November Blog: 80th Anniversary of Nuremberg Trials
Welcome to our November Blog!
See below for a discussion of:
- 80th Anniversary of the start of the Nuremberg Trials
- Other anniversaries this month
- New Curriculum news
- Winter break reading ideas!
We wish all students and teachers who have just finished the November examination session a lovely, well earned break!
80th Anniversary of the start of the Nuremberg Trials
November 20th marks the start of the landmark military tribunals in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1945. It was the first international military tribunal to try a total of 199 defendants for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also established individual responsibility for committing war crimes, rejecting the defence of following the orders of superiors.
This brief news video gives an overview of the trials, how it set an enduring precedent for international law and the development of other international bodies such as the ICC.
This article from The Conversation, discusses the trials in more detail and picks up on issues raised in the video such as how events at Nuremberg impacted international law post 1945, and also if such ‘a reckoning’ could happen today. Its conclusion is that, despite global leaders committing human rights atrocities, ‘…With growing divisions in the world today, another Nuremberg is unlikely to happen any time soon’.
A book focused on the development of international criminal law at Nuremberg (also referenced in the article above) which we have mentioned in a previous Blog is East West Street by Philippe Sands. We would highly recommend this book: ‘A compelling family memoir [which] intersects with the story of the Jewish legal minds who sowed the seeds for human rights law at the Nuremberg trials’
As the reader goes deeper into the story of East West Street, they are confronted with the complex, multi-layered, and intertwining narratives of the main characters and the fate that befell them during and after the Holocaust. From the outset, the concepts of crimes against humanity and genocide are introduced in connection with their intellectual parents Lauterpacht and Lemkin, and the book makes a point of chronicling their evolution as individuals alongside the development of their contributions to international criminal law.
This anniversary is also recognised by the movie industry.
Nuremburg starring Russell Crowe (see image at top of page) is released this month to coincide with the 80th Anniversary.
It has mixed reviews, but we're looking forward to watching it over the forthcoming holiday and could be a good movie to recommend to students.
Armistice Day
This month also sees the commemoration of the end of the First World War.
We have shared the following resource on a previous blog, but it is worth reminding you of it again as it is so excellent on the consequences of the First World War, and is relevant for all Paper 3 regional options.
The panel of historians on this episode of 'In our Time' includes Margaret MacMillan Emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford, Michael Cox Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Founding Director of LSE IDEAS and Patricia Clavin Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford.
In Our Time - The Economic Consequences of the Peace (Archive Episode) - BBC Sounds (BBC)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Keynes' influential attack on the Treaty of Versailles
Other November Anniversaries
Other anniversaries this month include the following. Any of these - all of which link to the DP History course - could form the focus of a display/assembly/research by students.
30 years
- 1 November, 1995 - local government elections took place in South Africa, end of the apartheid system. Links to PS4, P3 Africa, P2 Democratic states
- 4 November 4, 1995 - Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin was assassinated. Relevant to current global issues. Linked to P3 Africa and ME / P2 Wars
- 16 November, 1995 - Europe United Nations charged Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, and military commander Mladic with genocide. Relevant for PS5 / P3
50 years
- 22 November 22, 1975 - Juan Carlos was sworn in as King of Spain, following death of General Francisco Franco who had ruled since 1939. Relevant to P2 T10, P3 Europe
New Curriculum published soon!
In February the IB will publish the full and final curriculum guide for the new DP History course.
First teaching will start in August 2026, in time for the May examinations in 2028.
The 3rd Curriculum Review can be found on MyIB along with a Final Curriculum Review Report which was published in April.
To help you manage the transition to the new curriculum, please note that we will have our site ready with new materials and guidance in good time to begin teaching in August 2026:
- Early next year, we will start releasing materials to help you start planning your courses
- We will also be offering Think-Ins for the new curriculum.
More details to follow!
History winter break reads!
See below for some recently published history books which you might enjoy over the forthcoming break: