Reichskriegsgericht
Reichskriegsgericht | |
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Established | 1 October 1900 |
The Reichskriegsgericht (RKG; English: Reich Court-Martial) was the highest military court in Germany between 1900 and 1945.
Legal basics and responsibilities
After the
After the
For all severe cases of Wehrkraftzersetzung ("undermining military force") according to Wartime Special Penal Code (Kriegssonderstrafrechtsverordnung, KSSVO), the RKG was the first and last instance. By this accusation, the court sentenced numerous conscientious objectors to death. By ordinance of 18 May 1940, proceedings against civilians were handed over to Sondergericht courts; from 29 January 1943, the "People's Court" (Volksgerichtshof) had exclusive jurisdiction over all accusations of public Wehrkraftzersetzung and intentionally evading military service.
The President of the Reichskriegsgericht was able to affirm or to set aside a judgement; as was Hitler in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht.
See also
- State of emergency
- Drumhead court-martial
- Summary execution
- War crimes of the Wehrmacht
- Military law
- Court martial
- Command and obedience in the Bundeswehr
References
Literature
- Norbert Haase: Das Reichskriegsgericht und der Widerstand gegen die nationalsozialistische Herrschaft, Berlin 1993, ISBN 3-926082-04-6(= Katalog der Sonderausstellung der Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand)
- Günter Gribbohm: Das Reichskriegsgericht - Die Institution und ihre rechtliche Bewertung, Berliner Wiss.-Verlag, Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-8305-0585-X
External links
- (in German) Justizgeschichte aktuell: Karrieren und Selbstrechtfertigungen
- (in German) Luise Berlin - Reichskriegsgericht (Gedenktafel, Geschichte, Literatur)
- (in German) Berlin-Lexikon: Reichskriegsgericht