Execution of Goering
At about 22:45 on 15 October 1946, Goering bit a concealed potassium-cyanide capsule in his Nuremberg Prison cell and died before his scheduled hanging; guards and medical staff found him moments later.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1946 in Germany — Page 6
Explore 239 historical events and records for Germany in 1946.
Historical records for Germany in 1946
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 39 of 239 unique records.
239Unique records
6 of 6Page
39Named events on this page
26Named people on this page
5Places on this page
October
Goering Dies by Suicide before Execution
Goering kills himself with cyanide on the night before the scheduled executions, avoiding the death sentence by hanging.
The Murderers Are Among Us
Directs Die Morder sind unter uns, one of the first post-war German films.
Death of Hans Frank
Death of Hans Frank, executed for war crimes
Execution
Death of Hans Frank, executed for war crimes
Execution of Frank
At about 01:58 on 16 October 1946, Frank was hanged after quietly thanking his captors for their treatment and asking God for mercy before the trap was released.
Execution of Frick
At 02:08 on 16 October 1946, Frick was hanged in the prison gymnasium after stating 'Long live eternal Germany'; contemporary accounts record him being pronounced dead at about 02:20.
Execution of Jodl
At 02:34 on 16 October 1946, Jodl was hanged after giving a brief final greeting to Germany; he remained on the gallows while the last condemned prisoner was brought in.
Execution of Keitel
At about 01:20 on 16 October 1946, Keitel was hanged in the Nuremberg Prison gymnasium shortly after von Ribbentrop, having delivered a final statement before the trap was released.
Execution of Rosenberg
At 01:49 on 16 October 1946, Rosenberg was hanged at Nuremberg Prison; he declined to make a final statement before the hood and noose were placed and the trap released.
Execution of Sauckel
At 02:26 on 16 October 1946, Sauckel was hanged after declaring his innocence and speaking about Germany and his family; the trap was released while Streicher's execution was still being completed.
Execution of Streicher
At 02:14 on 16 October 1946, Streicher was hanged after shouting from the scaffold and addressing his wife; eyewitnesses reported movement and groaning after the trap opened.
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.
Frank Executed following IMT Conviction
Frank is hanged after receiving a death sentence for crimes committed under his rule in occupied Poland.
Frick Executed at Nuremberg Prison
Frick is executed by hanging after conviction for his participation in Nazi state policy, aggression and persecution.
Jodl Executed following IMT Death Sentence
Jodl is hanged after conviction for crimes connected with aggressive war and criminal military operations.
Keitel Executed at Nuremberg Prison
Keitel is executed by hanging for the crimes on which the International Military Tribunal convicted him.
Ribbentrop Executed after IMT Sentence
Ribbentrop is hanged after the Tribunal's death sentence becomes final and clemency petitions fail.
Rosenberg Executed at Nuremberg
Rosenberg is put to death by hanging after the Tribunal condemns his role in Nazi occupation policy and persecution.
Sauckel Executed for Forced Labour Crimes
Sauckel is hanged at Nuremberg Prison after the judgment fixes personal responsibility for directing the wartime forced-labour programme.
Streicher Executed after Crimes against Humanity Conviction
Streicher is hanged after the Tribunal finds him guilty of crimes against humanity arising from sustained incitement to persecution.
Trial
Found guilty of 3 war crimes & 4 crimes against humanity
Funk Begins Life Sentence after Nuremberg
Funk enters post-trial imprisonment under the life sentence imposed for his economic role in the Nazi regime.
Hess Begins Life Imprisonment after IMT
Hess begins serving the life sentence imposed for conspiracy and crimes against peace after completion of the Nuremberg proceedings.
Raeder Begins Life Imprisonment
Raeder begins serving the Tribunal's life sentence for his participation in naval planning and aggressive war.
Speer Begins Twenty-Year Sentence
Speer begins the twenty-year prison term imposed for his responsibility in forced-labour exploitation and the German war economy.
November
Milch Trial Indictment
Milch was indicted on charges involving forced labour, medical experiments and crimes against humanity.
December
Milch Trial Arraignment
Milch was arraigned before Military Tribunal II and pleaded not guilty.
Other events (month unknown)
Arrest of Josef Mengele
Arrested by the Allies but mistakenly released
Arrest of Rudolf Franz Ferdinand Hoess
Arrested by Allied military police, under the name of Franz Lang
Departure from Leipzig
Ends his Leipzig period after seventeen years in mathematical and theoretical physics.
In Den Wohnungen des Todes
Publication of "In Den Wohnungen des Todes"
Party Leader
Appointed Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party
Rector of Leipzig University
Gadamer serves as rector of Leipzig University.
Returns to Literary Writing
Heinrich Böll resumed writing after military service and wartime imprisonment.
SDP
Appointed Member of Social Democratic Party
Secretary General of CDU
Appointed Secretary General of the CDU
Socialist Unity Party
Helps establish the Socialist Unity Party
World Union for Progressive Judaism
Appointed Chairman of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.