TLDR;
This video provides a detailed summary of the film "Judgment at Nuremberg," focusing on the trial of German judges accused of crimes against humanity during the Third Reich. It covers the arrival of Judge Haywood in Nuremberg, the courtroom proceedings, the testimonies, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters. Key points include the complexities of justice, individual responsibility within a corrupt system, and the long-lasting impact of the Nazi regime.
- Judge Haywood's arrival and initial impressions of Nuremberg.
- The opening statements and key arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defence.
- The testimonies of witnesses, including victims of sterilisation and former colleagues of the accused.
- The moral and political pressures influencing the trial and its outcome.
- Ernst Janning's confession and the final verdicts.
Arrival in Nuremberg [0:04]
Judge Dan Haywood arrives in Nuremberg to preside over the trial of four German judges accused of crimes against humanity. He is greeted by Captain Byers and shown his accommodation, a grand house previously owned by a Nazi general. Senator Paquette emphasizes the importance of the trial and the need for a man of Haywood's stature. Haywood expresses discomfort with the formality and the presence of servants, feeling like a "damn fool". The Senator acknowledges that Haywood was not the first choice for the job, highlighting the lack of candidates willing to judge German doctors, businessmen, and judges.
The Arraignment [7:52]
The tribunal begins with the arraignment of the defendants: Emil Hahn, Friedrich Hofstetter, Werner Lampe, and Ernst Janning. Each defendant is asked to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges against them. Janning's lawyer states that his client does not recognise the authority of the tribunal, leading to a plea of not guilty being entered on his behalf.
Opening Statements [12:57]
Colonel Lawson delivers the opening address for the prosecution, emphasising that the defendants are charged with crimes committed in the name of the law. He argues that these judges distorted justice during the Third Reich and are responsible for murder, brutalities, torture, and atrocities. Lawson highlights that the defendants were mature, educated adults who embraced Nazi ideologies, making them more culpable. Herr Rolf, for the defence, argues that the trial is dedicated to re-consecrating the temple of justice and finding a code of justice for the world. He asks the court to consider the character of Ernst Janning, a respected jurist before the Nazi era, and raises the question of whether Janning should have carried out the laws of his country or become a traitor.
After the First Day [20:42]
After the first day of the trial, Judge Haywood discusses the proceedings with Captain Byers. He requests copies of Ernst Janning's books and the Weimar Constitution. Haywood inquires about Byers's experiences in Nuremberg and whether he has any German friends. Byers mentions a German girl, Gerda, whose parents were Nazis, but she was only eight years old when they came into power. Haywood decides to take a walk around the old section of town.
Meeting with Janning [24:28]
Herr Rolf visits Ernst Janning in his cell. He acknowledges that Janning did not want him as counsel but insists on representing his case with dignity. Rolf states there will be no appeal to sentiment or falling at the mercy of the court. He identifies the sterilisation decrees and the Felsenstein-Hoffmann affair as the most important elements in the case. Rolf expresses his admiration for Janning, who has been a role model for many.
Testimony of Dr. Wieck [28:03]
Dr. Wieck, a former colleague of Ernst Janning, testifies about the independence of judges in Germany before Hitler's rise to power. He explains how judges became subject to the protection of the country rather than objective justice after 1933. Wieck describes the changes in criminal law, including the inflation of the death penalty and the introduction of sexual sterilisation for those deemed asocial. He confirms that judges were required to wear the insignia of the swastika on their robes in 1935 and that Janning wore it.
Cross-Examination of Dr. Wieck [31:57]
Herr Rolf cross-examines Dr. Wieck, questioning him about the conditions in Germany when National Socialism came to power, including widespread hunger and internal disunity. He suggests that National Socialism helped to cure some of these conditions, albeit at a terrible price. Rolf questions Wieck about his absence from the administration from 1935 to 1943 and whether his view might be distorted. He also challenges Wieck's assertion that sexual sterilisation was a novel National Socialist measure, citing similar laws in the United States. Rolf questions Wieck about his personal knowledge of cases where someone was sterilised for political reasons, to which Wieck admits he has no first-hand knowledge.
