3: Trial of the Century | courtroom600

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TRIAL OF THE CENTURY

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Credit: Photos - National Archives and Records Administration; Design: Descendants Media Group

Security outside the entrance to Courtroom 600

Allies military guards rotated shifts outside the Palace of Justice – which was one of the busiest buildings in Europe, as approximately 2,800 people came and went each day during the trial.

All badge credentials are inspected at multiple checkpoints. No bags or briefcases were allowed in the courtroom.

The ornate marble doorway inside Courtroom 600

Nov. 20, 1945: Office of the Chief Council (OCC) daily memo from Administrative Head Arthur Kimball on the first day of trial

The eight judges, two from each Allied country: from left, Russia, Britain, USA, and France

Presiding Judge, Sir Geoffrey Lawrence of Britain, during a session of the International Military Tribunal trial of war criminals at Nuremberg. Visible in the background are U.S. Justice Francis Biddle and French Justice Donnedieu de Varbes.

United States Chief Prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson delivers the opening address on Nov. 20, 1945

Press gallery in Courtroom 600. Over 250 international journalists descended upon Nuremberg to report the trial via newspaper, periodical or radio – the only mediums available in 1945

A photographer shoots the trial from one of eight photo booths used to capture images from every conceivable angle

Looking down at the defendants dock and press gallery beyond, from a photo booth

Photo booths were also used as radio broadcast centers. Here you can see the second floor visitor's section through this window.

Photo ID Badge for American Forces Network (AFN) correspondent Harold Burson

Harold Burson's radio script for the opening day of trial, Nov. 20, 1945. Harold wrote but did not record his reports.

Courtroom proceedings being documented by a BBC recorder

Karl Anders, British war correspondent, broadcasting to London

One of the rare color photographs of defendants in the dock. Court proceedings began at 10am every day for 216 days of trial, 403 sessions total over 10 months.

Defendants in the dock, front row from L to R: Hermann Goering, Rudolph Hess, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Wilhelm Keitel. Second row, L to R: Karl Doenitz, Erich Raeder, Baldur von Shirach, Fritz Saukel.

Soviet photographer Yevgeny Khaldei waits for an opportunity to photograph Herman Goering, who is consulting with his defense counsel

Trial graphics were created by the OSS Presentation Branch, a group that designed everything from wayfinding signage to letterhead and security badges for all staff, guests and press. The OSS (Office of Strategic Services) was disbanded after the war ended, but re-emerged as the CIA.

Photographers get briefed outside the courtroom

US Prosecutor Thomas J. Dodd displays a shrunken head used in the atrocities exhibit

Thomas J. Dodd with the shrunken head of a concentration camp prisoner

Shrunken head evidence, skull removed

Human skin tatoos were also part of the atrocities exhibit.

This artwork appeared on a concentration camp prisoner's chest

Atrocities exhibit in front of concentration camp locations (partial)

Zyklon B was the chemical gas used to murder Jews in concentration camps. It's estimated the cost per person to kill was 1 cent.

Introduction to Concentration Camps documentary film

Concentration camp films were shown in court, created by the OSS film unit under direction of Hollywood director John Ford

Herman Goering under guard in the courtroom, next to Rudolph Hess.

The Justice Switchboard routed as many as 600 calls in a day and required up to six operators to staff it

With hundreds of offices for more than 1,000 international trial staff, the Palace of Justice required its own telephone directory.

Cameramen in the corner of Courtroom 600

This photo booth captured the judges bench and court reporters as seen in the next photo

While there were 4000 hours of court time, only 25 hours of filming took place

Judges bench, personal translators sit behind them

Judges in their chamber with French and Russian translators

German POW mops under military supervision outside the British judges' office

In the halls of the Palace of Justice, a "lister bag" serves up drinking water with chlorine added. 20,000 dead bodies were still buried amidst the rubble in Nuremberg, and the water was not safe to drink.

A German civilian (right) on break from work inside the Palace of Justice

The Palace of Justice cafeteria, where everyone ate together regardless of rank

Post Exchange (PX) where rations of cigarettes, gum, toiletries and sundry items could be purchased with ration cards issued to all Allied personnel

Russians mingle with GIs at the Post Exchange (PX). For the Soviets, many of whom had never seen items like toothpaste and chewing gum, the PX was a sensation.

THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL WAS CONDUCTED IN FOUR LANGUAGES AND REQUIRED A REVOLUTIONARY SYSTEM FOR REAL TIME TRANSLATION.

Simultaneous interpretation had never been used in a trial before, wherein multiple languages were translated and sent via headphones to everyone in court, real time. Attendees simply turned the dial for either Russian, English, French, or German.

IBM headsets used by all attendees at the trial.

Interpreters in two rows behind glass panels, translating the trial in four languages. If a speaker is too fast, they signal to the interpreting monitor and a yellow light is flashed indicating the speaker should slow down. If the translator cannot keep up, a red light is flashed indicating the speaker needs to stop.

The interpreters "ready room" where a second team was always on stand by.

Out of gallery

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