Benjamin Ferencz

Benjamin Ferencz, a veteran US Army prosecutor and chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials, shares gripping insights into one of history's most significant legal actions against Nazis. He discusses his emotional experiences confronting the horrors of concentration camps and the meticulous process of uncovering evidence of mass murder by the Einsatzgruppen. Ferencz reflects on his legal preparations, the trial's gripping opening, and the powerful plea for justice over vengeance that shaped international criminal law.

When Benjamin Ferencz was 27 years old, he prosecuted his very first trial. It's been called the largest murder trial in history, with more than one million victims. There were 22 defendants, each of them high-ranking members of Nazi Germany’s death squad.Benjamin Ferencz died last Friday, April 7, at the age of 103. He was the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials. Today, we're sharing our conversation from 2018.Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.Listen back through our archives at youtube.com/criminalpodcast. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Benjamin Ferencz was 27 years old, he prosecuted his very first trial. There were 22 defendants, each of them high-ranking members of Nazi Germany’s death squad. The entire world was watching.Today, we take a look at the Nuremberg trials and their role in defining international law after World War II.This episode originally aired in 2018—this version includes an update with Benjamin Ferencz, who celebrated his 101st birthday earlier this year.Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website.Criminal is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices