Trial of the major war criminals before the International Military Tribunal, Nuremburg, 14 November 1945-1 October 1946, Volume 19

This volume presents the official courtroom proceedings from the closing stages of the major war-crimes trial, covering sessions held from 19 to 29 July 1946. As defense counsel deliver their final pleas, the record follows their efforts to distinguish military duty from criminal intent, challenge the prosecution’s interpretation of events, and explain the actions of the accused within Germany’s wartime command structure.

The opening arguments focus on General Alfred Jodl, whose counsel examines his career, his appointment to the armed forces staff, and his relationship with Hitler and the Nazi Party. The testimony is formal, detailed, and closely reasoned, revealing the legal and moral questions confronting the Tribunal as it weighs responsibility for aggressive war and wartime conduct. Presented as a full courtroom transcript, this volume offers listeners a direct encounter with one of the defining legal proceedings of the twentieth century.