, she will be taken
49:47 by force. Next, document number 449, interrogatories in the German and English text concerning the farmer's helper, Meyer Eichenscher. Your Honor! Defense objects to introduction of these repetitive documents. According to the ruling of the first tribunal, such documents are not even admissible unless supported by independent evidence of their authenticity. Objection sustained. Your Honor, may I ask the defense a question? Yes. Would evidence on sterilization be admissible if there were a witness?
50:41 Thank you. Prosecution calls the witness Rudolph Peterson. Raise your right hand. I swear by God, the Almighty and Omniscient, that I will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing. Yes, I do.
51:37 Will you please tell the court your full name and... When were you born, Mr. Peterson? May 20, 1914. And what is your occupation? I'm a baker's helper. Are your parents living? No. What were the causes of their deaths? Did they die of natural causes? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, natural. Now, Mr. Peterson, what political party did your father belong to?
52:26 Communist. The Communist Party. Uh-huh. Now, now think back. Do you remember anything unusual that happened to you and your family in 1933? before the Nazis came to power. I mean, anything of a violent nature. Yeah, yeah. How old were you at the time? Nineteen. Would you please tell the court what happened? Some... some S.A. men broke into the house, our house. And they broke the windows and the door and... They called us traitors.
53:16 And they tried to... to beat up my father. And what happened then? My brothers and I, we went to help him. And there was a fight. And finally we got them outside in the street. And we beat them up. And turned them over to the police. Did the police do anything about it? No. Why not? It was then, at the time of the... of the national elections. Oh, yes. You mean the time the National Socialists came to power? Yeah. Now, Mr. Peterson, what happened after 1933? After the Nazis came to power?
54:06 I got a job on a farm, but for the work, to drive a truck. It was necessary. I went to the city building to apply for a license. And what happened there? They took me to an official. Did you ever have any dealings with this official before? He was one of the men who broke into our house that night. What did he say to your application? He said an examination there would have to be. Where was the examination to take place? In the district court of Stuttgart.
54:53 Who was the presiding justice in the court? Justice Hofstetter. Now, what happened in the courtroom? They asked me my full name and... What else did they ask you? They asked me when Adolf Hitler and Dr. Goebbels were born. What did you reply? I told them I didn't know and also that I didn't care. Did they ask you any more questions? No, they told me that I would be
55:43 hearing from them in 10 days. I see. Now, Mr. Peterson, I'd like you to look at something. Do you recognize it? Yeah. Would you please read it? District Court of Stuttgart. The baker Rudolf Pedersen, born May 29, 2014. Son of railway employee Hans Pedersen... is... to be
56:32 sterilized. Now, would you read the last paragraph? Therefore, he will present himself within two weeks... to one of the hospitals mentioned below. If he does not... betake himself voluntarily... he will be taken by force. Now, please read the signature at the bottom.
57:21 Would you read what is written below the signature? Below? Below. By authority of... ...Anstianning... ...Minister of Justice. Your Honor, I have to ask you... May the defense see the file of Mr. Peterson? What did you do after you received the letter, Mr. Peterson? I ran away. I stayed at the farm of a friend I have. And did you return? Did I what? Did you return? Yes. And what happened then?
58:09 The police came. The police came. Where did they take you? Excuse me, I wonder if you could speak a little louder, please. To the hospital. And what happened at the hospital? They kept me there. The nurse who was... Well, she came in anyway. She was to prepare me for the operation. And she said she thought the whole thing was terrible. And then the doctor came in who was supposed to do the... And he said he
59:00 thought it was awful. Were you, in fact, sterilized? Thank you very much, Mr. Peterson. Herr Rolf. Mr. Peterson. You may take your earphones off now, if you want to.
59:50 Mr. Peterson, you say you work as a baker's helper. That correct? Yes, that's right. What other occupations have you held? I have worked for my father. What did your father do? He was a railroad worker. Yes, but what did he do? He would graze and lower the barrier. at the crossing for traffic. And you spoke about your brothers. How many brothers do you have? Five. And sisters? Four. Then you are a family of ten. Yes.
1:00:41 What occupations do your brothers have? Labourers. All labourers? Mr. Peterson, you said the court at Stuttgart asked you two questions. The birth dates of Hitler and Dr. Goebbels. That correct? Yes, correct. What else did they ask you? Nothing else. Are you sure? Are you sure there were no questions about your schooling? Objection! The witnesses already answered that question.
