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Nuremberg Trial Proceedings Vol. 1
Minutes of the Opening Session October 18, 1945
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MINUTES OF THE OPENING SESSION
OF THE TRIBUNAL, AT BERLIN, 18 OCTOBER 1945
GENERAL NIKITCHENKO,
President
(*)
Present: All of the Members of the Tribunal and their Alternates. The International Military Tribunal held its first public session in Berlin, as required by
Article 22 of the Charter
, in the Grand Conference Room of the Allied Control Authority Building at 10:30 a. m.
The President, General Nikitchenko, said:
"In pursuance of the
Agreement
by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Provisional Government of the French Republic, the Government of the United States of America, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the prosecution and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis dated at London, 8 August 1945, and of
Article 22
of the Charter annexed thereto constituting this International Military Tribunal, this meeting is held at Berlin for the reception of the
Indictment
under the
Agreement
and
Charter
."
This statement was translated orally in French, English, and German.
The Members of the Tribunal and their Alternates then made the following declaration, each in his own language:
"I solemnly declare that I will exercise all my powers and duties as a Member of the International Military Tribunal honorably, impartially, and conscientiously."
The President then declared the session opened.
The Chief British Prosecutor, Mr. Shawcross, introduced in succession the Soviet Chief Prosecutor, General Rudenko; the French Deputy Chief Prosecutor, M. Dubost; and a representative of the American Prosecutor, Mr. Shea. Each on being introduced made a brief statement, which was translated orally into the other languages, and lodged a copy of the
Indictment
, in his own language, with the President of the Tribunal.
The President said:
"An
Indictment
M. Dubost; and a representative of the American Prosecutor, Mr. Shea. Each on being introduced made a brief statement, which was translated orally into the other languages, and lodged a copy of the Indictment , in his own language, with the President of the Tribunal. The President said: "An Indictment
has now been lodged with the Tribunal by the Committee of the Chief Prosecutors setting out the charges made against the following defendants:.
Hermann Wilhelm Goering, Rudolf Hess, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Robert Ley, Wilhelm Keitel, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Julius Streicher, Walter Funk, Hjalmar Schacht, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, Karl Doenitz, Erich Raeder, Baldur von Schirach, Fritz Sauckel, Alfred Jodl, Martin Bormann, Franz von Papen, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Albert Speer, Constantin von Neurath, and Hans Fritzsche.
"Copies of the
Charter
and of the
Indictment
and of its accompanying documents will be served upon the defendants in the German language immediately.
"Notices will also be served upon them in writing drawing their attention to
Articles 16
and
23
of the Charter which provide that they may either conduct their own defense or be defended by any counsel professionally qualified to conduct cases before the courts of his own country or by any other person who may be specially authorized thereto by the Tribunal; and a special clerk of the Tribunal has been appointed to advise the defendants of their right and to take instructions from them personally as to their choice of counsel, and generally to see that their rights of defense are made known to them.
"If any defendant who desires to be represented by counsel is unable to secure the services of counsel the Tribunal will appoint counsel to defend him.
"The Tribunal has formulated
Rules of Procedure
, shortly to be published, relating to the production of witnesses and documents in order to see that the defendants have a fair trial with full opportunity to present their defense.
secure the services of counsel the Tribunal will appoint counsel to defend him. "The Tribunal has formulated Rules of Procedure , shortly to be published, relating to the production of witnesses and documents in order to see that the defendants have a fair trial with full opportunity to present their defense.
"The individual defendants in custody will be notified that they must be ready for Trial within 30 days after the service of the
Indictment
upon them. Promptly thereafter the Tribunal shall fix and announce the date of the Trial in Nuremberg to take place not Less than 30 days after the service of the
Indictment
and the defendants shall be advised of such date as soon as it is fixed.
"It must be understood that the Tribunal which is directed by the
Charter
to secure an expeditious hearing of the issues raised by the charges will not permit any delay either in the preparation of the defense or of the Trial.
"Lord Justice Lawrence will preside at the Trial at Nuremberg.
"Notice will also be given under
Article 9
of the Charter that the Prosecution intends to ask the Tribunal to declare that the following organizations or groups of which the defendants or some of them were members are criminal organizations, and any member of any such group or organization will be entitled to apply to the Tribunal for leave to be heard by the Tribunal upon the question of the criminal character of such group or organization. These organizations referred to are the following:
Die Reichsregierung (Reich Cabinet); Das Korps der Politischen Leiter der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei (Leadership Corps of the Nazi Party); Die Schutzstaffeln der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei (commonly known as the "SS") and including Der Sicherheitsdienst (commonly known as the "SD"); Die Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police, commonly known as the "Gestapo"); Die Sturmabteilungen der NSDAP (commonly known as the "SA"); and the General Staff and High Command of the German Armed .Forces.
