Famous Trials - The Nuremberg Trials

Discusses the events leading to the trial of Nazi war criminals after World War II and analyzes both the Allied prosecution and the German defense.

Grade 7 Up. This highly readable, well-honed account records the events that led up to the trial of the 22 major Nazi war criminals by the International Military Tribunal (IMT), the trial itself, and its lasting importance. Through the judicious use of trial transcripts, Rice delineates the atrocities that the defendants were accused of perpetrating upon the peoples of Europe. The legacy of Nuremberg, states Rice, is that "the trials documented Nazi crimes for posterity" and "led to the establishment of a democratic government in postwar [West] Germany." On the other hand, he continues, "Charges of ex post facto law, the lack of legitimate jurisdiction, and victors' justice persist in marring the bright intentions of the Nuremberg proceedings." The author also notes that there has not been the establishment of any permanent and effective international tribunal or court for the trying of Nazi-like criminals. Captioned, archival black-and-white photographs are effectively used throughout, as are elucidating sidebars; a helpful glossary, time line, and index are appended. An information-packed title that complements Gail Stewart's Hitler's Reich (Lucent, 1994).?David A. Lindsey, Lakewood High and Middle School Libraries, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 6^-10. Part of the Famous Trials series, this dense, informative account examines the 1945^-46 Nuremberg trial that tried and executed Nazi war criminals. It begins with the first reports of Nazi atrocities coming out of Eastern Europe in 1940 and goes on to detail the legal aspects of this unprecedented case, including the conflicts between the four participating Allied powers. The historical legacy of the trials is also discussed. Although there is a glossary, the text doesn't always provide sufficient background information about World War II. The book is most compelling when it focuses on the sometimes graphic testimony of the participants, from the evil Goering and contrite Speer to their surviving victims. The up-to-date, annotated bibliography is excellent. However, the black-and-white photos are lackluster. Given the increasing prominence of the Holocaust in the curriculum and the ongoing Hague Tribunal, this is a timely and useful resource. Julie Corsaro