A difficult chapter in German history is coming to theaters in May 2026 with a star-studded cast. In “Nuremberg,” Russell Crowe plays the accused Nazi criminal Hermann Göring during his final weeks. Find out here what the film is about and where traces of the Nuremberg Trials can still be seen in Germany today.
The Nuremberg Trials marked a turning point in international politics. From November 20, 1945, to October 1, 1946, some of Nazi Germany’s highest-ranking politicians, military officers, bureaucrats, and concentration camp commanders stood trial at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg before an ad hoc criminal tribunal convened by the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. Today, the Nuremberg Trials are thus regarded as the “birth of international criminal law.”
Twenty-four principal defendants stood trial in Nuremberg, charged with crimes against humanity, among other offenses. The highest-ranking defendant was Hermann Göring, “Reich Marshal” and Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, and Heinrich Himmler had already committed suicide by that time. Public interest therefore focused particularly on Göring.
“Nuremberg” in Theaters
And that remains the case to this day. In James Vanderbilt’s film “Nuremberg,” set to premiere in German theaters on May 7, 2026, the story centers primarily on the relationship between Hermann Göring, played by Russell Crowe, and the U.S. court psychologist Douglas M. Kelley, played by Rami Malek. During the trials, Kelley’s tasks included assessing the defendants’ mental capacity. He therefore spent a great deal of time with them.
The film thrives not least on its excellent cast. In addition to the central leading duo of Crowe and Malek, the film features Michael Shannon as the U.S. chief prosecutor Robert H. Jackson, Leo Woodall as the translator Sgt. Howie Trest, and Colin Hanks as prison psychologist Gustave M. Gilbert. Many German actors also appear in the film, including Andreas Pietschmann (“Dark”), Peter Jordan (“Mittagsstunde”), and Tom Keune (“Zwei zu Eins”).
Traces of the Nuremberg Trials
Those who wish to delve deeper into the history of the trials can do so on a trip to Nuremberg. The Palace of Justice, where the trials were held, still stands today, and “Courtroom 600” has also been preserved. For a long time, it was only accessible outside of regular court hours. But since 2020, it has been open daily as part of the “Memorium Nuremberg Trials” museum. However, the hall bears only a limited resemblance to the well-known film footage. For the trials, an entire wall was removed and numerous benches were brought into the hall. A virtual installation, however, at least gives an idea of what the hall looked like during the trials.
The building also houses a permanent exhibition spanning more than 300 square meters, offering a comprehensive insight into the history and proceedings of the Nuremberg Trials. Another section of the permanent exhibition is dedicated to the legal prosecution of Nazi criminals after 1946. The exhibition also explains the significance of the Nuremberg Trials for the establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
👉 Click here to visit the website of the Memorium Nuremberg Trials.
A visit to the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds is also a must-see on your itinerary. The vast site, built by the Nazis to symbolize their own ambitions, reveals the full extent of the ideology’s megalomania. Today, the gigantic Congress Hall houses an exhibition spanning over 1,600 square meters about the Nazi Party Rallies held here. The exhibition spaces have undergone significant redesigns in recent years. Therefore, until May 3, 2026, “only” the interim exhibition “Nuremberg – Site of the Nazi Party Rallies” will be on view. Starting May 22, 2026, the new permanent exhibition “Nuremberg and the Nazi Party Rallies” will open, initially in a trial run. The official opening will then take place in November 2026.
👉 Click here to visit the website of the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds.