1:01:31 May I ask you, Mr. Peterson? May I ask you... how long did you attend school? Six years. Six years. Why not longer? I had to go to work. Will you consider yourself a very bright fellow at school? At school? It was... It was a long while ago. I don't... Perhaps you were not able to keep up with the others, and that's why you did not continue. Objection, Your Honor. The witness's school record has nothing to do with what happened to him. It was the
1:02:18 task of the health court to sterilize the mentally incompetent. Rejection overruled. Were you able... or were you not able... to keep up with the others? I would like to refer to the efficiency report made at the school about Mr. Peterson. He failed to be promoted and was placed in a class of backward children. You say your parents died of natural causes? Yes. Would you
1:03:06 describe in detail the illness your mother died of? She died of her heart. In the last stages of her illness, did your mother show any... mental peculiarities? Of men? No. No. In the decision that came down from Stuttgart, It is stated that your mother suffered from hereditary feeble-mindedness. That is not... That's not true. Not true. Not true. Can you give us some clarification as to how the hereditary health court in Stuttgart arrived at that decision? It was just something they said to put me on the operating table. It was just something they said?
1:03:51 Yes. Mr. Peterson, there was a simple test that the health court used to ask in all cases of mental incompetence. Since you say they did not ask you then, perhaps you can answer it for us now. Form a sentence out of the words, Herr Hunter Field. Your Honor, objection. Mr. Peterson, was the court in Stuttgart constituted like this one? I don't understand, but... Was there an audience? An audience? Yes, yes.
1:04:38 Thank you. Objection overruled. Herr... Hunter... Field, Mr. Peterson. Take your time. They had already made up... When I walked into the court, they had made up their minds. They had made up their minds! They put me in the hospital like a criminal. I could not say anything. I could not do anything. I...
1:05:31 I had to lay there. My mother, what you say about her. She was a woman, a servant woman who worked hard. She was a hard-working woman. And it is not serious, not serious what you say. I want to show you, I have here her picture. I would like you looked at it.
1:06:19 I would like you to judge. I want that you tell me, was she feeble-minded? Is he feeble-minded? What's he? I feel it is my duty to point out to the tribunal... that the witness is not in control of his mental processes. I know I am not. Since that day. Hath I've
1:07:09 ever been. The tribunal does not know how you were before. It can never know. It has only your word.
1:08:05 It's filled with young radicals like Lawson. Is that what Lawson is, a young radical? Well, he was a personal protege of FDR. Well, FDR had a few friends who weren't radicals, didn't he? Name one. Well, Wendell Wolke. Wolke. Is he your idea of a conservative? As a matter of fact, Dan, I've been wondering how you stand. Well, I'll clarify that for you, Curtis. I'm a rock. who thought that Franklin Roosevelt was a great man. No. One of those. Oh, Max. Max Perkins. Do you know him? No, I don't think so. He's with the United Press. Max,
1:08:55 what are you doing here? I thought you might kick up a row or something. I haven't had that much to drink. Oh, I'm sorry. This is Judge Ives. Hello. Mrs. Ives? How do you do? I'm Judge Haywood. Mrs. Berthold. We have minutes. Yes, we have. Won't you join us for a drink? I would like to very much. Max, we sit here. Thank you. Incidentally, Max, I admired your article on Mrs. Berthold very much. It was straight reporting. Her defense of her husband was quite eloquent. Are you going to do a story on these trials? I'll tell you something frankly, Judge. For a moment, I couldn't give a story away on the Nuremberg trials. What do you mean, Mr. Perkins? The American public just isn't interested anymore. War's only been over two years, Mr. Perkins. That's right. May I take your order, please?
1:09:45 Yes, see what the ladies will have. How about some more beer, Dan? No, no, no, I think I've had my fill of beer. I'd like to try something else, if I may. Why don't you try some Sonnenberg or some Schwalbenwinkel? It's the local wine. Sonnenberg or? Schwalbenwinkel. I think I'd like that. Some fries and binko. Do you have some? Yes, thank you. I have the same. Shall we stay with the beer, Max? Fine. Thank you. Thank you. You got home all right the other night? Oh, yes, thank you. I don't know what I would have done without the car. You speak English very well, Mrs. Puffman. Thank you. My husband and I spent two years in America. I hope you had a chance to see something of Nuremberg. Well, I'm afraid mainly
1:10:35 the road between my house and the Palace of Justice. And then some places that have to do with the case, historical aspects. The Nazi aspects. You should see some of the other parts of Nuremberg. There are many beautiful things to see in the old part of town. Museums we are trying to rebuild. And there's a concert, a piano concert next week at the old Opera House. Arthur Reis. He was a refugee from Hitler in the early days. We've persuaded him to come back. It ought to be quite an evening. Would you like to come? Yes, I would. I'll tell them to leave a ticket for you at the box office. I'm on the committee. Thank you very much, Mrs. Berthold. Oh, it's nothing. You see, I have a mission with the Americans, as Mr. Perkins can tell you. Oh? What is that?
