Der Mythos vom Präventivkrieg? Mansteins Aussage bei den Nürnberger Prozessen (1946)

On August 9, 1946, German Field Marshal Erich von Manstein testified as a witness at the Nuremberg Trials. He was questioned by Dr. Hans Laternser, the defense attorney for the German General Staff and High Command of the Wehrmacht. In his testimony, von Manstein stated that, in his view, the war against the Soviet Union had been conceived as a "preventive war." He also claimed that Adolf Hitler had largely bypassed the generals in the decision to attack the Soviet Union. This video examines the historical context of this statement, the role of the Wehrmacht leadership, and the significance of this defense strategy during the Nuremberg Trials. How did leading military figures attempt to portray their responsibility—and how do historians assess these statements today? 📚 Topics in the video: • The Nuremberg Trials and the role of the General Staff • Erich von Manstein's testimony on August 9, 1946 • The debate surrounding the so-called "preventive war" against the Soviet Union • The responsibility of the Wehrmacht leadership in World War II An insight into a key chapter of the legal and historical reckoning after World War II. #NurembergTrials #Manstein #WorldWarII #History #Wehrmacht