Study Notes on the Nuremberg Trials - General Rudenko's Opening Statement

Major War Criminals Trial

Historical Context

  • Trial Duration: November 14, 1945 - October 1, 1946

  • Location: Nuremberg, Germany

  • Publication Year: 1947

Opening Statement by General Rudenko (Soviet Union)

  • Date: February 8, 1946

  • Introduction: General Rudenko addresses the Tribunal as the Chief Prosecutor for the Soviet Union, acknowledging the historical importance of the proceedings.

  • Significance of the Trial:

    • First instance in history where justice confronts vast-scale crimes.

    • Criminals who seized state apparatus to facilitate monstrous crimes are being judged.

    • The proceedings judge not only individuals but also the institutions and ideologies that underpinned their actions.

Historical Background of Crimes

  • Collapse of Hitlerite Germany:

    • On May 8, 1945, Germany ceased hostilities after a military and political defeat of unprecedented magnitude.

    • The war initiated by Hitlerism resulted in immense suffering and loss of life across Europe.

    • Millions were victims of a war aimed at establishing Hitler's tyranny.

Demands for Justice

  • Rudenko emphasizes a world demand for just retribution against major war criminals.

  • Charges Against Defendants:

    • Initiation, instigation, and execution of a criminal conspiracy.

    • Utilization of the entire machinery of Hitler's state, encompassing governmental agencies, military, and police forces.

  • Legal Framework: Rudenko introduces the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, stating the legal considerations necessary for the proceedings.

Legal Problems Addressed

  • Concept of Legality:

    • Contrasts between fascist tyranny and democratic legal principles.

    • National law vs international law:

    • National law: legislative acts by state.

    • International law: based on treaties and agreements among states.

Complexity of Criminal Conspiracy

  • The criminal conspiracy involved a vast and convoluted network of participants.

  • Comparative Example:

    • A gang of bandits shares responsibility for crimes similar to conspirators in a totalitarian state.

  • The structure of the Nazi bureaucracy enforced intricate conspiratorial ties among its members.

Ideologies Justifying Atrocities

  • Hitler's ideology of racial superiority rationalized heinous actions as permissible under the belief of a master race.

  • A systematic cultivation of a sense of superiority and entitlement over other peoples was ingrained in German society through education.

  • Quotes by Hitler and Their Implications:

    • Hitler’s desire to cultivate a new master class devoid of moral pity and able to dominate others.

    • This ideology provided a pseudo-scientific justification for aggressive wars and domination.

Educational Propaganda and Culture Shift

  • The regime militarized education and arts, promoting a narrative of superiority and entitlement among Germans.

  • Educational institutions became vehicles for promoting Nazi ideologies rooted in violence and hatred.

The New Order

  • Aimed to create a regime of terror where democratic norms were abolished, populations systematically persecuted, and resources plundered.

  • Reports emphasized the scale of persecution against Slavic populations, Jews, and other marginalized groups.

  • Failed Objectives: Despite ambitious goals, the Nazi regime fell due to the collective resistance of Allied forces, notably the Soviet Union.

Evidence of Guilt Presented

  • Organized Conspiracy: Names of high-ranking officials (Goering, Hess, Ribbentrop, etc.) involved in strategic planning for aggressive wars across Europe.

  • Document “Fall Grün”: A directive indicating premeditated plans to attack Czechoslovakia.

  • Characterization of the War:

    • Labels the conflict initiated against the Soviet Union as a 'preventive war,' which Rudenko dismantles through documented evidence.

Atrocities Committed

  • War Crimes: Numerous war crimes cataloged including:

    • Mass murders and systematic exterminations in occupied territories.

    • Sites of mass executions and the implementation of horrific techniques such as gas vans endorsed by Nazi officials.

  • Death Toll Statistics: References to the millions killed in various atrocities across Europe during the occupation.

Documented Significance of Orders and Crimes

  • Descriptions of specific operational orders, detailing mechanisms for extermination and population control.

  • Noteworthy orders suggest systematic extermination tactics, including poisoning and mass shootings, highlighting the scale of atrocities.

Conclusion of Prosecutorial Claims

  • Judicial Closure: The Soviet Prosecutor concludes with a solemn charge against the defendants for crimes against humanity.

  • Urges the Tribunal to acknowledge the historical gravity of the crimes and the necessity of punishment to ensure justice for the millions affected by Nazi atrocities.


  1. Indictment by the Soviet Prosecution: General Rudenko, as the Chief Prosecutor for the Soviet Union, indicted high-ranking officials such as Goering, Hess, and Ribbentrop. The charges against them included the initiation, instigation, and execution of a criminal conspiracy, and the utilization of the entire machinery of Hitler's state, encompassing governmental agencies, military, and police forces. His conclusion was a "solemn charge against the defendants for crimes against humanity."

  2. Nature of the Crime (Soviet Prosecutor): In General Rudenko's view, the crimes were of an unprecedented "vast-scale," "monstrous," and involved a "criminal conspiracy" to establish Hitler's tyranny. This included the initiation of aggressive wars, mass murders, systematic exterminations in occupied territories, and the implementation of horrific techniques like gas vans. He characterized Hitler's ideology of racial superiority as a pseudo-scientific justification for these heinous actions.

  3. Evidence Provided by the Soviet Prosecutor: Rudenko presented "documented evidence" to dismantle the claim of a 'preventive war,' particularly regarding the conflict against the Soviet Union. Specific evidence mentioned includes "Document 'Fall Grün'," a directive indicating premeditated plans to attack Czechoslovakia. He also referred to "descriptions of specific operational orders, detailing mechanisms for extermination and population control," and "noteworthy orders suggest systematic extermination tactics, including poisoning and mass shootings." The note does not explicitly detail what he said about the use of evidence beyond presenting it.

  4. Country's Influence on Perspective: General Rudenko's perspective is heavily shaped by the Soviet Union's immense suffering and losses during World War II. The note emphasizes that the Nazi regime fell due to the collective resistance of Allied forces, "notably the Soviet Union." His statements reflect the Soviet Union's role as a major victim and victor, highlighting the "millions were victims" of Hitlerism and the "world demand for just retribution" for the atrocities committed, particularly the "mass murders and systematic exterminations in occupied territories" where the Soviet Union experienced widespread devastation.

  5. Tonality of the Statement: The statement appears highly passionate and partial. Phrases like "monstrous crimes," "immense suffering and loss of life," "horrific techniques," and the "necessity of punishment to ensure justice" convey a strong emotional and moral condemnation. Rudenko concludes with a "solemn charge" and urges the Tribunal to "acknowledge the historical gravity of the crimes." As a chief prosecutor, his role is inherently to advocate for a conviction, and his language reflects a deep commitment to securing justice for the victims, arising from the profound impact the war had on his country.