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Judiciary

Law, Justice, and the Holocaust

Additional Resources

Law, Justice, and the Holocaust

Through a series of decrees, legislative acts, and case law, Nazi leadership gradually moved Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship. The resources below highlight the critical role of the legal profession and others under the Nazi regime.

A graphic with the text, "Law, Justice, and the Holocaust," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph is from the first week of the Reichstag Fire Trial. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia Series: Law, Justice, and the Holocaust.

Series: Law, Justice, and the Holocaust

—Wide World Photo

A graphic with the text, "Antisemitic Legislation," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows Arthur Lewy with a customer in his tobacco shop in Berlin. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Antisemitic Legislation, 1933–1939."

Article: Antisemitic Legislation 1933–1939

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum

A graphic with the text, "The Role of Civil Servants," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows women working in the offices of the German Census Bureau. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "The Role of Civil Servants."

Article: The Role of Civil Servants

—bpk-Bildagentur

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Transition from Democracy to Dictatorship

The Nazis often relied upon the law and attempted to act through legitimate government institutions to consolidate power in the transition from democracy to dictatorship. The resources below include a series of key decrees and laws relevant to this transition.

A graphic with the text, "Reichstag Fire Decree," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows the damaged dome of the Reichstag (German parliament) building. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Reichstag Fire Decree."

Article: Reichstag Fire Decree, February 28, 1933

—Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz

A graphic with the text, "Civil Service Law," overlaid on top of a colored photograph. The photograph is a dismissal from the Berlin transit authority. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service."

Article: Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service Law, April 7, 1933

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Henry Stern

Article: Oaths of Loyalty for All State Officials, August 20, 1934

—Ullstein bild/The Granger Collection, NY

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The Judiciary and the Nazi State

The German legal profession in general and judges in particular played an important role in constructing and enforcing the Nazi racial, antisemitic agenda. The resources below highlight key laws, cases, and policies that sought to further the Nazis’ ideological goals.

A graphic with the text, "National Community" overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows Hitler waving at a crowd of people. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Volksgemeinschaft (People's or National Community).

Article: Volksgemeinschaft (People’s or National Community)

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Michael O'Hara

A graphic with the text, "Nuremberg Race Law," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph show a chart explaining "Deutschbluetiger" [German-bloods]. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Nuremberg Race Laws."

Article: Nuremberg Race Laws, September 15, 1935

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Hans Pauli

A graphic with the text, "Folk Pest Law," overlaid on top of a color glass slide of a genealogical chart of an "asocial" individual. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Decree Against Public Enemies."

Article: Decree against Public Enemies (Folk Pest Law), September 5, 1939

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum

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Holocaust History: Key Events

The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators. The resources below explore key events and topics related to this history.

A graphic with the text, "The Holocaust: Timeline," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows the deportation of Jews from the Łódź ghetto to the Chełmno killing center. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia timeline, "Timeline of Events."

Article: Timeline of Events: The Holocaust

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Unknown Source

A graphic with the text, "Invasion of Poland," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows Poles walking among the ruins of besieged Warsaw. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Invasion of Poland, Fall 1939."

Article: Invasion of Poland, September 1, 1939

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Julien Bryan

A graphic with the text, "Wannsee Conference," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph is a view of the Wannsee villa. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Wannsee Conference and the "Final Solution."

Article: Wannsee Conference and the "Final Solution"

—Gedenkstaette Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz

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Postwar Justice

After World War II, international, domestic, and military courts conducted trials of tens of thousands of accused war criminals. The resources below provide an overview of postwar justice, including the trials of German justice officials.

A graphic with the text, "Postwar Trials," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows a witness being sworn in at the trial of 61 former personnel and prisoners from the Mauthausen concentration camp. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Postwar Trials."

Article: Postwar Trials

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Albert Barkin

A graphic with the text, "The Justice Case," overlaid on top of a black and white photograph. The photograph shows the view of the court room from the visitors gallery. The graphic links to the Holocaust Encyclopedia article, "Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings, Case #3, The Justice Case."

Article: Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings, Case #3, The Justice Case

—National Archives and Records Administration, College Park

Article: Background: Jurists' Trial Verdict

—US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of John W. Mosenthal

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Interested in other topics? Visit the Museum’s Holocaust Encyclopedia for more resources.