The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute prominent leaders of the [[Nazis]] in Germany for their involvement in [[war crimes]] including [[genocide]], crimes against humanity, and other offenses committed during the conflict. These trials took place in Nuremberg, Germany, between November 20, 1945, and October 1, 1946, and were conducted by the Allied powers, primarily the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. The Nuremberg Trials aimed to hold high-ranking Nazi officials accountable for their actions and establish a legal precedent for the prosecution of war criminals. The trials marked the first time in history that individuals were held responsible for violations of international law on such a large scale. ## War crimes The most notable trial was the International Military Tribunal (IMT), which prosecuted 24 of the most prominent Nazi leaders. The charges against the defendants were divided into four main categories: 1. **Crimes against peace**: Planning, initiating, and waging wars of aggression. 2. **War crimes**: Violations of the laws and customs of war, including the ill-treatment of civilians and prisoners of war. 3. **Crimes against humanity**: Persecution, extermination, enslavement, and other inhumane acts committed against civilian populations. 4. **Conspiracy** to commit the aforementioned crimes. Of the 24 defendants, 12 were sentenced to death, 3 were acquitted, and the remaining 9 received prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Notably, the IMT also charged and tried various organizations, including the SS (Schutzstaffel), the Gestapo (secret police), and the Nazi Party leadership, declaring many of these entities to be criminal organizations. In addition to the IMT, twelve subsequent trials, known as the Nuremberg Military Tribunals (NMT), were held between 1946 and 1949. These trials prosecuted lower-ranking officials, doctors, lawyers, and other individuals involved in the Nazi regime for their roles in [[war crimes]], crimes against humanity, and other offenses. The Nuremberg Trials played a pivotal role in the development of international criminal law, influencing the formation of the [[United Nations]] Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The principles established during these trials continue to guide the prosecution of war criminals and serve as a foundation for international criminal tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). See also: [[World War II Timeline]], [[Adolf Hitler]], [[human rights]], [[Nuremberg Laws]]