*this was a paper/"autobiography" i wrote for world history. the assiggnment was to find a historical figure who was in the nuremberg trials and do an autobigography of who that person was*.
My name is Otto Stahmer, and I am a witness. I am testifying for the defense in the Nuremberg trials, which are being held in Nuremberg, Germany. The men on trial are being accused of a heinous, horrific act that only a truly evil person could commit. These men are being charged with the worst crime of all, "crimes against humanity." I am here to defend these men, and to defend the rights of these men. Both the men on trial, and their rights have been violated, and I am here to do what I can to stop these horrible acts being placed upon these men.
The only defense I have for these men, is that they may, or may not have committed the horrible acts they are being accused of. Most likely, they did commit these acts, but when you accuse a man of something as sadistic as this, you must not just accuse the man, but ask why he was accused. The real reason these men did the acts they did was not because they took pleasure in watching hundreds, or thousands of people die, but because they did not want to die themselves, or watch loved ones or family members die. Maybe you personally would be strong enough to endure pain as bad as this to avoid killing people, but I can surly say, if you could endure such pain, you are one of the very, very few. These men were only doing what they thought was best for themselves and their family. Even if they had taken a stand to the acts being committed, they would only die and be replaced. What good would it do to replace a man who stood up for the right thing, but still the thing he stood up for was shattered? None, that is the plain and simple answer. These men were ordered, on their lives to follow what their superior told them. The men were only afraid for their lives, and if this is a crime, then I will personally execute these men myself.
