Phillips Nuremberg Trials Collection: Trial 12 - High Command Case

The accused were all high-ranking officers of the German Wehrmacht (one was a former Admiral) and former members of the High Command of Nazi Germany's military forces. They were charged with having participated in or planned or facilitated the execution of the numerous atrocities committed in countries occupied by the German forces during the war.

The accused faced four charges of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity:

1. Crimes against peace by waging aggressive war against other nations and violating international treaties.
2. War crimes by being responsible for murder, ill-treatment and other crimes against prisoners of war and enemy belligerents.
3. Crimes against humanity by participating or ordering the murder, torture, deportation, hostage-taking, etc. of civilians in occupied countries.
4. Participating and organizing the formulations and execution of a common plan and conspiracy to commit aforementioned crimes.

All defendants were indicted on all counts; they all pleaded "not guilty".

Count 4 of the indictment—the conspiracy charge—was soon dropped by the tribunal because it was already covered by the other charges.

On count 1, the tribunal considered all accused not guilty, stating that they were not the policy-makers and that preparing for war and fighting a war on orders was not a criminal offense under the applicable international law of the time.

Style of the case: United States of America v. Wilhelm von Leeb, et al.

Indictment filed: 28 November 1947

Trial dates: 5 February 1948 - 10 August 1948

Judges:  John C. Young (Colorado) (presiding judge), Winfield B. Hale (Tennessee), and Justin W. Harding (Alaska)

Chief Prosecutor:

Defense Counsel:  

Judgment: 27 & 28 October 1948

Sentencing: 28 October 1948

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS

• Basic Information
• Opening Statement for the United States
• Closing Statement for the United States of America
• Judgment of the Tribunal (Part 1)
• Judgment of the Tribunal (Part 2)
• Dissenting Opinion by Judge Leon W. Powers

Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10

The 15-volume series, also known as “The Green Series,” focuses on the 12 trials of almost 200 defendants. This publication by the United States Government Printing Office is the official abridged record of the individual indictments and judgments, as well as the administrative materials that were common to all the trials.

• Volume 10, "The High Command Case"
• Volume 11, "The High Command Case"