Further Questioning of Dr. Wieck [36:58]
Colonel Lawson questions Dr. Wieck about Ernst Janning's responsibility for the charges in the indictment, to which Wieck affirms his belief in Janning's guilt. Rolf then asks Wieck if he swore to the civil servant loyalty oath of 1934, which Wieck admits everyone did. Rolf questions Wieck about why he didn't refuse to swear the oath, suggesting it would have prevented Hitler from coming to absolute power. Lawson objects to the line of questioning, but the objection is overruled. The session ends with both counsel being admonished for their outbursts.
Judge Haywood's Reflections [40:58]
Judge Haywood discusses Janning's books with Captain Byers, noting they depict an era of hope and aspirations. He wonders how a man who wrote such words could be part of sterilisation and murders. Curtis Ives invites Haywood to a get-together at the Grand Hotel, offering female companionship, but Haywood declines.
Meeting Madame Berthold [42:49]
Haywood encounters Madame Berthold, the previous owner of his house, who is retrieving belongings from the basement. He learns that her husband was General Berthold, executed in the Malmedy case. Haywood has a conversation with the Halberstadts, his servants, about what it was like living under National Socialism. They claim to have been apolitical and unaware of the atrocities, though they acknowledge Hitler did some good things.
Sterilisation Documents [49:09]
The prosecution presents documents concerning sterilisation cases, but the defence objects to their admissibility without independent evidence of authenticity. The objection is sustained. Lawson asks if evidence on sterilisation would be admissible if there were a witness, leading to the calling of Rudolph Peterson as a witness.
Testimony of Rudolph Peterson [50:41]
Rudolph Peterson testifies about his experience of being sterilised. He recounts how, after being involved in a fight with SA men who broke into his house, he was later summoned to court when applying for a truck license. He was questioned about the birthdates of Hitler and Goebbels, which he didn't know. Peterson presents a document ordering his sterilisation, signed by Ernst Janning. He describes running away but being caught by the police and taken to a hospital where he was sterilised.
Cross-Examination of Rudolph Peterson [59:24]
Herr Rolf cross-examines Rudolph Peterson, questioning his educational background and his mother's mental health. Rolf reads from Peterson's school record, which indicates he was placed in a class for backward children. He also mentions that the decision from Stuttgart stated Peterson's mother suffered from hereditary feeble-mindedness. Rolf attempts to administer a simple test used by the health court to assess mental competence, but Peterson struggles to form a sentence. Peterson insists that the court had already made up their minds and that his mother was a hard-working woman.
Socialising and Reflections [1:08:05]
Judge Haywood attends a social gathering where he meets Mrs. Ives and Mrs. Berthold. He discusses the Nuremberg trials with Max Perkins, a journalist, who notes that the American public is no longer interested in the trials. Mrs. Berthold expresses her mission to convince the Americans that not all Germans are monsters. Colonel Lawson arrives, and Mrs. Berthold departs. Haywood, after having a few drinks, reflects on the American tendency to forgive and forget easily, and the difficulty of being occupiers.
The Crisis in Czechoslovakia [1:15:07]
News breaks of the Russian move in Czechoslovakia, causing concern among the American officers. Ernst Janning and other defendants discuss the news, with Janning noting the parallels to Hitler's rhetoric about the clash between East and West. He urges his fellow defendants to stand together.
Conversations and Coffee [1:19:28]
Judge Haywood visits Mrs. Berthold at her apartment. They discuss her life in America and her views on Ernst Janning. Mrs. Berthold recounts an incident where Janning publicly rebuked Hitler for his ill manners and bourgeois behaviour. She reveals that she and her husband hated Hitler, who in turn hated them. She describes her husband's execution and her subsequent hatred, but acknowledges that one cannot live with hate.
The Search for Irene Hoffman [1:27:18]
Colonel Lawson informs Judge Haywood that Irene Hoffman has been found in Berlin. Lawson travels to Berlin to persuade her to testify. Hoffman is reluctant to testify, fearing repercussions for her and her family. Lawson insists that they must not allow those responsible for the atrocities to get away with what they did.
The Feldenstein Case [1:31:59]
Dr. Goethe testifies about the Feldenstein case, in which a Jewish merchant was accused of racial pollution. He explains that the case was used as a show place for National Socialism, with Julius Streicher and other Nazi officials present in the courtroom. Goethe expresses his hope for a fair outcome because Ernst Janning was the presiding judge, known for his dedication to justice.
