REACTIONS OF THE PRISONERS TO VERDICT AND SENTENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1946, Page 5

REACTIONS OF THE PRISONERS TO VERDICT AND SENTENCE

Nuremberg, Oct. 1. This is what happened as each verdict was read:— Goering slumped in his seat and hung his head in his pudgy hands, his manner markedly contrasting his almost triumphal entry into the Court when he appeared beaming, apparently oblivious of the guilt about to be pronounced.

Streicher for the first time stopped chewing biscuits, and sat bolt upright, his chin thrust forward and scowling as he heard his conviction. Hess did not trouble to raise his head. Goering nudged him and whispered, but Hess still remained unconcerned.

Ribbentrop, after having nearly broken down during the final speech of the prosecution, made only a slight forward movement, with his head. He sat back sphinxlike at the verdict.

Rosenberg stroked his hair carefully and adjusted his headphones; then his face assumed an expression of gloom as the import of the verdict sank in. Frick flushed.

Von Schirach leaned forward as he was acquitted of plotting, but sagged as he was found guilty of other crimes.

Frank worked his dry lips and swallowed hard. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Keitel listened without a sign of emotion. Goering leaned forward to catch the eye of the man with whom he had joked an hour before, but Keitel kept his eyes fixed on the judge. His head was erect only once. He then relaxed and heaved his shoulders in a deep sigh and again sat bolt upright. Kaltenbrunner, taking Keitel s pattern, had a supercilious smirk but swallowed nervously as the final words were read. Raeder and Doenitz remained outwardly placid. Von Papen was congratulated by the other defendants when acquitted. This was in marked contrast to their reception of Schacht's acquittal, which they virtually ignored- Schacht, who had had spent the early morning taking down the verdicts of the others, braced himself for his own verdict. When Schacht’s verdict was announced Goering swung round and spoke to Hess. Goering, who was Schacht's deadly enemy for years, had been convinced throughout the trial that he himself would hang, but consoled himself with the thought that Schacht would be convicted also.

Funk was an Interesting study against Schacht. Funk, flabby-faced, who throughout the trial slumped in a rumpled suit, his chin on his chest, turned and gave a despairing look at his predecessor at the Reichsbank as he heard himself convicted. Later came the sentences.

The formula Lord Justice Lawrence used was: “On the counts of the indictment whereon you have been convicted the International Tribunal sentences you to”— When Lord Justice Lawrence began to pronounce the sentence on the first Nazi, Goering indicated that he could not hear. He bent down to the switchboard and stood up, and Lord Justice Lawrence said: “Can you hear me now?” Goering shook his head and another pair of headphones was handed to him. He adjusted them and smiled faintly. The clear-cut voice again sounded: “Hermann Wilhelm Goering," etc., after which for the moment Goering stood stiffly, his eyes stony, his chin thrust out, and his body immobile. Then he took off the headphones and in deliberale and unhurried steps vanished from sight. Hess quickly entered- He declined the headphones and stood facing Lord Justice Lawrence for sentence. Jodi stared languidly at the Court during his sentence. Seyss Inquart hung grimly to the bannister of the dock, then gathered himself together and departed. Von Neurath, wearing an old and worn dark suit, listened limply to his sentence of virtual life imprisonment. Kaltenbrunner bowed stiffly before turning to leave the dock after his sentence.

Frank bit his lip, then looked toward the roof and nodded briefly. Streicher maintained a stern, aloof look and appeared unable to realise his life sentence. He paused longer than the others before leaving the dock.

Doenitz stood rigidly at attention. Raeder swallowed and appeared about to speak. Von Schirach walked with an air of deliberation from the dock to begin his 20 years. Ribbentrop, grey and sickly, stood stunned, and he was helped out by a soldier.

Keitel turned silently and made his exit. Rosenberg straightened his coat, folded his hands, and awaited his sentence impassively. Frick was haggard and bowed curtly. Sauckel greeted his death sentence with a sneer-

There was dead silence as the defendants filed into the dock at intervals of two or three minutes for sentence. Lord Justice Lawrence did not. wear the black cap when sentencing the Nazis to death. He read all the sentences in the same calm, judicial voice as heard from the beginning of the trial. He used the same formula announcing the sentences except in the case of Bormann, when he used the third person. (Bormann is believed to be dead, but was tried by the Court in his absence.)