1:11:25 To convince you that we are not all monsters. Good evening, Colonel. Good evening, Colonel, my graduates. Good evening, Mrs. Bertholdt. I hope you'll excuse me. But you've just come, Mrs. No, I must go. Please excuse me. It was awfully nice meeting you. If you really want to hear the concert, there'll be a ticket for you at the box office. Thank you. Good night. Good night. Good night, Mrs. Bertholdt. Thanks. Mrs. Berthold doesn't hold a burning passion for me. I prosecuted her husband. There are many people who think that a death
1:12:13 sentence would not have been passed against General Berthold today. Oh, I'm sure there are. I am sure there are people who think all the prisoners in Nuremberg should be free today. All of them. Let... Let... Excuse me. I've had, uh... I've had one or two too many. It might be painfully obvious to you gentlemen. The spectacle this afternoon with Mr. Peterson put me off my feet. I'm sorry. Three beer and Schwalbenwinkel, please. Prost. Prost. Schwalbenwinkel. Prost. Yeah, it's good beer. They make it good in this country. You know, You
1:13:03 know, there's one thing about Americans. We're not cut out to be occupiers. We're new at it and we're not very good at it. We come over here, what do we see? We see this beautiful country. It is beautiful, it's very beautiful. We see the culture that goes back for hundreds of years. We see its Gmutt Lake charm and the charm of people like Mrs. Bertholdt. We gotta build an inferiority complex. We forgive and forget easy. We give the other guy the benefit of the doubt. That's the American way. We beat the greatest war machine since Alexander the Great. And now the Boy
1:13:52 Scouts take over. The trouble with you, Colonel, is you'd like to indict the whole country. Now, that might be emotionally satisfying to you, but it wouldn't be. Practical and hardly fair. Hardly fair. Hare, hunter, field. That's right, let's be fair. The hare was shot by the hunter in the field. It's really quite simple. Do you think we ought to be going? Yes, we really shouldn't be discussing this.
1:14:37 Oh, no! No, Judge. We're fair Americans and true blue. We mustn't do anything that's out of order. No, sir, we can't do anything that's out of order. There are no Nazis in Germany, don't you know that, Judge? The Eskimos invaded Germany and took over. That's how all those terrible things happen. It wasn't the fault of the Germans. It was the fault of those damn Eskimos. Excuse me. Excuse me. Good night, Captain. Good night. Can I
1:15:27 have your attention, please? Sorry to interrupt your dancing. The following officers are requested to report to their units. Major McCarthy, Major Citron, Major Cantor, Captain Byers, Captain Connell, Captain Douglas, Captain Wolfe, Major Booth, and Major Rice. Thank you. You can continue dancing. Harry. What is it? The Russians have made their move in Czechoslovakia. This room in Masaryk committed suicide. We're sending some units up there. What do you think's going to happen? I don't know, sir. Judge Heywood. Elsa Scheffler. Kutnabin. Kutnabin. President Truman.
1:16:23 responded to the crisis by calling for an extension of military training. He stated that he is deeply concerned with the survival of the Western nations in face of the threat from the East. Threat from the East. Herr Janning, did you hear this? Herr Janning, did you hear what is in the paper? Exactly what Hitler said. The clash for survival between East and West. He knew. He knew. They'll see that we knew exactly what we were doing all the time. They cannot call us criminals and at the same time ask us to help them. We must stand together now. The most crucial part of this case is coming up. We have fallen on happy times, Herr Hart. In the old times, it would have made your day if I deigned to say good morning to you. Now that we are here in this place together,
1:17:12 you feel obliged to tell me what to do with my life. Herr Janning, you must stand with us. It is not good for Germans to turn on one another. We have a common ground now. Listen to me, Herr Hahn. There have been terrible things that have happened to me in my life. But the worst thing that has ever happened... is to find myself in the company of men like you. I have nothing in common with you and party hacks like you. You have something in common. You were part of that same regime. You stood by that regime, the same as the rest of us. And there's something else you have in common. You are a German.
