Genuine contrition during the Nuremberg Trials was rare, but not entirely absent. Most of the 21 main defendants either denied responsibility, minimized their roles, or justified their actions as obedience to orders or necessities of war. However, a few showed glimpses of remorse or reflection, though how “genuine” this was is still debated.
Here are the most notable cases:
✅ Albert Speer (Hitler’s architect and Minister of Armaments)
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Most famous for expressing remorse.
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Speer accepted collective responsibility and said:
“In very general terms, I am guilty of having suppressed my own conscience.”
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He admitted moral failure and stated that the Nazi regime's crimes were unprecedented.
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Some historians argue this was partially self-serving and helped him receive a 20-year sentence instead of execution, but others believe he had sincere regret.
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Speer later reflected extensively on guilt and moral blindness in his memoirs.
⚠️ Hans Frank (Governor-General of occupied Poland)
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A devout Catholic, Frank seemed increasingly remorseful during the trial.
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He said:
“A thousand years will pass and still this guilt of Germany will not have been erased.”
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He quoted the Bible and claimed he had repented, describing himself as a “penitent sinner.”
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However, his repentance was mingled with self-pity and appeals to spiritual redemption rather than full political or ethical accountability.
❌ Rudolf Hess, Hermann Göring, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and others
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Showed no real contrition.
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Göring mocked the trial and remained defiant to the end.
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Hess feigned (or experienced) amnesia and showed no remorse.
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Ribbentrop insisted he was merely a diplomat doing his job.
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⚖️ In Summary:
| Defendant | Contrition Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Speer | Moderate to high | Accepted collective guilt; possibly sincere |
| Hans Frank | Moderate | Religious repentance; ambiguous motivation |
| Others (Göring, Ribbentrop, etc.) | Low or none | Defiant or dismissive |
So while genuine moral reckoning was rare at Nuremberg, Speer and Frank stand out as partial exceptions.
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