"The
Indictment
(commonly known as the "SS") and including Der Sicherheitsdienst (commonly known as the "SD"); Die Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police, commonly known as the "Gestapo"); Die Sturmabteilungen der NSDAP (commonly known as the "SA"); and the General Staff and High Command of the German Armed .Forces. "The Indictment
having been duly lodged by the Prosecutors in conformity with the provisions of the
Charter
, it becomes the duty of the Tribunal to give the necessary directions for the publication of the text.
"The Tribunal would like to order its immediate publication but this is not possible inasmuch as the
Indictment
must be published simultaneously in Moscow, London, Washington, and Paris.
"This result may be achieved, as the Tribunal is informed, by permitting publication in the press of the
Indictment
not earlier than 8 p.m., G.M.T., i.e. 2000 hours today, Thursday, October 18th."
This statement was translated orally in French, English, and German.
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
Notes:
(*)
General Nikitchenko was selected as President for the session at Berlin, and Lord Justice Lawrence was elected President of the Tribunal for the Trial In Nuremberg, in accordance with
Article 4 (b)
of the Charter.
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Nuremberg Trial Proceedings Vol. 1
Protocol Rectifying Discrepancy in the Charter
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Whereas an
Agreement
and
Charter
regarding the Prosecution of War Criminais was signed in London on the 8th August 1945, in the English, French, and Russian languages;
And whereas a discrepancy has been found to exist between the originals of
Article 6, paragraph (c)
, of the Charter in the Russian language, on the one hand, and the originals in the English and French languages, on the other, to wit, the semicolon in
Article 6, paragraph (c)
, of the Charter between the words "war" and "or", as carried in the English and French texts, is a comma in the Russian text;
And whereas it is desired to rectify this discrepancy:
NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned, signatories of the said Agreement on behalf of their respective Governments, duly authorized thereto, have agreed that
Article 6
, paragraph (c), of the Charter in the Russian text is correct, and that the meaning and intention of the
Agreement
and
Charter
require that the said semicolon in the English text should be changed to a comma, and that the French text should be amended to read as follows:
c) LES CRIMES CONTRE L'HUMANITE: c'est a dire l'assassinat, 'extermination, la reduction en esclavage, la deportation, et tout autre acte inhumain commis contre toutes populations civiles, avant ou pendant la guerre, ou bien les persecutions pour des motifs politiques, raciaux, ou religieux, lorsque ces actes ou persecutions, qu'ils aient constitue ou non une viola tion du droit interne du pays ou ils ont ete perpetres, ont ete commis a la suite de tout crime rentrant dans la compe tence du Tribunal, ou en liaison avec ce crime.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Undersigned have signed the present Protocol.
DONE in quadruplicate in Berlin this 6th day of October, 1945, each in English, French, and Russian, and each text to have equal authenticity.
For the Government of the United States of America
/s/ ROBERT H
Tribunal, ou en liaison avec ce crime. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Undersigned have signed the present Protocol. DONE in quadruplicate in Berlin this 6th day of October, 1945, each in English, French, and Russian, and each text to have equal authenticity. For the Government of the United States of America /s/ ROBERT H. JACKSON
For the Provisional Government of the French Republic
/s/ FRANCOIS de MENTHON
For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
/s/ HARTLEY SHAWCROSS
For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
/s/ R. RUDENKO
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Nuremberg Trial Proceedings Vol. 1
Rules of Procedure
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(Adopted 29 October 1945)
Rule 1
. Authority to Promulgate Rules.
The present Rules of Proeedure of the International Military Tribunal for the trial of the major war criminals (hereinafter called "the Tribunal") as established by the Charter of the Tribunal dated 8 August 1945 (hereinafter called "the Charter") are hereby promulgated by the Tribunal in accordance with the provisions of
Article 13 of the Charter
.
Rule 2
. Notice to Defendants and Right to Assistance of Counsel.
(a)
Each individual defendant in custody shall receive not less than 30 days before trial a copy, translated into a language which he understands, (1) of the
Indictment
, (2) of the
Charter
, (3) of any other documents lodged with the
Indictment
, and (4) of a statement of his right to the assistance of counsel as set forth in sub-paragraph (d) of this Rule, together with a list of counsel. He shall also receive copies of such rules of procedure as may be adopted by the Tribunal from time to time.