1:19:28 I am a sailor, I am a sailor.
1:20:18 The German people love to sing, no matter what the situation. I've noticed that. Do American people sing in bars too? I have forgotten. No, we're apt to be pretty sullen in bars. I wish you understood German. The words are very beautiful. Very sad. much sadder than the English words. The German soldier knows he's going to lose his girl and his life.
1:21:05 The lantern burns every night. It knows your steps and the way you walk. It burns every night, but I've been long forgotten. Should harm come to me, who will stand with you? Under the lantern. With you, Lady Marlene. What is your life like in America? Do you have a family? Yes, I have a daughter. And she has four children. Four? You must be very proud of them. Yes, I am. I admit it. And where's your wife? I died a few
1:21:56 years ago. How about you? Do you have children? No, I don't. What is your position in America? It must be important. No, it isn't really. I'm a district court judge. I haven't even been that for the last year. Are you retired? Forcibly, by the electorate. You elect judges in the United States? Yes, in some states. I didn't know that. Well, it's either one of the virtues or one of the defects of our judiciary system. I thought it was one of the virtues until last year when I was defeated. I'm sure it was the fault of the electorate, not yours. Seems to be some difference of opinion about that. This is
1:22:44 where I live. Here? Yes. It's not so bad inside. Would you like to come up? I could make some coffee. Yes. Thank you. Things haven't been very easy for you, have they? I'm not used to them being easy. I'm not fragile, Judge Haywood. I'm a daughter of the military. You know what that means, don't you? No, I'm afraid I don't. It means I was taught discipline. A very special kind of discipline. For instance, when I was a
1:23:33 child, we used to go for long rides into the country in summertime. But I was never allowed to run to the lemonade stand with the others. I was told, control your thirst. Control hunger. Control emotion. It has served me well. And your husband? Was he of that heritage too? My husband was a soldier. He was brought up to do one thing. To fight in the battle and fight well. Is the coffee all right? Fine, thank you. but I always try to make it strong. It's fine.
1:24:21 I'm curious. What do you think of Ernst Janning? Mrs. Berthold, I... I really am not at liberty to discuss the case outside of the courtroom. Oh, yes, of course. We knew Ernst Janning a little. We used to attend the same concerts. I remember there was a reception given for Wagner's daughter-in-law. Hitler was there. Ernst Janning was there with his wife. She was very beautiful. Very small, very delicate. She's dead now. Hitler was quite taken with her. He made advances towards her during the reception. He used to do things like that
1:25:10 in a burst of emotion. I will never forget the way Ernst Janning cut him down. I don't think anybody ever did it to him quite that way. He said, Chancellor, I do not object so much that you are so ill-mannered. I do not object to that so much. I object that you are such a bourgeois. Hitler whitened, stared at Janning and walked out. Are you okay? Thank you. Men like Janning, my husband and I, we hated Hitler. I want you to know that. And he
1:25:56 hated us. He hated my husband because he was a real war hero. And the little corporal couldn't tolerate that. And he hated him because he married into nobility, which was my family. Hitler was in awe of the nobility, but he hated it. That's why it's so ironic what happened. You know what happened to my husband, don't you? Yes. What did he know of the crimes they cited him for? He was placed on trial with the other military leaders. He was part of the revenge the victors always take on the vanquished.
1:26:42 It's political murder. You can see that, can't you? Mrs. Bertolt, I don't know what I can see. I probably shouldn't be here talking with you about this at all, but... I want to understand. I do want to understand. Can
1:27:32 I have some more coffee? Yes, thank you. Hi. Hi. We found Irene Hoffman. Where? Berlin. Berlin, huh? She got married. Her name is Walner now. We had difficulty locating her. When's she coming? She's not coming. What do you mean she's not coming? She doesn't want to come. You know what it's like. I don't even want to testify anymore. If I catch her at midnight, I could... I could make it to Berlin and be back by tomorrow afternoon. Tad, you haven't had any sleep in tomorrow night. It'll be great if I can get Hoffman. Take over for me in court in the morning, will you?
