Archives West Finding Aid

The United States of America vs. Ernst von Weizsäcker, et al., also known as "The Ministries Trial" or U.S. Military Tribunal IV, Case No. 11, was the eleventh of the twelve trials held in Nuremberg, Germany, after the end of World War II. These twelve trials were held before U.S. military tribunals in the Palace of Justice at Nuremberg following the International Military Tribunals conducted in 1945-1946. These twelve U.S. trials are collectively known as the "Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings," or the "Trials of War Criminals before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals" (NMT).

The Ministries Trial was the longest running of the Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings. The indictment was filed on November 15, 1947, and the hearings lasted from January 6, 1948 until November 18, 1948. The judges presented their 833-page judgment on April 11, 1949.

The 21 defendants in this case, including officials of various Reich ministries, state secretaries and members of the Nazi Party, were indicted for various charges relating to their roles in Nazi Germany, including crimes against peace and humanity committed during the war.

The judges in this case were William C. Christianson (presiding judge) from Minnesota, Robert F. Maguire from Oregon, and Leon W. Powers from Iowa. The Chief of Counsel for the Prosecution was Telford Taylor; the chief prosecutor was Robert M. W. Kempner.

This collection was given to the University of Oregon by Judge Robert Maguire in 1950. Many of the folders have Maguire's name on them, indicating that these were his copies of the trial documents.