Phillips Nuremberg Trials Collection: Trial 11 - Ministries Case

This case is also known as the Wilhelmstrasse Trial, so-named because the German Foreign Office was located on the Wilhelmstrasse, a main thoroughfare in Berlin. The defendants in this case were officials of various Reich ministries, facing various charges for their roles in Nazi Germany and thus their participation in or responsibility for the numerous atrocities committed both in Germany and in occupied countries during the war.

Original Indictment

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 12, "The Ministries Case"
• Volume 13, "The Ministries Case"
• Volume 14, "The Ministries Case"

Style of the case: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsäcker, et al.

Indictment filed: 1 November 1947

Trial dates: 6 January 1948 - 18 November 1948

Judges: William C. Christianson (MN) (presiding judge), Robert F. Maguire (OR), and Leon W. Powers (IA).  

Chief Prosecutor: Robert Kempner

Defense Counsel:  

Judgment: 11 April - 13 April 1949

Sentencing: 13 April 1949

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS

• Indictment
• Basic Information
• Opening Statement for the United States of America
• Final Prosecution Brief on the Criminality of Richard Walther Darre
  • By: Walter W. O'Haire
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Otto von Erdmannsdorff
  • By: Max Mandellaub and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Prosecution Final Brief on Criminal Responsibility of the Defendant Koerner
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Otto Leberecht Meissner
  • By: Maximilian Koessler, H.W. William Caming, and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Final Brief Against the Defendant Gustav Adolf Steengracht von Moyland
  • By: Robert M.W. Kempner and H.W. William Caming
• Prosecution Final Brief on Karl Rasche
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Karl Ritter With Regard to Counts I and II
  • By: Maximilian Koessler, H.W. William Caming, and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Karl Ritter Under Count III
  • By: Maximilian Koessler, H.W. William Caming, and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Gustav Adolf Steengracht
  • By: Maximilian Koessler, H.W. William Caming, and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Final Brief on Crimes Against Peace of the Defendant Ernst von Weizsaecker
  • By: H.W. William Caming and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Ernst Woermann
  • By: Arnold Buchthal
• Final Brief on Counts I and II Against Ernst von Weizsaecker and Ernst Woermann With Regard to Aggressive War Against the United States
  • By: Robert M.W. Kempner and H.W. William Caming
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Edmund Vessenmayer
  • By: H.W. William Caming and Robert M.W. Kempner
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al.
  • By: Robert M.W. Kempner and H.W. William Caming
• Prosecution Final Brief on Criminal Responsibility of the Defendant Pleiger
  • By: Morris Amchan and J.M. Fitzpatrick
• Appendices to Prosecution Final Brief on Paul Pleiger
• Supplemental Brief Re: "Honorary Membership in the SS"
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Prosecution Brief on the General Principles of Law Applicable to Count VI (Plunder and Spoliation)
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Supplement to Prosecution Brief on the General Principles of Law Applicable to Count VI (Spoliation and Plunder)
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Ernst von Weizsaecker and Ernst Woermann, Count III, Murder and Ill-Treatment of Prisoners of War
  • By: Robert M.W. Kempner and H.W. William Caming
• Answer Brief of the Prosecution in the Schellenberg Case
  • By: Alexander G. Hardy and Arnost Horlik-Hockwald
• Prosecution Brief on Criminal Aspects Involved in Exploitation of Concentration Camp Inmates
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Weizsaecker, Steengracht, Woermann Under Count V of the Indictment (Murder of the Jews of Europe)
  • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III
  • Part IV
  • Part V
• Prosecution Brief on the Asserted Defense of "Honorary" Membership in the SS: Reply to Defenses Presented on Behalf of Keppler, Kehrl, and Rasche
  • By: Morris Amchan, Walter J. Rockler, and Walter T. Schonfeld
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Emil Puhl
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Trial Brief on Count V
  • By: Robert M.W. Kempner and H.W. William Caming
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of the Defendant Keppler
  • By: Morris Amchan and Walter J. Rockler
• Final Brief on the Alleged "Resistance" of the Defendant Ernst von Weizsaecker
  • By: Robert M.W. Kempner and H.W. William Caming
• Final Brief on the Criminal Responsibility of Schwerin von Krosigk
  • By: Alexander G. Hardy and Charles A. Horsky
• Final Plea for Baron Gustav Adolf Steengracht von Moyland
• Final Plea for the Defendant R. Walther Darre
• Final Plea for Emil Puhl
• Final Plea for the Defendant Walter Schellenberg
• Final Plea for Paul Koerner
• Final Plea for Dr. Karl Rasche
• Final Argument for Ernst Wilhelm Bohle
• Plea for Dr. Otto Meissner
• Final Plea for Hans Kehrl
• Final Plea for Gottlob Berger
• Final Plea for the Defendant Dr. Otto von Erdmannsdorff
• Final Plea for the Defendant Karl Ritter
• Document Book 9
• Closing Statement for the United States of America
• Closing Statement in Behalf of Dr. Edmund Veesenmayer
• Rebuttal Statement Made by the Prosecution
• Judgment of the Tribunal
  • Index
  • Part I, Pages 1 - 113
  • Part 2, Pages 114 - 242
  • Part 3, Pages 243 - 402
  • Part 4, Pages 403 - 578
  • Part 5, Pages 579 - 732
  • Part 6, Pages 733 - 834
• Transcripts for 12 April 1949 and 13 April 1949 (pages 28086 - 28493) - not digitized due to length, available in collection
• Dissenting Opinion of Judge Leon W. Powers