1:29:12 I say it again now. We are through with all this. She does not have to go. You have no right to order her to go. Mr. Wallner, I'm not ordering her to go. I have no authority to order her to go. Do you think we get a medal for appearing at these trials? The people do not like them. They do not believe the Germans should testify against other Germans. Now, look, look, I haven't been prosecuting these cases for the past two years without knowing that. It's easy for you to say, go. After the trials, you will go back to America. But we must stay here and live with these people. Mr. Fowler, don't you think I realize what I'm asking? Then how can you come in here like a Gestapo man in the middle of the night? Because they must not be allowed to
1:29:59 get away with what they did. And you really think they won't get away with it in the end? I say, the hell with them and the hell with you. Hugo. Emil Han will be there? Yes. In the dock. Dance, Johnny. Yes.
1:30:48 You saw the store downstairs? Not much, but it's a new start for us. They will come if I go to Nuremberg. They will come and break the windows of the store. I'll place a guard in front of the store 24 hours a day. You do not have to go, Irene. He has no right to ask you to go. Irene, you do not have to go. for all those people who can't get up there on the stand themselves. You do not owe it to anybody, Irene. Yes, you do. You do not owe it to anybody. You owe it... You owe it to one person at least.
1:31:59 Somehow, it will come to this. Dr. Goida, do you recognize that headline? Yes, sir. Would you read it to the tribunal? Death to the race defiler. In what newspaper did it appear? Julius Streicher, der Stürmer. What was it in connection with? The Feldenstein case. What was the Feldenstein case? Your Honor, defense objects to introduction of the Feldenstein case. It is a notorious case, perhaps the
1:32:49 most notorious of the period. It has overtones and appeals to emotion that would perhaps be best not raised. There are no issues or overtones that may not be raised in this courtroom. The tribunal is interested in everything that is relevant. The objection is overruled. It's all right. I'll take it. May it please the tribunal? You may continue. Thank you. What was the Feldenstein case? The case of a man accused of racial
1:33:39 pollution. Will you explain what is meant by racial pollution? This is the charge that is referred to in the Nuremberg Laws. It says that any non-arium having sexual relations with anarium may be punished by death. When did you first become acquainted with the Feldenstein case? In September 1935, I was contacted by the police. They said that Mr. Feldenstein was being held and that he requested that I serve as his counselor. What position did he hold in the community? He was a very well-known merchant. He was one of the heads of the Jewish congregation in Nuremberg. What was the
1:34:26 nature of the charge against him? He was accused of having intimate relations with a 16-year-old girl, Irene Hoffman. I see. And, uh, what did he say to you about the case? He said it was false. He said he knew the girl and her family a long time. He'd gone to visit her since they died. But there had never been anything of the kind charged between them. Now, Doctor, would you please tell the tribunal what happened then? He was indicted before the special court at Nuremberg. And where was this special court? It was right here.
1:35:12 This building. This very courtroom. Dr. Goethe, what were the circumstances surrounding the trial? It was used as a show place for National Socialism. This was the time of the September celebrations in Norenberg-Reilis. The courtroom was crowded. Back there, people were standing up. Julius Streicher was sitting in one of the front seats. And high officials of the Nazi party were all over. Doctor, would you please tell us what were your expectations for the trial in this climate? I expected the worst.
1:36:02 When I saw that Emil Hahn was the public prosecutor, he was a fanatic. His trials were always marked by extreme brutality. But I had one hope for the outcome. Because sitting on the judge's bench was Anne's yawning. His reputation was known throughout Germany. He was known to have dedicated his life to justice, to the concept of justice.
1:36:48 Thank you. That's all. Any questions? Thank you. No questions. The witness is excused. The prosecution calls to the stand... Irene Hoffman Valner. You raise your right hand. I swear by God, the almighty and omniscient, that I
1:37:36 will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing. I do. Will you please state your name to the tribunal? Irene Hoffman Wallner. Mrs. Wallner. Did you know Lehman Feldenstein? Yes. When did you first meet him? It was 1925 or 1926. I am not sure exactly. How old was he at this time? He was in his 50s. And how old was he at the time of his arrest? He was 65.
1:38:24 I see. What was the nature of your relationship? We were friends. Did you continue to see him after your parents died? Yes. Why? We were friends. He... He owned the building that I lived in. His business took him there quite often. Now, what did you say to the police... when they, uh, questioned you about having intimate relations with him? I told him it was a lie. Could you tell me who the public prosecutor was? Emil Hahn.
