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Nuremberg Trials

The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals held in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II to prosecute leading Nazi officials and other defendants for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and related offenses.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals held in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II to prosecute leading Nazi officials and other defendants for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and related offenses. The main trial was conducted before the International Military Tribunal from 1945 to 1946, followed by additional U.S.-run trials in Nuremberg through 1949. They are widely regarded as a landmark in international criminal law.

Background

After World War II, the Allied governments created an international tribunal to prosecute major Nazi war criminals. The aim was to hold leading political and military figures accountable for atrocities committed during the war.

Main International Military Tribunal

The principal trial took place in Nuremberg from November 1945 to October 1946. It tried leading Nazi figures before judges from the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France.

Subsequent Nuremberg trials

After the main IMT case, the United States held 12 additional trials in Nuremberg between 1946 and 1949. These cases involved other German officials, military personnel, physicians, judges, and industrialists.

The Nuremberg Trials helped establish modern international criminal law by defining and prosecuting crimes against humanity and other wartime offenses. They are often described as a major precedent for later war-crimes tribunals and human-rights law.

Key facts

  • The main Nuremberg trial ran from November 1945 to October 1946 before the International Military Tribunal.
  • The tribunal used charges including crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy.
  • Additional U.S. military tribunals in Nuremberg continued from 1946 to 1949, trying 199 defendants with 161 convicted.
  • The trials influenced later developments in international law and postwar human rights norms.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the Nuremberg Trials as a foundational moment in postwar international justice, part of the legal framework that later informed war-crimes accountability and human-rights law in countries including Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What were the Nuremberg Trials?
They were post-World War II tribunals in Nuremberg, Germany, that prosecuted Nazi leaders and others for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
When did the Nuremberg Trials take place?
The main IMT trial ran from November 1945 to October 1946, and additional trials continued through 1949.
Who organized the Nuremberg Trials?
They were established by the four Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and France.
What charges were brought?
The main charges included crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit those crimes.
How many people were tried and convicted?
Across the Nuremberg proceedings, 199 defendants were tried, 161 were convicted, and 37 were sentenced to death.
Why are the Nuremberg Trials important?
They were a landmark in international justice and helped shape later legal standards for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

References

  1. The National WWII Museum — https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/nuremberg-trials
    Supports: Dates, main tribunal, defendants, charges, and later U.S. trials
  2. U.S. Department of State — https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nuremberg
    Supports: Allied creation of the IMT and the tribunal's purpose
  3. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nuremberg-trials
    Supports: Charges, judges, number of defendants, convictions, and subsequent trials
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/event/Nurnberg-trials
    Supports: Overall definition, timing, and historical framing
  5. History — https://www.history.com/articles/nuremberg-trials
    Supports: Series of trials, defendants, and significance for later international law