Joachim von Ribbentrop (left), former German Foreign Minister, and Baldur von Schirach (right), former leader of the Hitler Youth, during a recess at the International Military Tribunal.
— Harry S. Truman Library
Joachim von Ribbentrop (1893-1946) was Foreign Minister of Germany (1938-1945). He played the key role in negotiating the German-Soviet nonaggression pact that made possible the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. He also directed diplomatic efforts to persuade Germany's Axis partners to deport their Jews to German killing centers and to abandon their Jewish citizens living in Germany to the deportations. Ribbentrop was found guilty on all four counts (conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity) and sentenced to death. He was hanged on October 16, 1946.
