The Second World War was the most destructive and deadly conflict in human history. Nazi Germany was defeated by the Allied forces and the Soviet Army. After Germany's surrender, the Allies and the Soviets tried thousands of former Nazi leaders and military officers for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Allied powers—the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union—agreed to establish an International Military Tribunal. The trial of major war criminals was held in Nuremberg and became known as the Nuremberg trials. Nuremberg was chosen as the site because it had been a center for Nazi propaganda rallies. The Allies wanted Nuremberg to symbolize the end of Nazi Germany.
The court tried 24 of the most important military and political leaders of the Third Reich. Some of the most prominent Nazi leaders, including Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels, had committed suicide and could not stand trial. The charges against the defendants were conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Twelve of the defendants were sentenced to death by hanging.
Ten prisoners were hanged on October 16, 1946. Before the executions, the Nazis were asked whether they had any last words.
Joachim von Ribbentrop was a Nazi German politician who served as foreign minister of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. He was also an SS general. He was hanged at 1:30 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at Nuremberg Prison at the age of 53, alongside nine other defendants convicted in the first Nuremberg trial. He became the first of the Nuremberg defendants to be executed by hanging.
In his last words he said: "May God protect Germany. May God have mercy on my soul. My last wish is that Germany may regain its unity, and for the sake of peace, I hope understanding will prevail between East and West. I wish peace to the world."
The commander of Nuremberg Prison, Burton Andrus, later said that Ribbentrop turned to the Lutheran prison chaplain, Henry Gerecke, just before the hood was placed over his head and whispered: "I'll see you again."
Wilhelm Keitel was a German field marshal and chief of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, the supreme command of the Nazi German armed forces. He was hanged at 1:44 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at Nuremberg Prison at the age of 64. His last words were: "I call on God Almighty to have mercy on the German people. More than two million German soldiers have gone before me to their deaths for the fatherland. I now follow my sons, all for Germany."
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was a high-ranking Austrian SS official and one of the chief perpetrators of the Holocaust. He was the third president of the Reich Main Security Office, which included the Gestapo, the Kripo, and the Security Service (SD), from January 1943 until the end of World War II in Europe. He was hanged at 1:52 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at the age of 43.
When asked whether he had any last words, he said in a quiet voice: "My German people and fatherland, with a warm heart, I did my duty according to the laws of my people, and I am sorry." He added: "My people were led this time by men who were not soldiers, and crimes were committed of which I was unaware." He also said: "I fought honorably" and "Good luck to Germany."
Alfred Rosenberg was a prominent Nazi ideologue and head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Nazi Party. He also held several important positions in the Nazi government. He was hanged at 1:59 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at the age of 53. When asked on the execution platform whether he wanted to make a final statement, he answered with only one word: "No."
Hans Frank was a German politician and lawyer who served as head of the General Government in Nazi-occupied Poland. He was hanged at 2:08 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at the age of 46. When asked to make any final statement, he replied: "I am grateful for the good treatment during my captivity, and I ask God to receive me with mercy."
Wilhelm Frick was a prominent Nazi Party leader who served as Reich Minister of the Interior in Adolf Hitler's government from 1933 to 1943, as well as governor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He was hanged at Nuremberg Prison at 2:20 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at the age of 69, along with nine other convicted defendants from the first Nuremberg trials. His only words were: "Long live eternal Germany."
Julius Streicher was a member of the Nazi Party. He was the founder and publisher of the anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stürmer, which became a central element of the Nazi propaganda machine. He was hanged at Nuremberg Prison in the early hours of October 16, 1946, at the age of 61. At the foot of the execution platform, he shouted: "Heil Hitler." His final statement before the hood was placed over his head was: "The Bolsheviks will hang you one day." He appeared to say: "Adele, my dear wife."
Fritz Sauckel was a Nazi politician. He was hanged at 2:40 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at the age of 51. His last words were: "I die innocent. This sentence is wrong. May God protect Germany and make Germany great again. Long live Germany. May God protect my family."
Alfred Jodl was a general in the German Army and served as chief of operations staff at the Supreme Command of the German Armed Forces. He was hanged at 2:50 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at the age of 56. His last words were reported to be: "I salute you, eternal Germany."
Arthur Seyss-Inquart was an Austrian Nazi politician and deputy to Governor Hans Frank in German-occupied Poland. He was hanged at 2:59 a.m. on October 16, 1946, at Nuremberg Prison at the age of 54, along with the nine other defendants in the first Nuremberg trial. His last words were: "I hope that this execution is the last chapter of the tragedy of World War II, and that the lesson learned from it is that peace and understanding should prevail among peoples. I believe in Germany."
Hermann Göring was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party and commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, the air force. He committed suicide on the night before his execution was to be carried out. He was 53 years old.
Martin Bormann was head of the Nazi Party Chancellery and Adolf Hitler's private secretary. He was convicted and sentenced to death in absentia at the first Nuremberg trial. His whereabouts at the time were unknown.