Joachim von Ribbentrop

Joachim von Ribbentrop (born Joachim Ribbentrop) (April 30, 1893–October 16, 1946) was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg trials.

Trial and execution

Ribbentrop was a defendant at the Nuremberg Trials, and the Allies' International Military Tribunal found him guilty of all charges proffered against him. Even in prison, Ribbentrop remained subservient to Hitler, stating "Even with all I know, if in this cell Hitler should come to me and say 'Do this!', I would still do it4."

Related Topics:
Nuremberg Trials - 4

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During the trial, Ribbentrop rather unsuccessfully attempted to deny his role in the war. For example, during his cross-examination, the prosecution brought up claims that he (along with Hitler and Göring) threatened the leader of Czechoslovakia, Emil Hacha, with a "threat of aggressive action." The questioning resulted in the following exchange http://www.vex.net/~nizkor/hweb/imt/tgmwc/tgmwc-10/tgmwc-10-96-06.shtml:

Related Topics:
Czechoslovakia - Emil Hacha

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::PROSECUTION: What further pressure could you put on the head of a country beyond threatening him that your Army would march in, in overwhelming strength, and your air force would bomb his capital?

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::RIBBENTROP: War, for instance.

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While not recorded in the trial transcript, Göring was said to have remarked, after hearing these words, that Ribbentrop deserved to hang, if only for his stupidity.

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Since Göring had committed suicide a few hours prior to the time of execution, Ribbentrop was the first politician to be hanged on the night of October 16, 1946. His last words were "Gott schütze Deutschland!" (God protect Germany).

Related Topics:
Suicide - Hanged - 1946 - God

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In 1953 Ribbentrop's memoirs, Zwischen London und Moskau, were published.

Related Topics:
1953 - Memoirs

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