This month marks the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, the landmark tribunal launched on November 20, 1945, by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France in Bavaria to prosecute key Nazi leaders. It set a precedent for holding war criminals to account under international law.
According to German historians, Nuremberg did more than deliver justice: it sparked Germany’s long-term confrontation with its own past. By openly acknowledging wartime aggression and accepting responsibility for Nazi-era crimes, Germany gradually restored trust and earned renewed respect on the global stage.
At Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, standing on the very ground where Nazi Germany signed its unconditional surrender, director Jörg Morré underlines the duty of remembrance. “Although 80 years have passed, Germany still bears a historical responsibility toward all victims,” he says. “Reflection on history must never end.”
Gurgen Petrossian, a research fellow at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, sees the trials as a blueprint for other nations facing difficult pasts. “They show how prosecuting war criminals sends a clear warning to the world,” he explains, “and how countries can address guilt and historical responsibility responsibly.”
Today, the legacy of Nuremberg continues to influence debates on human rights, transitional justice and the rule of law. As societies around the world seek paths to healing, the example set at Nuremberg reminds us that confronting history head-on is crucial for building a just future.
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Historian: Germany's wartime reckoning earned world's respect
cgtn.com
