The Role of the Criminal Defence in the Last Nazi Trials

In recent years, the late prosecutionlate prosecution of Nazi crimes has attracted a great deal of mediamedia attention. Rarely, however, has the focus been on the defence attorneys involved in those proceedings. This also holds true for the three most recent trials against two former guards and a stenographer who served at the StutthofStutthof concentration camp. The present article will therefore examine the role of the defence in the proceedings against Johann RehbogenRehbogen, Johann (Münster Regional Court, discontinued in 2019), Bruno DeyDey, Bruno (Hamburg Regional Court, concluded with a convictionConviction in 2020), and Irmgard FurchnerFurchner, Irmgard (Itzehoe Regional Court, concluded with a conviction in 2022) with an eye to the respective opening statements and further defence strategies as well as the related media coverage.