Ribbentrop Appears at Opening of IMT
Ribbentrop appeared in the defendants' dock when the International Military Tribunal opened proceedings against the principal surviving leaders of Nazi Germany.
Role range: 1939-1945
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Joachim von Ribbentrop Biography and Timeline
Follow Joachim von Ribbentrop through 33 dated historical records for Germany.
Joachim von Ribbentrop, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
33Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1945–1946Years on this page
1945
Ribbentrop Pleads Not Guilty before Tribunal
When called upon to answer the indictment, Ribbentrop entered a plea of not guilty to the charges brought against him before the International Military Tribunal.
Role range: 1939-1945
1946
Defence Witnesses Address Ribbentrop British Policy
Ribbentrop's defence presented witnesses who discussed his attempts to cultivate Anglo-German relations and his conduct while serving as ambassador in London.
Role range: 1939-1945
Paul Schmidt Evidence Examines Ribbentrop Foreign Office Role
Interpreter Paul Schmidt gave evidence about Ribbentrop's work in the Foreign Office, his diplomatic style and his relationship with senior officials and Hitler.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Defence Evidence Turns to Anglo German Diplomacy
The defence used testimony concerning the 1935 Naval Agreement and later diplomatic contacts to present Ribbentrop as an advocate of accommodation with Britain.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Addresses Austrian Crisis of 1938
His testimony examined the Austrian crisis, including meetings with Chancellor Schuschnigg and Ribbentrop's claim that closer political union should be achieved through agreement.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Addresses Secret Protocol Negotiations
His evidence addressed the confidential arrangements negotiated with the Soviet Union concerning spheres of interest in eastern Europe alongside the public non-aggression agreement.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Describes Final August 1939 British Contacts
Ribbentrop described the final diplomatic contacts with British ambassador Nevile Henderson and the unsuccessful effort to resolve the German-Polish confrontation before hostilities began.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Describes Polish Crisis Diplomatic Exchanges
Ribbentrop recounted the worsening German-Polish crisis of 1939 and presented his version of the proposals exchanged among Berlin, Warsaw and London before war began.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Discusses German Soviet Non Aggression Pact
Ribbentrop testified about his mission to Moscow and the negotiations that produced the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact shortly before the invasion of Poland.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Discusses Sudeten and Czechoslovak Questions
Ribbentrop described German policy toward Czechoslovakia and the Sudeten dispute while defending his role in the diplomatic steps that preceded the Munich settlement.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Explains Danzig and Corridor Negotiations
The defence questioned Ribbentrop about negotiations with Poland over Danzig, minority issues and a transport connection across the Polish Corridor.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Testifies on Appointment as Foreign Minister
Ribbentrop described his appointment as Foreign Minister in February 1938 and explained how he assumed control of the ministry after serving as ambassador in London.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Addresses Policy toward France after 1940
His testimony reviewed German diplomatic policy toward defeated France and the limited efforts made to obtain closer political collaboration with the Vichy government.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Addresses War Declaration on United States
His defence testimony examined Germany's declaration of war on the United States and Ribbentrop's account of the legal and strategic considerations discussed after Pearl Harbor.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Discusses Balkan Neutrality Policy
Ribbentrop stated that German diplomacy sought to keep the Balkans out of the wider war while monitoring British and French military activity in southeastern Europe.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Explains Second Moscow Mission
He described his September 1939 return to Moscow, where German and Soviet representatives negotiated a new boundary arrangement following the defeat of Poland.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Responds to Foreign Office Jewish Policy Document
Ribbentrop was questioned about a Foreign Office circular concerning the Jewish question and denied treating the document as an important statement of his own policy.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Testifies on Memel Settlement
Ribbentrop gave evidence about the return of Memel to Germany and portrayed the settlement with Lithuania as a negotiated solution to a longstanding territorial dispute.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Testifies on Tripartite Pact Purpose
Ribbentrop characterized the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Japan as a diplomatic measure intended to strengthen Germany's position and discourage United States intervention.
Role range: 1939-1945
Cross Examination Tests Ribbentrop Soviet Pact Account
Questions from defence counsel for other defendants and prosecutors tested Ribbentrop's description of the German-Soviet agreements and his part in negotiating their secret provisions.
Role range: 1939-1945
Maxwell Fyfe Begins Cross Examination of Ribbentrop
British prosecutor David Maxwell-Fyfe began cross-examining Ribbentrop about his diplomatic career, relations with Britain and knowledge of German plans for expansion and war.
Role range: 1939-1945
Maxwell Fyfe Challenges Ribbentrop on British Intentions
Maxwell-Fyfe challenged Ribbentrop's account of Anglo-German relations and questioned whether he had understood before the war that Britain would resist further German expansion.
Role range: 1939-1945
Amen Questions Ribbentrop Loyalty to Hitler
American prosecutor John Amen questioned Ribbentrop about his pledge not to create difficulties for Hitler and his willingness to carry out decisions even after voicing disagreement.
Role range: 1939-1945
French Prosecution Questions Ribbentrop on Occupied Europe
French prosecutor Edgar Faure questioned Ribbentrop about Foreign Office involvement in occupied European territories and the diplomatic administration of German control.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Cross Examination Concludes
After questioning by British, French, American and Soviet prosecutors, Ribbentrop's extended appearance as a defendant witness came to an end.
Role range: 1939-1945
Rudenko Questions Ribbentrop on Soviet Invasion Policy
Soviet chief prosecutor Roman Rudenko challenged Ribbentrop over the attack on the Soviet Union and his claim that the invasion should be regarded as preventive rather than aggressive.
Role range: 1939-1945
Horn Opens Final Defence Plea for Ribbentrop
Defence counsel Martin Horn began his final plea for Ribbentrop, arguing that the former Foreign Minister's diplomatic activities did not establish criminal responsibility for aggressive war.
Role range: 1939-1945
Horn Continues Final Argument on Ribbentrop Responsibility
Horn continued the final defence argument, addressing Ribbentrop's relationship with Hitler, the limits of Foreign Office authority and allegations concerning war crimes and persecution.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Delivers Final Statement to Tribunal
Ribbentrop used his final statement to reject the prosecution's interpretation of German foreign policy and to deny that he had knowingly planned a war of aggression.
Role range: 1939-1945
IMT Verdict for Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ribbentrop is convicted and sentenced to death for his central diplomatic role in aggression and related crimes.
Role range: 1939-1945
Execution of von Ribbentrop
At 01:16 on 16 October 1946, von Ribbentrop was hanged in the prison gymnasium by U.S. Army executioner John C. Woods after identifying himself and making a final statement.
Role range: 1939-1945
Ribbentrop Executed after IMT Sentence
Ribbentrop is hanged after the Tribunal's death sentence becomes final and clemency petitions fail.
Role range: 1939-1945
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.