Finding aid for the Major Alfred G. Wurmser collection of Nuremberg Trial documents
6058
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2014 May
Title: Major Alfred G. Wurmser collection of Nuremberg Trial documents
Collection number: 6058
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.21 Linear feet
1 box
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1946-1947
Date (inclusive): 1931-1947
Abstract: This collection of documents on the Nuremberg Trials was collected by Captain (later Major) Alfred G. Wurmser, a staff member
of the British War Crimes Executive. The collection contains signatures of defendants and legal staff, letters, photographs,
a report, and a pencil sketch.
creator:
British War Crimes Executive.
creator:
Wurmser, Alfred G., Major
Scope and Content
This collection of documents on the Nuremberg Trials was collected by Captain (later Major) Alfred G. Wurmser, a staff member
of the British War Crimes Executive. The collection contains signatures of defendants and legal staff, letters, photographs,
a report, and a pencil sketch.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Major Alfred G. Wurmser collection of Nuremberg Trial documents, Collection no. 6058, Special
Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Acquisition
Purchased from Eric Chaim Kline, April 21, 2014.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
British War Crimes Executive. -- Archives
Wurmser, Alfred G., Major -- Archives
Autographs (manuscripts)
Letters
Nuremberg War Crime Trials, Nuremberg, Germany, 1946-1949--Archival resources
Photographs
Reports
Trials--Germany--Nuremberg--20th century--Archival resources
Box 1, Folder 1
Nurnberg Prison 1945-1946, Palace of Justice
1945-1946
Scope and Content
Original beige file folder with black lettering on the front and crest depicting the scale of Justice over a broken Nazi eagle.
The inside of the folder contains the signatures of all 21 war crime defendants (out of 22; Martin Bormann was tried in absentia).
The signatures are arranged in groups. This document may have been created and assembled by an American guard at the prison
who had access to the prisoners during the trial. The signatures are on paper blocks pasted to the folder, and they are of
different sizes and widths. The signatures are arranged next to mounted typed lists with last name entries only. The organization
of the signatures and their positioning on each slip of paper might be explained by Colonel Burton C. Andrus's (commander
of the Palace of Justice and the prison complex) decision to introduce a "social hour" for the prisoners while they were awaiting
the decision of the court.
Box 1, Folder 2
War Crimes Trial: Judgement and Verdict
1946 September
Scope and Content
Bound document containing 16 pages of "British War Crimes Executive [E.S.]" stationery. Includes 2 passes giving access to
the International Military Tribunal - Final Judgment - Session 5, Main Court, Seats 6 and 7. The first page is unnumbered
and contains the Index. It is followed by a page containing the signatures of the 8 Allied Judges and their Alternates; Instructions;
2 pages with mounted black and white photographs depicting the Judges and defendants; the names of the Judges and their Alternates;
the floor plan of the courtroom; the seating plan of the accused; short biographies of the 21 defendants; 2 blank pages; and
a page with 11 signatures (barristers, British legal advisors, prosecutors).
Box 1, Folder 3
British War Crimes Executive [E.S.] stationery containing 53 signatures
circa 1946
Scope and Content
Signatures of: 13 chief prosecutors, counsels and assistants; 28 signatures of defense attorneys and associate counsels; 12
signatures of members of the French delegation; 12 signatures of members of the Polish delegation.
Box 1, Folder 4
Nurnberg, by Charles W. Alexander
1946
Scope and Content
12 signatures on front endpaper, including prosecutors, alternates, and Tribunal presidents.
Box 1, Folder 5
Paul von Hindenburg letter
1931 April 28
Scope and Content
4 pages, typed. Stationery is printed with "Der Reichsprasident". Letter from von Hindenburg to Dr. Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach
at his Villa Hugel in Essen. Von Hindenburg thanks him for his outstanding work as president of the supervisory board of the
Bank fur Deutsche Industrieobligationen.
Box 1, Folder 6
Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg letter
1936 October 1
Scope and Content
Typed and signed 1 page letter. Von Blomberg, German Generalfeldmarschall, Minister of War, and Commander in Chief of the
German Armed Forces (until January 1938) writes to Dr. Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach allowing him "on special occasions only"
to wear his old Hussar Regiment of the Guards uniform. The printed "Der Reichswehrminister" heading on the paper has been
crossed out and replaced by a "Der Reichskriegminister" stamp above it.
Box 1, Folder 7
Visiting card inscribed and signed by Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach
circa 1930s
Box 1, Folder 8
Photographic postcard of Hitler
circa 1930s
Box 1, Folder 9
Two photographic reproductions of scenes from the first Nuremberg Trial
circa 1946
Box 1, Folder 10
Pencil sketch of Wilhelm Keitel during the Trial
1946 July 29
Box 1, Folder 11
Typed translation of an article from the Luneburger Post titled "18th of April in the concentration camp [of] Sandbostel"
1945 October 9
Box 1, Folder 12
Document fragment
1946 July 6
Scope and Content
Stamped with "International Military Tribunal" stamp and signatures of Robert M. W. Kempner, chief US counsel) and Robert
Servatius (defense attorney).
Box 1, Folder 13
Document fragment
circa 1946
Scope and Content
Signature of Alfred Thoma, defense attorney.
Box 1, Folder 14
Document fragment
circa 1946
Scope and Content
Signature of Dr. Walter Siemens, defense attorney.
Box 1, Folder 15
Document fragment
1946 August 28
Scope and Content
Signature of Joachim von Ribbentrop.
Box 1, Folder 16
British War Crimes Executive pass
circa 1946
Scope and Content
Issued to Captain A.G. Wurmser and his party to "work until such time as may be required to complete their task at the Court
House. Military Police are hereby requested to exempt this party from all curfew restrictions."
Box 1, Folder 17
Foreign Office Library letter
1947 June 5
Scope and Content
To Captain Wurmser in response to a request for a copy of the Rulings of the Tribunal.
Box 1, Folder 18
Photograph
circa 1947
Scope and Content
Major Alfred G. Wurmser and the other 12 members of the British War Crimes Executive.
