One of the key goals of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg was to strip the defendants of any sense of privilege or rank. Military awards/credentials were stripped, badges/ribbons were removed from their uniforms, the firing squad as an alternative to hanging was denied in every instance, etc. This was done to emphasize that these were criminal charges against the defendants and their actions were not those of military men or “respectable opposition” like in past wars.
Hitler would have been unceremoniously thrown in the dock just like the others, likely taking the spot of Schacht who arguably should not have even been on trial at all (they only tried as many men as could fill the dock in that court room during the first/main trial). Anything more or less would just pad the man’s ego and make him a potential martyr for lingering Nazi diehards.
P.S. I highly recommend the following titles on Audible for all who find this topic interesting:
• The Nuremberg Trial by John Tusa
• The Nuremberg Interviews by Leon Goldensohn
• Pastor Gerecke’s memoirs about the prisoners (not a book but easily findable online)
It’s an excellent exercise in humanity to have an in-depth exposure to these men as they stared execution and their past actions in the face.
Given the geography of the war, wouldn't there be about a 99% chance the Soviets would get him first? Whatever they do, I don't see them waiting for Nuremberg!
About the only way he could end up in US/British hands would be if the coup in 1944 had succeeded (with him being captured instead of killed) and there was a negotiation to end the war early.
