At the end of World War II, the international community realized that the horrific abuses perpetrated by the Third Reich must be examined in the light of truth and those responsible for the atrocities must be held to account. As a result, The United States, France, Great Britain and Russia saw the importance of creating a legal structure to deal with these war crimes that occurred, as well as a way to hold individuals accountable, if not prevent entirely, future transgressions. These Nation partners saw the need to create a new legal structure to compile information, categorize criminal acts and create a new standard of International Justice and Responsibility. The structure and location of the proceedings were developed as a mix of legal traditions and political maneuvering. Ultimately, it was determined the trials were to be held in the City of Nuremberg in the years immediately following the end of the war in Europe.
The first trial, called the Major War Criminals’ Trial, began November 20, 1945 and was completed October 1, 1946. This first trial focused on 24 high ranking individuals in the Government of Nazi Germany prior to and during the war. Once this trial was completed, the Court held 12 subsequent trials of lesser know individuals: Doctors, Laywers, Judges, Industrialists, Bankers, Military Officers and Prison Guards who facilitated and implemented the Laws and Policies of the Third Reich. In all of the 12 subsequent trials, 185 people were indicted and tried; many of whom were convicted and sentenced. The trials in Nuremberg ended in April 1949.
It was here, in the Palace of Justice that the World Community codified the moral and legal questions of war and peace and the Nuremberg Trials became the source and test of International Law of War. The precedents established in these proceedings have guided the World Community in establishing Laws and Customs of War. There have been subsequent legal proceedings over the decades for war crimes committed in Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Bosnia.
Unfortunately, there is still a need for diligence and accountability that were first memorialized in the Nuremberg Trials; most recently in the unprovoked aggression but Vladimir Putin and the Russian Military against the nation of Ukraine and its citizens. We can only wait and see how these atrocities will be handled by the International Community and who may ultimately be held responsible.
BIO:
Thomas G. Kramer (Director) Tom is has directed both musicals and straight shows for theaters throughout Westchester, Connecticut and the Bronx. Most recently, Tom as been the Artistic Director of The Small Town Theater Company where he directed shows that included Copenhagen, Steel Magnolias, Vanities, A Shadow Box, and Vanya, Sonia Marsha & Spike. At the Herbert Mark Newman Theater shows he directed include The Grapes of Wrath, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and The Crucible, Violet, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Master Class. Tom directed 1776, Gypsy and My Fair Lady for Yorktown Stage. For Actor’s Conservatory Theater he directed Our Town, 42nd Street, Chicago, and Rumors. Some of more than the thirty shows he has directed include Love, Valour, Compassion, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, Nine, Evita, A Little Night Music, Tintypes. As a playwright Mr. Kramer authored Ain’t Murder A Drag with Jamie Whitfield, Howl, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Celluloid Ghosts.
Nuremberg Cast List
Colonel Parker Sean Grady
General Merrin
Judge Haywood Steve Taylor
Captain Byers Justin McLeod
Judge Ives George Croom
Judge Norris Phil Garfinkel
Emil Hahn Gary Skidmore
Frederick Hoffstetter Thomas G. Kramer
Ernst Janning Neil Schleifer
Oscar Rolfe Gerry Micera
Dr. Wickert Jeff Zitofsky
Mrs. Halestadt Judie Phillips
Frau Bertholt Donna Bellone
Rudolph Peterson Bret Fox
Dr. Geuter Tom Beck
Maria Wallner Laura Donaldson
Elsa Lindnow Irene Howard
Narrator Nina Cuva
