Testimony at the Nuremberg Trials
1946 (film produced in 1950)
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This film clip shows testimony from Nazi defendents during the International Military Tribunal to prosecute war criminals at the end of World War II.
This is one reel of a film that was made in 1950 as a historical document to record permanently and accurately the trial of the Nazi defendants at Nuremberg. This reel (7 of 8) covers the statements and testimony for the defense. Some of the defendants' attorneys claim their clients had no input in Adolf Hitler's overarching strategies and their operation; others testify that they were unaware of the scope of the civilian killings; still others stated they felt deceived by Hitler and his promises and guilty for not preventing what should have been prevented. Defendants appearing on the stand include Alfred Jodl, Hermann Goering, Albert Speer, Hans Frank, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, and Ernst Kaltenbrunner.
The full film consists of footage from German films documenting Nazi personalities and activities interwoven with film shot during the trials — including testimony and statements from defendants, prosecuting attorneys, judges, and witnesses. It follows the story of the rise and fall of Nazism from the putsch in a Munich beer hall to the Nuremberg trials, and contains flashbacks of a variety of Nazi crimes against humanity. This particular version was made for German audiences with an English soundtrack and titles in German.
See all eight reels of this film in the National Archives Catalog. Please note that the full film contains some graphic and disturbing images.
This is one reel of a film that was made in 1950 as a historical document to record permanently and accurately the trial of the Nazi defendants at Nuremberg. This reel (7 of 8) covers the statements and testimony for the defense. Some of the defendants' attorneys claim their clients had no input in Adolf Hitler's overarching strategies and their operation; others testify that they were unaware of the scope of the civilian killings; still others stated they felt deceived by Hitler and his promises and guilty for not preventing what should have been prevented. Defendants appearing on the stand include Alfred Jodl, Hermann Goering, Albert Speer, Hans Frank, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, and Ernst Kaltenbrunner.
The full film consists of footage from German films documenting Nazi personalities and activities interwoven with film shot during the trials — including testimony and statements from defendants, prosecuting attorneys, judges, and witnesses. It follows the story of the rise and fall of Nazism from the putsch in a Munich beer hall to the Nuremberg trials, and contains flashbacks of a variety of Nazi crimes against humanity. This particular version was made for German audiences with an English soundtrack and titles in German.
See all eight reels of this film in the National Archives Catalog. Please note that the full film contains some graphic and disturbing images.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
National Archives Identifier: 35957
Full Citation: Motion Picture 111-M-7596; Nuremberg: Army Television-Release Version, Reel 7; 1946 (film produced in 1950); MF 45-7596; Documentary Films, ca. 1914 - ca. 1944; Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Record Group 111; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/testimony-nuremberg-trials, April 30, 2025]Rights: Copyright Not Evaluated Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
