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Three witness applications signed by Joachim von Ribbentrop while preparing his defense at the Nuremberg trials, seeking testimony from Swiss diplomats Carl Jacob Burckhardt and Peter Anton Feldscher, and German diplomat Dr. Fritz Hesse, to support his claims that he had intervened with Hitler to uphold the Geneva Convention and ensure humane treatment of prisoners of war:
- Partly-printed DS, in German, signed “J. v. Ribbentrop,” one page, 8 x 12.75, February 13, 1946. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Ribbentrop and his defense lawyer request testimony from the "Professor Burckhardt," citing his knowledge of these facts: "Ribbentrop accomplished through his intervention with the Führer the unshackling of English prisoners of war; he emphatically requested observance of the Geneva Convention and informed Burckhardt about this." Ribbentrop states that the testimony will "refute counts I and II of the indictment and individual indictment as well as the oral charges, presented by the prosecution against Ribbentrop." Signed at the conclusion in pencil by Joachim von Ribbentrop, and countersigned by his defense counsel. In fine condition, with professional cleaning to the paper. Accompanied by a contemporary English translation.
- Partly-printed DS, in German, signed “J. v. Ribbentrop,” one page, 8 x 13, February 13, 1946. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Ribbentrop and his defense lawyer request testimony from "Ambassador Feldscher," citing his knowledge of "Ribbentrop's efforts to absolutely conform with the Geneva Convention in the treatment of prisoners of war and his presentation to the Führer against a deviation from this convention." Ribbentrop states that the testimony is necessary for the "refutation of points III and IV of the indictment." Signed at the conclusion in pencil by Joachim von Ribbentrop, and countersigned by his defense counsel. Backed by archival paper and in fine condition, with professional cleaning and some small restorations to tiny edge tears and losses. Accompanied by a contemporary English translation.
- Partly-printed DS, in German, signed “J. v. Ribbentrop,” one page, 8 x 13, February 13, 1946. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Ribbentrop and his defense lawyer request testimony from "Dr. Hesse," citing his knowledge of "the efforts of Ribbentrop for absolute compliance with the Geneva Convention concerning the treatment of prisoners of war and his representations to the Führer against a deviation from this convention." Ribbentrop states that the testimony is necessary "to refute counts II and IV of the indictment, as well as the oral charges brought against Ribbentrop by the prosecution." Signed at the conclusion in pencil by Joachim von Ribbentrop, and countersigned by his defense counsel. Backed by archival paper and in fine condition, with professional cleaning and some small restorations to tiny edge tears and losses.
Joachim von Ribbentrop served as Hitler's Reich Foreign Minister from 1938 to 1945 and was among the most senior Nazi officials tried at Nuremberg. The three applications reflect a coordinated effort to portray Ribbentrop as an advocate for the humane treatment of prisoners of war who had personally opposed violations of international law. Carl Jacob Burckhardt was a Swiss diplomat who served as League of Nations High Commissioner for the Free City of Danzig before the war and later as president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Peter Anton Feldscher was Switzerland's diplomatic representative in Berlin and an important intermediary in wartime humanitarian matters, while Dr. Fritz Hesse was a German diplomat, journalist, and Ribbentrop's expert adviser on British affairs.
Central to these applications was Ribbentrop's claim that he had intervened with Hitler to secure the removal of shackles from British prisoners of war and had consistently advocated adherence to the Geneva Convention. The question of shackling had become a serious diplomatic and humanitarian controversy during the war, particularly after Germany began chaining British and Canadian prisoners in retaliation for alleged Allied treatment of German captives. By seeking testimony from individuals familiar with diplomatic negotiations and humanitarian initiatives, Ribbentrop hoped to demonstrate that he had resisted such measures and exercised a moderating influence within Hitler's government. The applications formed part of a broader defense strategy pursued by his counsel, Dr. Martin Horn, to distance Ribbentrop from the regime's criminal policies and depict him as a traditional diplomat carrying out Hitler's directives.
During proceedings on February 25, 1946, British prosecutor Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe addressed the applications for Burckhardt and Feldscher, arguing that their testimony should be supported by firsthand knowledge rather than merely repeating Ribbentrop's own assertions. Horn agreed that written interrogatories could substitute for their personal appearances. Ultimately, Ribbentrop's attempts to portray himself as a moderating influence were overshadowed by extensive documentary evidence of his active participation in Nazi aggression and persecution, including his role in negotiating the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact and pressuring Germany's allies to deport their Jewish populations. The International Military Tribunal convicted him on all four counts—conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity—and sentenced him to death. He was executed by hanging on October 16, 1946, the first of the condemned Nazi leaders to be executed at Nuremberg.
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