The Nazi regime instituted numerous laws that legalized horrific and immoral acts, which are now globally recognized as fundamental violations of human rights, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Here are some examples of things that were legal in Nazi Germany but are considered blatantly immoral and illegal today:
1. Systemic Racial Discrimination and Persecution
This was primarily legalized by the Nuremberg Laws (1935) and subsequent decrees.
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Stripping of Citizenship and Rights: The Reich Citizenship Law revoked German citizenship for Jewish people (and later others) and reduced them to "state subjects," legally denying them basic civil rights. This is a direct violation of modern principles of equal protection under the law and universal human rights.
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Forbidding Interracial Marriage and Relations: The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor prohibited marriage and sexual relations between "Jews" and "citizens of German or related blood" (a concept they called Rassenschande or "race defilement"). This is illegal now as it violates the right to marry and the principle of non-discrimination based on race.
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Exclusion from Professions: Laws like the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service (1933) excluded Jewish people and political opponents from practicing as civil servants, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and other professions. This is a clear violation of modern labor and anti-discrimination laws.
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Confiscation of Property (Aryanization): The systematic seizure of Jewish-owned businesses and assets was legalized by various decrees. This constitutes theft and a violation of property rights under modern law.
2. State-Sponsored Murder and Atrocities
These acts were "legal" within the Nazi legal framework but are now universally recognized as the most severe international crimes.
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Genocide and Extermination: The Holocaust, the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews, was a program developed and carried out with the backing of state policies and legal decrees. Mass murder and genocide are the ultimate crimes against humanity and are prosecuted as such today.
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The Aktion T4 Program (Euthanasia): This was the formalized, legal murder of hundreds of thousands of people with physical and mental disabilities, primarily German citizens. This act of mass murder is now viewed as an atrocity and a crime against humanity.
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Enslavement and Forced Labor: The widespread rounding up and deportation of millions of people for forced labor (slavery) was legalized. This is a severe war crime and crime against humanity under international law.
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Medical Experimentation: The "legal" use of concentration camp prisoners for brutal, non-consensual medical experiments is a textbook example of a war crime and crime against humanity; it directly led to the establishment of the Nuremberg Code, a foundational document for modern medical ethics and law.
3. Destruction of the Rule of Law
The entire legal system was restructured to serve the Nazi regime's ideology, legalizing the suspension of basic rights.
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Indefinite Detention (Protective Custody): The Reichstag Fire Decree (1933) legally suspended civil liberties, allowing for the indefinite arrest and incarceration of political opponents and others without charge, trial, or judicial review, often in concentration camps, under the guise of "protective custody." This is a violation of the right to due process and habeas corpus.
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The Enabling Act (1933): This law effectively allowed the government to issue laws without the approval of the Reichstag (parliament) or the President, granting Hitler dictatorial power and establishing the legal basis for all subsequent atrocities. The lack of a checks-and-balances system and the concentration of power are fundamental threats to modern liberal democracies.
The international framework established after World War II, most notably the Nuremberg Trials and the creation of concepts like Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide, was a direct response to the Nazi regime's use of law to legalize its atrocities. Today, these actions fall under the jurisdiction of bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC).
ABC’s Martha Raddatz on Wednesday’s ‘World News Tonight’ about drug boat-gate:
“And tonight, new information: According to a source familiar with the incident, the two survivors climbed back on to the boat after the initial strike. They were believed to be potentially in communication with others, and salvaging some of the drugs. Because of that, it was determined they were still in the fight and valid targets. A JAG officer was also giving legal advice.
Relevant statement at 0:42:
