[NUREMBERG TRIALS]:

[NUREMBERG TRIALS]:

Jodl formally objects to the indictment handed to him at the Nuremberg Trials and begins the preparation of his defence

 

[NUREMBERG TRIALS]: JODL ALFRED (1890-1946) German Generaloberst, Chief of the Operations Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command 1939-45. An historically significant A.L.S., Jodl, (and also signed Alfred Jodl at the head of the first page), two pages, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), 22^nd October 1945, to the Secretary General of the International Military Tribunal, in German. Jodl writes to formally object to the indictment handed to him at the Nuremberg Trials and states, 'On 19. 10. the indictment was handed to me, but without being accompanied by any of the evidence upon which it was based. The representatives of the prosecution are in possession of all of the files. At their will they can use that evidence which would work against me and discard that which would be in my favour. As the defendant I possess nothing but my memory, which during five and a half years of war and six months of imprisonment has not noticeably improved. That might suffice for a burglar or a highwayman, but not for a case with such a complexity of questions as the one against me. Under such circumstances, the preparation of an adequate defence is impossible, and I wish to enter formal objection against it'. Jodl proceeds to request that various pieces of evidence, either in carbon or photostatic copy, be presented to him as soon as possible, listing the evidence as, in part, 'The most important pieces of evidence upon which the prosecution is based in accordance with…..the Constitution of the Court….My notebook and my official notations (diary)…..these volumes contain evidence of the utmost importance in my defence….My notes for a lecture delivered by me in Munich 7.11.1943…..A copy of the Geneva Convention Rules and of the Hague Treaty….One copy each of the collections of the German Foreign Office concerning breaches of neutrality in Norway, Holland, and Belgium….and of the common-law crimes committed by Poland, France, England, Greece (Crete), all of which were presented at Geneva…..A collection of all of the infringements and crimes against common law committed by the former enemies of Germany….' Accompanied by an official English translation prepared by the IMT. Neatly inlaid and with several file holes to the upper edge, only very slightly affecting a few words of text. About VG

 

After the end of World War II, Jodl was indicted at the Nuremberg Trials on charges of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The principal charges against him related to his signing of the criminal Commando and Commissar Orders. Found guilty on all charges, he was sentenced to death and executed in Nuremberg in 1946.

 

Provenance: The present document originated from the archives of Dr. Hans Werner who was responsible for directing the printing of the Record of the Trial of Major War Criminals in 42 volumes and in three different languages (English, French & German) immediately following the Nuremberg Trials.