The Nuremberg Trials
After years of war that ravaged Europe and left 6 million Jews dead, the atrocities committed by the Nazis were on display for the world to see. Almost immediately after the end of World War II, the victorious allies set up an International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany, to try former Nazi leaders as war criminals. The most prominent was Hermann Goering, thought to be the No. 2 man in the Nazi party, after both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels committed suicide prior to the tribunal. Many of those on trial would be put to death, one committed suicide in jail while others were either imprisoned or acquitted. But more importantly, the tribunal set a precedent in international law that individuals, just like states, could be found guilty of war crimes.