One of many still-raging controversies is that of how to deal with violators of international law. In Bosnia and South Africa currently, tribunals are trying to uncover the truth about the horrific transgressions of the past.  In South Africa, there is argument about whether it is best to grant amnesty for the sake or instead attempt to exact retribution.  When is someone's acting under orders justified?  What kind of actions are justifiable? Do such actions merit death.

Following the Holocaust, the Allies opted to prosecute those responsible for leading the genocide.  The United States provided prosecutrors for a follow-up tribunal to hear the cases of the lessers also responsible for the tragedy.  To understand the complexity of the issues involved, it is possible to examine the Nuremburg trial in microcosm. Looking at the evidence from various cases, consider this a trial of some generic leader, responsible for directing the murder of Jews, but also receiving orders from above. How much responsibility is theirs?

Speaking to the Nuremberg tribunal in his opening address, Justice Jackson remarked: "What makes this inquest significant is that these prisoners represent sinister influences that will lurk in the world long after their bodies have returned to dust."

Consider the trial of an officer during the Holocaust with our interactive trial.