The Curiohaus trials in Hamburg, Germany, were a series of war crime trials conducted by British military courts from 1945 to 1949.

*Overview*
- 188 military trials focusing on Nazi war crimes were held against 504 defendants at Curiohaus, a representative assembly hall in Hamburg.
- The British military courts tried senior ranking members of the SS and Gestapo for issuing orders for individual crimes.

*Notable Trials*
- The Peleus Case: The first trial held at Curiohaus, it involved Lieutenant Heinz Eck and 4 crew members of the submarine U-852. They were charged with killing shipwrecked survivors of the Greek freighter Peleus. Eck and two others were sentenced to death.
- Bergen-Belsen Trials: A series of trials held for concentration camp guards, resulting in 11 death sentences and 19 prison terms in the first trial.
- Main Neuengamme Concentration Camp Trial: 14 defendants were tried for crimes committed in the Neuengamme concentration camp. 11 were sentenced to death and 3 to prison terms.
- Ravensbrück Concentration Camp Trial: 16 defendants, including 3 female guards and 3 female prisoner functionaries, were tried for crimes committed in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. 11 were sentenced to death and 4 to prison terms.

*Challenges*
-Scale of Crimes.
-Lack of Resources: The Allied powers faced significant resource constraints, including limited personnel, funding and infrastructure.
-War crimes cases involved complex factual and legal issues, making it difficult to gather evidence and prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Political Considerations: The postwar period was marked by shifting political priorities, and other concerns, such as rebuilding and stabilising Europe.
- Documentation Issues: Many records and documents about war crimes were destroyed or tampered with,or incomplete due to being lost or dispersed, making it harder to reconstruct events.

Perpetrators escaped justice through new identities and moving to foreign countries. There was a lack of international cooperation. War criminals also had their sentences commuted or were paroled and released early due to good behaviour, health issues, or political pressure.

To my shame, I had never heard of the Curiohaus Trials before reading this book. When in the context of war crime trials, my mind goes to Nuremberg. But only a few of the millions of war criminals were tried there. Most of those in British custody were tried in Hamburg at the Curiohaus. The Curiohaus trials were poorly documented (archives and transcripts went missing) but thankfully, the author of this book conducted meticulous research to piece the puzzle together. Fascinating photographs bring life and personality to those involved. In some cases, the evidence against these criminals was overwhelming but an astounding number were acquitted and/or released from prison, even when previously sentenced to death. Very few paid for their crimes and many lived out their natural lives all over the world.

"You did it, too" and "I was just following orders" were amongst the appalling excuses which were given, even by those who admitted to their roles in the Zyklon B Trial. They felt their actions were justified. One Nazi said he tried to feel for the pulse of a prisoner with his foot while wearing his boot on the unfortunate man's neck! Amongst other horrors, disabled German children were seen by Nazis as "useless eaters" and were therefore experimented on or murdered. Not only does the author highlight the heinous crimes and trials but also discusses the Soviets who went from allies to enemies, basically using scorched earth practices (and others).

Stories such as these are incredibly difficult to read, knowing they involved real people. On the one hand, millions of innocent people were ruthlessly hunted and murdered. On the other, the killers professed their justifications and often went free. My heart was crushed and my mind infuriated at the injustice. But this is a very, very important book to read. I am grateful for those brave survivors who told their stories and testified against their murderers. I cannot fathom that level of courage.

The Curiohaus Trials: Bringing the Nazis to Justice 1945–1949
By Russell Kent
Pendant Sword Publishing, 2025..

In The Curiohaus Trials: Bringing the Nazis to Justice 1945–1949, Russell Kent offers a comprehensive examination of the British military’s post-World War II war crimes trials held at the Curiohaus in Hamburg. The book meticulously details the legal foundations and proceedings that sought to hold Nazi officials, military personnel, and collaborators accountable for their wartime actions.

Kent begins by establishing the legal framework of these trials. In Chapter 1, he discusses the Vienna Convention, providing a specific definition of what constitutes a war crime under that framework. Subsequent chapters present a series of case studies focusing on different types of crimes. Chapter 2 examines trials for the murder of captured British soldiers, while Chapter 3 delves into cases related to forced labor. Chapter 4 shifts focus to crimes committed against children, and Chapter 5 revisits issues of forced labor within work and education camps. Although Chapters 3 and 5 both address forced labor, their overlapping content may feel somewhat repetitive to readers. Chapter 6 covers killings during the war’s final phase, and Chapter 7 documents the conclusion of British military courts in Germany.

Notably, many of the crimes discussed occurred between 1943 and 1945, often just days before Allied forces took control. This close timeframe underscores the overlapping nature of some case studies.

Overall, The Curiohaus Trials: Bringing the Nazis to Justice 1945–1949 is a well-researched account that illuminates the legal and historical dimensions of post-war justice. While its detailed legal analysis may challenge readers not already familiar with the subject, the book remains a valuable resource for those interested in the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Pendant Sword Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.