Testimony of Irene Hoffman Wallner [1:37:02]
Irene Hoffman Wallner testifies about her relationship with Lehman Feldenstein. She states that they were friends and that she continued to see him after her parents died. Hoffman recounts how Emil Hahn, the public prosecutor, pressured her to lie about her relationship with Feldenstein. She describes the mockery and ridicule Feldenstein faced during the trial and the guilty verdict that resulted in his execution and her imprisonment for perjury.
Evidence and Films [1:42:45]
The prosecution presents decrees signed by Adolf Hitler, directing the arrest and imprisonment of those suspected of disloyalty. They also offer orders signed by the defendants, leading to the arrest and placement of hundreds of people in concentration camps. Colonel Lawson is sworn in as a witness and introduces films depicting the horrors of Buchenwald and Belsen concentration camps. The films show the atrocities committed, including the ovens, by-products of the camps, and the mass graves.
Reactions to the Films [1:51:37]
The defendants react to the films with disbelief and denial. One defendant questions how it was possible to kill millions of people, while another provides a technical explanation of how it could be done. Judge Haywood and Mrs. Berthold discuss the films, with Mrs. Berthold expressing her disbelief that they knew about the atrocities. She recounts her husband's execution and her subsequent hatred, but acknowledges the need to forget in order to go on living.
Defence Arguments [1:59:34]
Herr Rolf argues that it was wrong and unfair of the prosecution to show such films against these defendants, who stayed in power to prevent worse things from happening. He states that very few Germans knew what was going on and that the brutalities were brought about by a few extremists. Rolf presents evidence of Ernst Janning's efforts to save people from execution and his personal physician being a non-Aryan. He argues that special considerations must be made in this case, as Janning's work was inspired by the endeavor to preserve justice.
The Feldenstein Case Re-examined [2:04:16]
The defence calls Mrs. Elsa Lindner, a cleaning woman, who testifies that she saw Miss Hoffman kissing Mr. Feldenstein and sitting on his lap. Irene Hoffman Wallner is recalled to the stand and questioned about her relationship with Feldenstein. She admits to continuing to see him, receiving gifts, kissing him, and sitting on his lap, but insists there was nothing wrong or ugly about it.
Janning's Confession [2:12:47]
During Irene Hoffman's testimony, Ernst Janning interrupts the proceedings and insists on making a statement. He admits that he would have found Feldenstein guilty whatever the evidence and that the trial was a sacrificial ritual. Janning confesses that they were not aware of the extermination of millions, but if they didn't know, it was because they didn't want to know. He condemns his fellow defendants and acknowledges that he is worse than any of them.
Defence's Final Plea [2:27:17]
Herr Rolf acknowledges Janning's guilt but argues that the world shares in that guilt. He questions the responsibility of the Soviet Union, the Vatican, Winston Churchill, and American industrialists who aided Hitler. Rolf concludes that Janning's guilt is the world's guilt, no more and no less.
Political Pressures [2:30:39]
Colonel Lawson and Senator Paquette discuss the political pressures surrounding the trial. Paquette emphasises the need for the help of the German people in the face of the threat from the East. Lawson insists that he will go to the limit and that no one will make him compromise his principles.
The Verdict [2:42:46]
The tribunal delivers its decision, finding the defendants guilty. Judge Haywood emphasises that the charge is conscious participation in a nationwide government-organised system of cruelty and injustice. He acknowledges that others must share the ultimate responsibility but states that the men in the dock are responsible for their actions. Haywood highlights the importance of justice, truth, and the value of a single human being. Emil Hahn, Friedrich Hofstetter, Werner Lampe, and Ernst Janning are sentenced to life imprisonment.
Aftermath [2:51:10]
Judge Haywood prepares to leave Nuremberg. He is visited by Herr Rolf, who suggests that the men he sentenced to life imprisonment will be free in five years. Haywood responds that to be logical is not to be right. Ernst Janning asks to see Haywood and gives him a record of his cases. Janning confesses that he never knew it would come to the atrocities that occurred and that Haywood's verdict was a just one.
