Courtroom 600 - Project "Memorial Nuremberg Trials"

The "Nuremberg Principles"

The Charter of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal established principles of international law which were completely novel at the time, going far beyond existing principles. The fact that individual responsibility, independent of rank and command, was established in the Charter is of central importance and constituted a major break-through on the road towards a universal international criminal law. On 29 July 1950, the General Assembly of the United Nations confirmed the "Nuremberg Principles" and made them universal, beyond the trial of Nazi crimes.

The "Nuremberg Principles" are:

1. Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefor and liable to punishment.
2. The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.
3. The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible Government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.
4. The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.
5. Any person charged with a crime under international law has the right to a fair trial on the facts and law.
6. The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:
   a) Crimes against peace
   b) War crimes
   c) Crimes against humanity
7. Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law.