What could Hitler have said if he had been caught and put on trial at Nuremberg?
In 1945, after visiting Berchtesgaden, John F. Kennedy wrote: “Hitler had the qualities of a legend. In time, he may be seen as one of history’s most significant figures.” At Nuremberg, Hitler might have argued: “I didn’t deceive anyone. I was shaped by Europe, not just Germany, and I created a new Europe. I made my goals clear from the start. In my speech, ‘Why We Are Anti-Semites,’ and in Mein Kampf, I stressed that my mission was to eliminate European Jews and invade the Soviet Union for ‘Living Space.’ Why is anyone shocked I did what I said?”
With a smart lawyer, Hitler’s defense might have been:
- Hitler never gave a written or direct order for the Holocaust. While Eichmann claimed he was "following orders," Hitler could say, “I gave all orders, and I never ordered mass extermination.”
- Jewish critic George Steiner suggested Hitler could argue, “I got the idea of a Master Race from you. Who first called themselves the ‘Chosen People’? I acted on racial superiority, just like your Old Testament.”
- Hitler might have warned, “If you kill me today, tomorrow the Bolsheviks and Arabs will kill you. In Mein Kampf, I wrote, ‘The victor never has to explain his methods.’ You should’ve read it.”
In closing, Hitler could have said, “I wasn’t a magician or gangster forcing obedience. Millions, not just Germans, worshipped me. Even Churchill said, ‘If our country were defeated, I hope we’d find a leader as strong to bring us back’ (Evening Standard, 1937, ‘Friendship with Germany’)."
