The upcoming film "Nuremberg," starring Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring and Rami Malek as American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, explores the complexities of the Nuremberg Trials following World War II. The movie, set to release on November 7, 2025, delves into the psychological battles and historical reckoning that took place as the world grappled with the atrocities of the Holocaust. To understand the context of the film, it's important to know who Hermann Göring was and the significance of the Nuremberg Tribunal.
Hermann Göring: From War Hero to Convicted War Criminal
Hermann Wilhelm Göring (1893-1946) was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, second only to Adolf Hitler. A World War I veteran and decorated fighter pilot, Göring joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and quickly rose through its ranks. He played a key role in the Nazis' rise to power, using his connections to gain support from industrialists and army officers.
Göring held numerous influential positions in the Nazi regime:
- President of the Reichstag: He became president of the Reichstag in 1932 and helped Hitler to power in 1933.
- Minister of the Interior for Prussia: In 1933, Göring became Minister of the Interior for Prussia, controlling most of the police forces in Germany. He later handed the Gestapo over to Heinrich Himmler.
- Commander of the Luftwaffe: Göring was appointed Commander of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) in 1935, spearheading Germany's rearmament efforts. However, his leadership waned during World War II, particularly after the Luftwaffe's failures.
- Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan: In 1936, Hitler put Göring in charge of the Four Year Plan, tasking him with preparing the German economy for war. This gave him control over numerous government agencies and the power to confiscate Jewish property.
- Hitler's Successor: In 1939, Hitler designated Göring as his successor.
Göring was instrumental in implementing Nazi policies, including the persecution of Jews. He ordered the elimination of Jews from the German economy and the confiscation of their property. In 1941, he directed Reinhard Heydrich to make preparations for the "Final Solution".
As the war turned against Germany, Göring fell out of favor with Hitler. In the final days of the regime, Hitler removed Göring from all his positions and ordered his arrest. After the war, Göring was captured by Allied forces.
The Nuremberg Tribunal: Justice After Unprecedented Atrocities
The Nuremberg trials were a series of military tribunals held in Nuremberg, Germany, from 1945 to 1946, after the end of World War II. The Allies—France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States—established the International Military Tribunal (IMT) to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for war crimes and other atrocities.
The trials aimed not only to convict the defendants but also to assemble irrefutable evidence of Nazi crimes, provide a history lesson to the defeated Germans, and delegitimize the traditional German elite. The Nuremberg Charter defined the crimes for which the defendants were tried:
- Crimes Against Peace: Planning, initiating, and waging wars of aggression in violation of international treaties.
- War Crimes: Violations of the laws and customs of war.
- Crimes Against Humanity: Extermination, deportation, and genocide.
- Conspiracy: A common plan to commit any of the above crimes.
Twenty-two high-ranking Nazi officials were tried before the IMT, including Hermann Göring, who was the primary target of the trial. Göring was found guilty on all four counts and sentenced to death by hanging. However, on October 15, 1946, the night before his scheduled execution, Göring committed suicide by ingesting cyanide.
The Nuremberg trials were a landmark event in the development of international law. They established the principle that individuals could be held accountable for crimes against humanity and helped lay the groundwork for future international criminal tribunals. The film "Nuremberg" promises to explore the complexities of these trials, the psychological battles between the accused and their examiners, and the enduring legacy of this pivotal moment in history.
