Although this Tribunal is internationally constituted, it is an American court. The obligations which derive from these proceedings are, therefore, particularly binding on the United States. True it is that two wrongs do not make a right, and equally true that the crimes charged against these defendants and the other leaders of the Third Reich were “so calculating, so malignant, and so devastating” that they find no modern parallel. But, underlying these crimes, there are myths, superstitions, and more sophisticated distortions of philosophy which do not know national boundaries. If we, of all nations fail to rise above these malignant doctrines by actions which manifest a steady growth in national fiber and character, then all that we do here will come to nothing, and will leave us and mankind an easy prey to their next violent eruption. We have still other obligations here which must not be overlooked. As was pointed out earlier, we have undertaken, together with other nations, the task of preparing “for the eventual reconstruction of German political life on a democratic basis and for eventual peaceful cooperation in international life in Germany.” These proceedings are dedicated to that end. Punishment of these leaders of Germany whose crimes made this task necessary is only a part of what we seek to accomplish here. We seek to resurrect the truth in Germany, and to reinvigorate those ideals that have been so long desecrated. The people of Germany sense the need for this, but they will measure our efforts by the measure of our own devotion to the ideals which we proclaim. The United States cannot evade the challenge of these responsibilities. We can fulfill only the smallest part of them at Nuernberg. But Nuernberg must be a symbol, not of revenge or of smug self-satisfaction, but of peace and good will among nations and peoples. It is the crime of shattering the foundations of peace and denying the very fact of humanity that is charged in this and other proceedings at Nuernberg. It is by trying these charges under law, and in quest of truth, that Nuernberg will find its full measure of justification. B. Opening Statement for all Defendants[71] DR. KUBUSCHOK (counsel for defendant Schlegelberger, speaking on behalf of all the defendants): May it please the Tribunal. In the following statements I shall briefly describe the manner in which the defense believes, by summarizing the treatment of individual general problems, it will expedite the trial. My following statements are to be interpreted in that sense. The prosecution views the development of justice in administration and jurisdiction during the period of the National Socialist State. It limits its reflections to this period and perceives in everything the consequent execution of National Socialist totalitarian thought. It believes to be able to reduce all phenomena to this denominator.