Watch Nuremberg Prosecutor: The Story of Benjamin Ferencz
- 2015
- 30 min
Nuremberg Prosecutor: The Story of Benjamin Ferencz is a documentary film that recounts the heroic story of Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg war crimes trials. Directed by Barry Avrich, the movie follows Ferencz's remarkable journey from his childhood in New York City to his work as a lawyer and advocate for international justice.
Ferencz was just 27 years old when he was recruited to serve as a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials in 1945. At the time, he was one of the youngest lawyers in the country, but he had already established himself as a brilliant legal mind with a deep commitment to justice. Together with a team of other prosecutors, Ferencz helped bring some of the most notorious Nazis to justice, including the high-ranking SS officers responsible for the death squads that roamed Eastern Europe during the war.
The movie brings together archival footage, interviews with Ferencz himself, and interviews with other legal and political professionals to tell the story of the Nuremberg trials and Ferencz's key role in them. We see how Ferencz prepared for the trials, the challenges he faced in navigating the immense complexity of the case, and the emotional toll the work took on him and his colleagues. We also learn more about Ferencz's personal life, including his family's experience fleeing anti-Semitism in Europe and his own military service during the war.
After the trial, Ferencz continued to work as a lawyer, dedicating his career to promoting international justice and advocating for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. He played a key role in the development of the International Criminal Court, and has spent decades fighting against war crimes and genocide around the world. The movie shows how Ferencz's experiences at Nuremberg shaped his worldview and set him on a path of activism that continues to this day.
Overall, Nuremberg Prosecutor: The Story of Benjamin Ferencz is a moving and inspiring tribute to one of the most remarkable legal minds of our time. The movie provides a window into an extraordinary moment in history, but it also offers important insights into the ongoing struggle for justice and peace in our world today. For anyone interested in the history of international law, the Nuremberg trials, or the legacy of the Holocaust, this film is an essential watch.