(b)
Any individual defendant not in custody shall be informed of the
indictment
against him and of his right to receive the documents specified in
sub-paragraph (a)
above, by notice in such form and manner as the Tribunal may prescribe.
(c)
With respect to any group or organization as to which the Prosecution indicates its intention to request a finding of criminality by the Tribunal, notice shall be given by publication in such form and manner as the Tribunal may prescribe and such publication shall include a declaration by the Tribunal that all members of the named groups or organizations are entitled to apply to the Tribunal for leave to be heard in accordance with the provisions of
Article 9 of the Charter
. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer immunity of any kind upon such members of said groups or organizations as may appear in answer to the said declaration.
(d)
entitled to apply to the Tribunal for leave to be heard in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the Charter . Nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer immunity of any kind upon such members of said groups or organizations as may appear in answer to the said declaration. (d)
Each defendant has the right to conduct his own defense or to have the assistance of counsel. Application for particular counsel shall be filed at once with the General Seeretary of the Tribunal at the Palace of Justice, Nuremberg, Germany. The Tribunal will designate counsel for any defendant who fails to apply for particular counsel or, where particular counsel requested is not within ten (10) days to be found or available, unless the defendant elects in writing to conduct his own defense. If a defendant has requested particular counsel who is not immediately to be found or available, such counsel or a counsel of substitute choice may, if found and available before trial be associated with or substituted for counsel designated by the Tribunal, provided that (1) only one counsel shall be permitted to appear at the trial for any defendant, unless by special permission of the Tribunal, and (2) no delay of trial will be allowed for making such substitution or association.
Rule 3
. Service of Additional Documents.
If, before the trial, the Chief Prosecutors offer amendments or additions to the
Indictment
, such amendments or additions, including any accompanying documents shall be lodged with the Tribunal and copies of the same, translated into a language which they each understand, shall be furnished to the defendants in custody as soon as practicable and notice given in accordance with
Rule 2 (b)
to those not in custody.
Rule 4
. Production of Evidence for the Defense.
(a)
with the Tribunal and copies of the same, translated into a language which they each understand, shall be furnished to the defendants in custody as soon as practicable and notice given in accordance with Rule 2 (b) to those not in custody. Rule 4 . Production of Evidence for the Defense. (a)
The Defense may apply to the Tribunal for the production of witnesses or of documents by written application to the General Secretary of the Tribunal. The application shall state where the witness or document is thought to be located, together with a statement of their last known location. It shall also state the facts proposed to be proved by the witness or the document and the reasons why such facts are relevant to the Defense.
(b)
If the witness or the document is not within the area controlled by the occupation authorities, the Tribunal may request the Signatory and adhering Governments to arrange for the production, if possible, of any such witnesses and any such documents as the Tribunal may deem necessary to proper presentation of the Defense.
(c)
If the witness or the document is within the area controlled by the occupation authorities, the General Secretary shall, if the Tribunal is not in session, communicate the application to the Chief Prosecutors and, if they make no objection, the General Secretary shall issue a summons for the attendance of such witness or the production of such documents, informing the Tribunal of the action taken. If any Chief Prosecutor objects to the issuance of a summons, or if the Tribunal is in session, the General Secretary shall submit the application to the Tribunal, which shall decide whether or not the summons shall issue.
(d)
A summons shall be served in such manner as may be provided by the appropriate occupation authority to ensure its enforcement and the General Secretary shall inform the Tribunal of the steps taken.
(e)
General Secretary shall submit the application to the Tribunal, which shall decide whether or not the summons shall issue. (d) A summons shall be served in such manner as may be provided by the appropriate occupation authority to ensure its enforcement and the General Secretary shall inform the Tribunal of the steps taken. (e)
Upon application to the General Secretary of the Tribunal, a defendant shall be furnished with a copy, translated into a language which he understands, of all documents referred to in the
Indictment
so far as they may be made available by the Chief Prosecutors and shall be allowed to inspect copies of any such documents as are not so available.
Rule 5
. Order at the Trial.
In conformity with the provisions of
Article 18 of the Charter
, and the disciplinary powers therein set out, the Tribunal, acting through its President, shall provide for the maintenance of order at the Trial. Any defendant or any other person may be excluded from open sessions of the Tribunal for failure to observe and respect the directives and dignity of the Tribunal.
Rule 6
. Oaths; Witnesses.
(a)
Before testifying before the Tribunal, each witness shall make such oath or declaration as is customary in his own country.
