On May 07, 2026, AmerikaHaus NRW hosted a screening and discussion of the film Nuremberg in Cologne. The event featured guest speaker Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c. Claus Kreß, Professor of Criminal Law and Public International Law at the University of Cologne, who also serves as Special Adviser on the Crime of Aggression to the ICC Prosecutor. Joining him for the discussion was Helena Falke, doctoral researcher at the University of Bonn’s Institute for German and Rhenish Legal History.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, Nuremberg follows U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), who is tasked with evaluating the mental state of several high-ranking Nazis before and during the Nuremberg Trials – particularly of Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe). The film focuses on the relationship between Kelley and Göring, but it also touches upon the establishment of the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. The pre-movie discussion highlighted the enduring significance of the trials.

The twenty-odd men tried in Nuremberg were stand-ins for the entirety of Nazi leadership. They were charged with four counts: crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and conspiracy to commit these crimes. Rather than focusing on the committed genocide, the Nuremberg Trials centered on the war of aggression Germany had started. The legal revolution it embodied, as Professor Kreß explained, was holding individuals accountable rather than placing the blame on an abstract entity. Assembling an international tribunal to do so had no legal precedent. Professor Kreß quoted from the opening statement of Justice Robert H. Jackson, the Chief U.S. Prosecutor in Nuremberg that this was “one of the most significant tributes that power has ever paid to reason.”

The proceedings served as the foundation for establishing the International Criminal Court we know today. The infrastructure is now in place to charge leaders with war crimes as they are committed instead of acting retroactively. In his closing remarks, Professor Kreß reaffirmed that the court is patient, steadfast, and remains committed to the mission of justice at the core of its founding.

We cordially thank Professor Kreß for his insights, Helena Falke for her moderation, and the German-American Lawyers' Association for their cooperation. This event was kindly supported by the Federal Foreign Office.