Nuremberg Trials and the Formation of the United Nations

The Nuremberg Trials

• Historical Context

  • Nazi regime meticulously documented horrors in concentration camps.
  • Post-war, Allies used these records as evidence for war crimes.

• Significance

  • Known as "The Greatest Trial in History."
  • Set a precedent for accountability during war.
  • Responsible for prosecuting Nazis for atrocities:
  • Murder of civilians
  • Herding into gas chambers
  • 1946: 22 high-ranking Nazis were put on trial in Nuremberg, Germany.

• Defendants

  • Many Nazi leaders committed suicide, or fled abroad.
  • Notably, Adolf Eichmann fled to Argentina and was later captured by Israeli intelligence, tried, and hanged in 1962 for war crimes.

• Eichmann's Defense at Trial

  • In a letter, he argued he was a "mere instrument," claiming he was following orders.

• Legal Reflection

  • Discussion on the acceptability of using "just following orders" as a defense.
  • Argument that superior orders do not exempt individuals from accountability for illegal actions.

Legacy of the Nuremberg Trials

• Impact on International Law
  • Initiated the development of international criminal law.
  • Led to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • Influenced the following documents:
  • Genocide Convention: aimed at preventing and punishing genocide.
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights: recognized human rights principles.

United Nations Formation

• Global Peace Initiatives

  • Post-WWII consensus to prevent future conflicts:
  • Creation of the United Nations (UN) advocated by F.D. Roosevelt and W. Churchill.

• Casualties of WWII

  • Approximately 60 million deaths, with over half being civilians.
  • Highlighted genocides:
  • Jews during the Holocaust
  • Ukrainians in Holodomor
  • Chinese during the Rape of Nanking

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

  • First international agreement focused solely on protecting human rights.
  • Eleanor Roosevelt played a significant role in its adoption.

Challenges Addressed by the UDHR

• Failures in Human Rights Protection
  • China (1958-62): Great Leap Forward led to 40 million deaths from forced labor and famine.
  • Cambodia (1975): Pol Pot's regime caused the deaths of up to 2 million through forced evacuations and executions.
  • Rwanda (1994): 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed in a 100-day genocide.
  • Bosnia (1995): Ethnic cleansing resulted in around 100,000 deaths.
  • Darfur (2003): Sudanese government carried out a genocide resulting in over 300,000 deaths.

Structure and Role of the United Nations

• Current Membership

  • Comprises 193 countries, each represented in the General Assembly where each country has one vote.

• Security Council

  • Comprised of five permanent members (USA, USSR, GB, France, China) who hold veto power.

• Main Purposes

  • Maintain international peace and security.
  • Develop amicable relations among nations.
  • Facilitate collaboration to address international issues.
  • Promote respect for human rights.

• Challenges Faced

  • Divergence in national laws and governance can complicate enforcement of international laws.
  • UN's authority to enforce international law relies on member agreements.