IMT Charter Establishes Four Categories of Liability
The Charter gives the Tribunal jurisdiction over conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Role range: 1939-1945
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Geoffrey Lawrence Biography and Timeline
Follow Geoffrey Lawrence through 13 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Geoffrey Lawrence, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
13Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1945–1946Years on this page
1945
Official Position Denied Complete Immunity
The Tribunal's Charter states that official rank, including head-of-state status, does not free a defendant from responsibility or automatically reduce punishment.
Role range: 1939-1945
Berlin Session Formally Receives Indictment
The Tribunal holds its first official session in Berlin, where the Allied prosecutors formally present the indictment before proceedings shift to Nuremberg.
Role range: 1939-1945
International Military Tribunal Opens at Nuremberg
Lawrence presides as the trial of the major German war criminals formally opens in the Palace of Justice.
Role range: 1939-1945
International Press Facilities Prepared
Courtroom alterations include a large press gallery so correspondents from many countries can report the unprecedented international proceeding.
Role range: 1939-1945
1946
Defence Final Arguments Enter Closing Phase
The Tribunal begins the final phase of defence argument after months of evidence from defendants, witnesses and documentary exhibits.
Role range: 1939-1945
Tribunal Adjourns to Prepare Judgment
Lawrence adjourns the court after final statements so the judges can complete deliberations on guilt, organizations and sentences.
Role range: 1939-1945
Judgment Reading Begins
Lawrence opens the public reading of the Tribunal's judgment, which continues into the following day.
Role range: 1939-1945
General Staff and High Command Not Declared Criminal
The Tribunal refuses to designate the General Staff and High Command as a criminal organization, while leaving individual responsibility unaffected.
Role range: 1939-1945
Gestapo Declared Criminal Organization
The Tribunal declares the Gestapo criminal within the limits stated in its judgment, enabling later proceedings against qualifying members.
Role range: 1939-1945
Nazi Leadership Corps Declared Criminal
The Tribunal finds specified levels of the Nazi Party Leadership Corps to constitute a criminal organization.
Role range: 1939-1945
SA Not Declared Criminal Organization
The Tribunal declines to declare the SA criminal as an organization under the Charter.
Role range: 1939-1945
SS and SD Declared Criminal Organizations
The Tribunal declares the SS, including the SD, criminal subject to the qualifications set out in the judgment.
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.