Context:
The four major Allied powers—France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United
States—set up the International Military Tribunal (IMT) in Nuremberg, Germany, to prosecute and punish “the major war criminals of the European Axis.” 1 It is often believed that Nuremberg Trials to be the beginning of modern international law. The judgement in the trials had a strong legal influence on subsequent developments and it raises questions that still concern us in studying international criminal law. Still being the first of its kind dealing with mass crimes against humanity, the trial lacked precedent, legality and had its own criticisms too which will be further discussed in the essay.
Advantages of the trial:
7 Nuremberg Principles: The definition of what
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Nuremberg was the first in international law that traced a definite distinction between jus ad bello a doctrine concerned exclusively on the conduct in warfare, and jus ad bellum, which concerns itself with the justice or legality of the waging of war.
Experts were soon designated to draw up codes of crimes against the peace and security of mankind and frame statutes for an international criminal court to punish such offences
Criticism:
Victor’s Rule: It is described as a term where there is distorted application of justice by the party that won towards the losing party after an armed conflict. The tribunal set up was by the victorious Allies
6 https://www.roberthjackson.org/speech-and-writing/the-influence-of-the-nuremberg-trial-on-international- criminal-law/ 7 The influence of the Nuremberg Trial on International law; robertjackson.org
8 Law trove: International Human Rights Law; Moeckli & Shah (2022)
9 https://www.roberthjackson.org/speech-and-writing/the-influence-of-the-nuremberg-trial-on-international-