WAR CRIMES: The Little Caesars

The Nürnberg judges turned from the 21 moody Nazi leaders in the dock to consider the guilt of thousands lower in the "hierarchy of descending Caesars." How many thousands, was the question. U.S. Prosecutor Jackson had said in his opening statement: ". . . We have no purpose to incriminate the whole German people." Somewhere a line had to be drawn.

The U.S. prosecutors last week were trying to prove that the Nazi Leadership Corps, Elite Guard (SS), Storm Troops (SA), Reich Cabinet, Gestapo, High Command and General Staff were criminal organizations, and to draw the line so as...