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New page: The '''Nuremberg Defense''' was a defense used during the Nuremberg Trials by several Nazi war criminals. It essentially argues that the defendant...
The '''Nuremberg Defense''' was a [[legal defense|defense]] used during the [[Nuremberg Trials]] by several [[Nazi]] [[war crimes|war criminals]].
It essentially argues that the defendant cannot be held responsible for his actions as he was only "following orders". It is generally not accepted as a legitimate defense provided the defendant had a clear [[moral choice]] and an actual ability to refuse to carry out illegal orders, which under a [[totalitarian]] state such as [[Nazi Germany]] would probably just result in the individual being executed for insubordination.
[[William Calley]] also used the defense during his [[court-martial]] after the [[My Lai Massacre]].
It essentially argues that the defendant cannot be held responsible for his actions as he was only "following orders". It is generally not accepted as a legitimate defense provided the defendant had a clear [[moral choice]] and an actual ability to refuse to carry out illegal orders, which under a [[totalitarian]] state such as [[Nazi Germany]] would probably just result in the individual being executed for insubordination.
[[William Calley]] also used the defense during his [[court-martial]] after the [[My Lai Massacre]].