Criminal Charges

"The Defendant Bormann bears a major responsibility for promoting the accession to power of the Nazi conspirators, the consolidation of their total power over Germany, and the preparation for aggressive war set forth in Count I of the Indictment"(1). Due to his involvement with the SA, Bormann "shares responsibility for the illegal activities of the SA in furtherance of the conspiracy" (2). Bormann is also responsible for his acts in persecution of the Christian church and his individual persecution of the Jews. Bormann was given orders from Hitler, but Bormann remains responsible because he carried those orders out. Bormann also ordered harsh treatment and extermination of allied prisoners of war, as well as "for the organized lynching of Allied airman"(3). Bormann is being charged for his "authorization and (his) participation in overt acts denominated war crimes, crimes against humanity"(4).

Bormann fled after the Battle of Berlin on May 2, 1945. Many sightings were reported over the next several years, but his remains were not officially discovered until 1971. He was tried at Nuremberg in absentia after several trial postponements and debates over his case (5). To quote Lambert: Bormann is "shown in our evidence to have been a leader and organizer and inciter and accomplice of this conspiracy...we submit, even though Bormann is not here, every man in the dock shares responsibility for his criminal acts" (6).