1:39:15 Did Emil Hahn question you? Yes. What did he say to you? He took me into a separate room where we were alone. He told me that it was no use to repeat my story... because no one would believe me. There had been a race defilement... and the only pardon for this was to kill the violator. He... he told me... that if I protected Mr. Feldenstein... that I would
1:40:03 be held under arrest for perjury. What did you reply to him? I... I told him what I had said again and again. I told him that I could not say anything else. I could not lie about someone who had been so kind to me. Were you held under arrest? Yes. Now, Mrs. Vallna, tell us... What was the manner in which Emil Hahn conducted the prosecution? He... He made a mockery of everything Mr. Feinstein tried to say in his own
1:40:50 defense. He held him up to ridicule whenever possible. What was the reaction of the audience? They laughed again and again. How long did the trial last? Mrs. Valner, how long did the trial last? Two days. Was the verdict passed at the end of the second day? Yes. What was the verdict? Guilty. And what was the sentence? Mr. Feldenstein was sentenced to be executed.
1:41:41 I was sentenced to be imprisoned for two years for perjury. Who was the presiding judge? Ernst Johnling. Were the sentences carried out? Thank you very much, Mrs. Falter. That's all. Any questions?
1:42:28 Your Honor, I would like to request that the witness... be kept available. We'll present further evidence on the Feldenstein matter... but it comes time for the defense to present its case. The witness will please hold herself so available. You make your excuse now.
1:43:20 Your Honours, I offer in evidence a decree signed by Adolf Hitler... directing that all persons accused or suspected of disloyalty... or resistance of any sort might be arrested secretly... with no notice to friends or relatives without any trial whatsoever... and put into concentration camps. I also offer a group of orders issued under that decree. Each one signed by one of the defendants... by which hundreds of persons were arrested and placed in concentration camps. Signed by Friedrich Hofstetter. Werner Lampe. Emil Hahn. Ernst Jani. Your Honors.
1:44:13 The defendants on trial here today did not personally administer the concentration camps. They never had to beat victims... or pull the lever that released gas into the chambers. But as the documents we've introduced into this case have shown... these defendants fashioned and executed laws... and rendered judgments. which sent millions of victims to their destinations. Major Adnitz. Your Honours, I would like to request that Colonel Lawson be sworn in as a witness. Granted. Thank you.
1:45:03 Will you raise your right hand? I swear by God, the Almighty and Omniscient, that I will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing. I do. Were you active in the United States Army in 1945 at the close of the war? Yes, I was. Were you in command of troops liberating concentration camps? I was. Were you in Dachau and Belsen? Yes. Were you present when the films we were about to see were taken? Yes, I was.
1:46:13 The map shows the number of and location of concentration camps... under the third wreck. Buchenwald concentration camp was founded in 1933. Its inmates numbered about 80,000. There was a motto at Buchenwald. Break the spirit. Break the heart. The ovens of Buchenwald. Evidence of last-minute efforts to dispose of bodies. The stoves were manufactured by a
1:47:03 well-known company... which also specialized in baking ovens. The name of the firm is clearly inscribed. An exhibit of by-products of Buchenwald... displayed for the local townspeople by an Allied officer. Brushes of every description. Shoes. Adults and children. Spectacles. Gold from teeth melted down, sent once a month... to the medical department of the Waffen SS. A lampshade... Skin being used for paintings. Many having an obscene nature.
1:47:55 The heads of two Polish laborers... shrunk into one-fifth their normal size. A human pelvis used as an ashtray. Children... They'd been tattooed to mark them for eventual extermination. Sometimes mercy was shown to the children. They were injected with morphia so they'd be unconscious when hanged. One of the doctors described how they'd then place ropes around their necks. And in the doctor's own words, like pictures, they were then hanged by hooks
1:48:48 The bodies of those who'd come in boxcars... without food and without air... who hadn't survived the journey to Dachau. Hundreds of inmates were used as human guinea pigs... for atrocious medical experiments. A witness at one of the executions at Dachau gave the following description. Inmates were made to leave their clothing on a rack. They were told they were going to take baths. Then the doors were locked. Tins of Cyclone B were released through the specially constructed apertures.
1:49:33 You could hear the groaning and the whimpering inside. After two or three minutes, all was quiet. The transports that had arrived included 90,000 from Slovakia. 65,000 from Greece. 11,000 from France. 90,000 from Holland. 400,000 from Hungary. 250,000
1:50:18 from Poland and Upper Silesia. and 100,000 from Germany. And this is what was filmed when British troops liberated Belsen concentration camp. For sanitary reasons, a British bulldozer had to bury the bodies as quickly as possible. of every occupied country of Europe. Two-thirds of the Jews of Europe exterminate them.
