The International Military Tribunal (IMT), or the Nuremberg Trials, organized by the victorious Allied powers immediately after World War II, aimed to hold the Nazis accountable for their crimes and restore a sense of justice in a world ravaged by violence.

Although the role played by the Soviet Union in organizing this judicial process was crucial, it is often overlooked in modern accounts. As Francine Hirsch demonstrates, without the participation of the USSR, Nuremberg would never have taken place: it was Soviet jurists who developed the legal framework that considered war as an international crime, providing the legal basis for the trial.

However, Stalin's attempts to remotely control the proceedings disrupted Soviet plans. The American side imposed its own prosecution strategy, and the Nazi defense openly raised the issue of the USSR's involvement in crimes against peace during Tribunal sessions. When relations between the four Allied countries finally deteriorated, Nuremberg transformed from a symbol of justice into an early front of the Cold War.

This book offers readers a front-row seat in the Nuremberg courtroom and a glimpse behind the scenes, where its organizers shared secrets, devised strategies, and forged alliances. Francine Hirsch is a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.