(b)
Witnesses while not giving evidence shall not be present in court. The President of the Tribunal shall direct, as circumstances demand, that witnesses shall not confer among themselves before giving evidence.
Rule 7
. Applications and Motions before Trial and Rulings during the Trial.
(a)
All motions, applications or other requests addressed to the Tribunal prior to the commencement of trial shall be made in writing and filed with the General Secretary of the Tribunal at the Palace of Justice, Nuremberg, Germany.
(b)
Applications and Motions before Trial and Rulings during the Trial. (a) All motions, applications or other requests addressed to the Tribunal prior to the commencement of trial shall be made in writing and filed with the General Secretary of the Tribunal at the Palace of Justice, Nuremberg, Germany. (b)
Any such motion, application or other request shall be communicated by the General Secretary of the Tribunal to the Chief Prosecutors and, if they make no objection, the President of the Tribunal may make the appropriate order on behalf of the Tribunal. If any Chief Prosecutor objects, the President may call a special session of the Tribunal for the determination of the question raised.
(c)
The Tribunal, acting through its President, will rule in court upon all questions arising during the trial, such as questions as to admissibility of evidence offered during the trial, recesses, and motions; and before so ruling the Tribunal may, when necessary, order the closing or clearing of the Tribunal or take any other steps which to the Tribunal seem just.
Rule 8
. Secretariat of the Tribunal.
(a)
The Secretariat of the Tribunal shall be composed of a General Secretary, four Secretaries and their Assistants. The Tribunal shall appoint the General Secretary and each Member shall appoint one Secretary. The General Secretary shall appoint such clerks, interpreters, stenographers, ushers, and all such other persons as may be authorized by the Tribunal and each Secretary may appoint such assistants as may be authorized by the Member of the Tribunal by whom he was appointed.
(b)
The General Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries, shall organize and direct the work of the Secretariat, subject to the approval of the Tribunal in the event of a disagreement by any Secretary.
(c)
The Secretariat shall receive all documents addressed to the Tribunal, maintain the records of the Tribunal, provide necessary clerical services to the Tribunal and its Members, and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Tribunal.
(d)
the event of a disagreement by any Secretary. (c) The Secretariat shall receive all documents addressed to the Tribunal, maintain the records of the Tribunal, provide necessary clerical services to the Tribunal and its Members, and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Tribunal. (d)
Communications addressed to the Tribunal shall be delivered to the General Secretary
Rule 9
. Record, Exhibits, and Documents.
(a)
A stenographic record shall be maintained of all oral proceedings. Exhibits will be suitably identified and marked with consecutive numbers. All exhibits and transcripts of the proceedings and all documents lodged with and produced to the Tribunal will be filed with the General Secretary of the Tribunal and will constitute part of the Record.
(b)
The term "official documents" as used in
Article 25 of the Charter
includes the
Indictment
, rules, written motions, orders that are reduced to writing, findings, and
judgments
of the Tribunal. These shall be in the English, French, Russian, and German languages. Documentary evidence or exhibits may be received in the language of the document, but a translation thereof into German shall be made available to the defendants.
(c)
All exhibits and transcripts of proceedings, all documents lodged with and produced to the Tribunal and all official acts and documents of the Tribunal may be certified by the General Secretary of the Tribunal to any Government or to any other tribunal or wherever it is appropriate that copies of such documents or representations as to such acts should be supplied upon a proper request.
Rule 10
. Withdrawal of Exhibits and Documents.
In cases where original documents are submitted by the Prosecution or the Defense as evidence, and upon a showing (a) that because of historical interest or for any other reason one of the Governments signatory to the Four Power
Agreement of 8 August 1945
10 . Withdrawal of Exhibits and Documents. In cases where original documents are submitted by the Prosecution or the Defense as evidence, and upon a showing (a) that because of historical interest or for any other reason one of the Governments signatory to the Four Power Agreement of 8 August 1945
, or any other Government having received the consent of said four signatory Powers, desires to withdraw from the records of the Tribunal and preserve any particular original documents and (b) that no substantial injustice will result, the Tribunal shall permit photostatic copies of said original documents, certified by the General Secretary of the Tribunal, to be substituted for the origfnals in the records of the Court and shall deliver said original documents to the applicants.
Rule 11
. Effective Date and Powers of Amendment and Addition.
These Rules shall take effect upon their approval by the Tribunal. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the Tribunal from, at any time, in the interest of fair and expeditious trials, departing from, amending, or adding to these Rules, either by general rules or special orders for particular cases, in such form and upon such notice as may appear just to the Tribunal.
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