The Nuremberg Trials

School Library Journal

Gr 7 UpThis highly readable, well-honed account records the events that led up to the trial of the 22 major Nazi war criminals by the International Military Tribunal (IMT), the trial itself, and its lasting importance. Through the judicious use of trial transcripts, Rice delineates the atrocities that the defendants were accused of perpetrating upon the peoples of Europe. The legacy of Nuremberg, states Rice, is that "the trials documented Nazi crimes for posterity" and "led to the establishment of a democratic government in postwar [West] Germany." On the other hand, he continues, "Charges of ex post facto law, the lack of legitimate jurisdiction, and victors' justice persist in marring the bright intentions of the Nuremberg proceedings." The author also notes that there has not been the establishment of any permanent and effective international tribunal or court for the trying of Nazi-like criminals. Captioned, archival black-and-white photographs are effectively used throughout, as are elucidating sidebars; a helpful glossary, time line, and index are appended. An information-packed title that complements Gail Stewart's Hitler's Reich (Lucent, 1994).David A. Lindsey, Lakewood High and Middle School Libraries, WA