After 284 days, five million words, a 15,000-page record, 300,000 affidavits, 3,000 original documents, and the oral testimony of 200 witnesses, the Nürnberg war crimes trial drew to an end. The courtroom was almost gay. French Associate Judge Robert Falco drew funny pictures which he passed from the bench down to his wife. In the dock, Builder Albert Speer was playing a game: he drew sketch after sketch of a new house for Banker Hjalmar Schacht (who rejected each version because the bathrooms were in the wrong place).
The accused made their last pleas to the bar, to the German people...