SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
“UNKNOWN LEGACIES
OF THE NUREMBERG TRIAL”
The Pilecki Institute
The Pilecki Institute in Berlin is pleased to extend an invitation to participate in an international scientific conference titled “Unknown Legacies of the Nuremberg Trial: Regional Approaches and Perspectives in East Central Europe,”
scheduled for 3 and 4 December 2025.
The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the International Military Tribunal (IMT) in Nuremberg, a pivotal moment in the development of international criminal law and a significant milestone in the quest to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities committed during World War II. On 11 December 1946, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that established the international law principles outlined in the IMT Charter (also known as the Nuremberg Charter). These principles have since served as a vital reference point in the work of the International Law Commission. Throughout the IMT proceedings and the subsequent Nuremberg trials, these foundational principles played a crucial role in shaping the strategies used to prosecute and penalise the crimes of the Axis powers in the national courts of Allied states, as well as the work of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.
The Nuremberg Charter was established as part of an agreement made on 8 August 1945, regarding the prosecution and punishment of leading European Axis criminals. This agreement involved the governments of Great Britain, the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the Provisional Government of the French Republic. Notably, the authors of the London Agreement, along with the judges and prosecutors of the Nuremberg Tribunal, did not include representatives from the occupied European countries that endured the highest war casualties and where mass crimes were perpetrated, such as Poland. Nevertheless, the contributions of representatives from these nations were significant in shaping the Allied efforts to prosecute and hold accountable those responsible for international crimes, particularly through their involvement in the United Nations War Crimes Commission established in 1943. Their efforts also played
a crucial role in advancing international law and the framework for international criminal law after 1945.
Despite being vital to the development of international law, this achievement is often underappreciated and overlooked, primarily because these countries fell under the influence of the USSR. We are only beginning to uncover their impact on the legacy of the Nuremberg trials and the prosecution of international crimes in the 20th century. These influences morphed into the concepts that paved the way for the establishment of the International Criminal Court in 2002. Another factor that has influenced the legal proceedings concerning crimes committed during the Second World War, and one that has not yet been thoroughly researched, is the context of the Cold War and the pronounced polarisation between the Eastern and Western blocs.
The conference aims to present recent research findings and facilitate discussions among international scholars regarding the legacy of the Nuremberg trials. Additionally, the conference will address the unique aspects of prosecuting crimes committed during the Second World War in Central and Eastern European nations, as well as the current state of research on prosecuting individuals accused of international crimes.
Today, there is a pressing need for a thorough analysis of the initiatives taken during and after the war, particularly considering regional narratives and how states have influenced the development of international criminal law. The conference aims not only to foster critical interdisciplinary reflection on the legacy of the Nuremberg trials but also to provide a platform for discussing contemporary investigations and prosecutions of international crimes, along with the challenges involved. This event will bring together scholars from diverse fields, including political science, law, history, and more, to ensure a well-rounded discourse.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the start and end of the Nuremberg trials, the organisers have planned two editions of the conference. The first edition, scheduled for 2025, will focus on the preparatory aspects of the trial, exploring the shared and divergent interpretations of the indictment and elucidating the definition of international crimes within the Tribunal's jurisdiction. The second edition will focus on the significance of the Nuremberg verdict.
The conference proceedings will centre on the following key topics:
• 80th anniversary of the IMT Charter and the Nuremberg trials,
• foundations of Nuremberg: the Potsdam Conference, the London Conference, and initiatives leading up to 1945,
• mistakes and shortcomings in the Allied approach to prosecuting international crimes,
• contributions of lawyers from Poland and other Eastern European nations,
• biographical research within the history of international law,
• trials of war criminals in the shadow of the Cold War,
• models and strategies for accountability in both Eastern and Western Europe,
• fair trial principles behind the Iron Curtain,
• compensation for victims,
• application of the Nuremberg principles in national courts during trials post-1945,
• legacy of Nuremberg: the prosecution of crimes of aggression, crimes against humanity, and genocide in the context of modern conflicts.
The conference will be conducted in English.
Conference date: 3-4 December 2025.
Conference venue: Pilecki Institute Branch in Berlin, Pariser Platz 4a, 10117.