Nuremberg - Tyranny on Trial (1995)

World War II did not end on the battlefield, but in a courtroom in Germany. The Nuremberg Trials revealed the full scope of Nazi Germany's atrocities and ended in the execution of many of the top Nazi leaders. Follow the historic trials from accusations through executions. See how Nuremberg was the defining point for new principles in the laws of nations, with the war-time actions of defendants like Rudolph Hess and Hermann Goering the measuring sticks. Meet some of the men who were present at the trials, including the chief counsel for the prosecution, and hear how they planned the case against the defendants, knowing that the eyes of the world and the judgement of history watched their every move. And find out how the Trials established a new standard for atrocity "Crimes against Humanity."

An unprecedented trial

I'm generally no admirer of History Channel documentaries. They tend to be either sensationalistic or too sketchy--which, I suppose, is a necessary consequence of the television format. But "Nuremberg: Tyranny on Trial" isn't half bad.

This is primarily because of the generous footage of both the actual war trial itself as well as the vintage clips from World War II and the death camps. The narrative that accompanies the clips is sound so far as it goes, and the people interviewed--including author Whitney Harris--are articulate and knowledgeable. Special emphasis is properly given to the fact that the trial was breaking new ground, because up to that point there was no formal international law that under which to prosecute war criminals. Eventually, the American prosecution team decided that criminal conspiracy was the best approach. The British, French, and Russian teams supplemented this charge with more formal charges of crimes against humanity.

"Nuremberg" focuses exclusively on the conspiracy charge, which isn't surprising because the film focuses almost exclusively on the American prosecution team, virtually ignoring the other three. This is unfortunate, because the entire issue of crimes against humanity gets sidestepped.

Also overlooked is the significant fact that the Nuremberg Trial put natural law back on the map. The prosecutors held that certain acts constituted crimes against humanity even if they violated no positive law. In making this distinction, they invoked natural law (although not explicitly), the same move that the framers of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would make in a couple of years.

Overall, though, not a bad introduction to the trial. July 20, 2008

A bit to short

Overall this is a well made documentary. But 46 minutes is far to short to potray this important historical event. I think you need at least two programmes 92 minutes minimum for this topic. The other thing lacking is we never here these criminals talk with their own voices speaking German. Its very easy to have English subtitles below while Goering, Hoess and Ohlendorf testify. The latter person was not even shown in pictures! This would have added some more precense for the veiwer and it would get crystal clear for us what mentality these people actually had. This is something wich I think is greatly missed. For all of us who dont speak English as first language, a production like this should have English subtitles all over the programme as choice in the menu. Even if I like the style of how this documentary is done, with speakers voice together with floating images and filmstrips, I am also disapointed of this production. Its not going get more than three. November 12, 2007

Nuremberg - No Punishment Severe Enough

With the enormity of data available on the Nuremberg trials, a mere fifty minutes seems woefully inadequate. Yet The History Channel manages to give one a concise and informative view. The tragedy of what some call "The Rape of Europe" by Nazi Germany can never be understood in an hour. There are other movies and books in abundance for that. What this presentation does is whet one's appetite and perhaps that is enough. It does not examine others responsible for the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich as in the movie - "Judgment At Nuremberg". However in focusing on the essentials, it avoids redundance and any question of guilt of the men on trial.

While it is true that many Germans suffered in opposition to the NAZI party - again as shown in "Judgment At Nuremberg" - the majority of Germans did support the NAZIs nonetheless and are just as culpable as their leaders and their military. This fact is not mentioned in this documentary.

Of the note that some of those hanged - did not have their necks broken immediately but instead strangled for as much as twenty eight minutes one can feel no sympathy for them when aware of the millions who were tortured, enslaved, and so horribly murdered. In my opinion, no punishment was or could ever be severe enough. July 23, 2007

Well made!

I watched this special on the history channel about a week ago. The documentary tells the story of how the trial was put together, the problems during the trial and the aftermath (Sentences, how the trial holds up today, e.t.c). I would reccommend this video to anyone interested in history, particulary Nuremberg and other famous trials.

(Note: One fact I did not know before I watched this was that during the executions, instead of their necks snapping instantly, several of the convicted instead slowly strangled to death. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel alone took 28 mintues to die.) March 24, 2001

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