1:51:09 More than six million, according to reports from the Nazi's own figures. But the real figure... They show us those films. How dare they? We are not executioners. We are judges. You do not think it was like that, do you? There were executions, yes, but nothing like that. Nothing at all.
1:52:10 You and Eichmann. They say we killed millions of people. Millions of people. How could it be possible? Tell them. How could it be possible? It's possible. How? You mean, technically? It depends on your facilities. Say you have two chambers to accommodate 2,000 people apiece. Figure it out. It's possible to get rid of 10,000 in a half hour. You don't even need guards to do it. You can tell
1:52:55 them they're going to take a shower... and then instead of the water, you turn on the gas. It's not the killing that is the problem. It's disposing of the bodies. What's a problem?
1:54:04 I've got some work for the rebuilding committee. And I brought you some folders, so we can decide what you should see next. There's the Albrecht Dürer House and the museum. When do you think you would make it? Oh, any time. Would you like to order, Mero? What would you like? Can I help you with the manual? No, I don't think I'll have anything, thank you. A glass of juice for me, please. What's the matter? Nothing. I'm just not hungry, that's all. You know, it's... The last few days have meant a great deal to me.
1:54:54 How? Well, I don't think you realized what a provincial man I really am. I've been abroad just exactly once before this. That was when I was a doughboy in World War I. I used to pass places like this and wonder what they were like. They have meant a great deal to me, too. How? They gave me back the feeling I had of the Americans. The feeling I used to have when I wasn't your country. It's too bad this isn't a magazine story. Why? If it were a magazine story, two people like us, the rapidly aging jurist... The rapidly aging jurist and the
1:55:40 beautiful widow would transcend their difficulties and travel places either by land or by sea. I saw Mr. Perkins today. He told me they'd show those pictures in the courtroom. Colonel Lawson's favorite pictures. He drags them out at any pretext, doesn't he? Colonel Lawson's private chamber of horrors. Is that what you think we are? Do you think we knew of those things?
1:56:27 Do you think we wanted to murder women and children? Do you believe that? Do you? Mrs. Bertholdt, I don't know what to believe. Good God, we're sitting here drinking. How could you think that we knew? We did not know. We did not know. As far as I can make out, no one in this country knows. Your husband was one of the heads of the army. And he did not know. I tell you, he did not know. It was Himmler, it was Goebbels. The SS knew what happened. We did not know. Listen to me. There are things that
1:57:16 happened on both sides. My husband was a military man all his life. He was entitled to a soldier's death. He asked for that. I tried to get that for him. Just that, that he would die with some honor. I went from official to official. I begged for that. I begged for that. That he should be permitted the dignity of a firing squad. You know what happened. He was hanged with the others. And after that, I knew what it was to hate. I never left the house. I never left the room. I drank. I hated with every fiber of my being. I hated every American I've ever known. You can't live with hate. I know that.
1:58:08 Dan, we have to forget if we are to go on living.
1:59:34 Yesterday, the tribunal witnessed some films. They were... shocking films. Devastating films. As a German... I feel ashamed that such things could have taken place in my country. There can never be a justification for them. Not in generations. Not in centuries. But... I do think it was wrong. Indecent...
2:00:26 and terribly unfair of the prosecution. show such films in this case, in this court, at this time, against these defendants. And I cannot protest too strongly against such tactics. What is the prosecution trying to prove? Is he trying to prove that the German people as a whole were responsible for these events? Or that they were even aware of them? Because if he is... he's not stating facts. But he knows he's not.
2:01:20 The secrecy of the operations, the geographical location of the camps, the breakdown of communications in the last days of the war, and the exterminations rose into the millions, show only too clearly that he is not telling the truth. The truth is that his brutalities were brought about by the few extremists, the criminals. Very few Germans knew what was going on. Very few! None of us knew what was happening. the place is shown on these films. None of us!
2:02:08 But the most ironic part of it is... that the prosecution showed these films against these defendants. Men... who stayed in power for one reason only... to prevent worse things from happening. who is the braver man? The man who escapes or resigns in times of peril? Or the man who stays on his post at the risk of his own personal safety? The defense will present witnesses and letters and documents from religious and political refugees all over the world telling how Ernst Janning saved them from execution. The defense will show the many times was
2:02:56 able to effect mitigation of sentences, when without his influence, the results would have been
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