Educational purpose only. This post documents historical events related to post-World War II justice and aims to educate about execution practices. We do not glorify violence or hate.
On the morning of October 16, 1946, in a converted gymnasium at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice, justice was carried out for some of the most notorious figures of the Nazi regime. Ten high-ranking Nazi leaders, convicted by the International Military Tribunal for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace, faced their final moments. The man responsible for carrying out the sentences was U.S. Army Master Sergeant John C. Woods, America’s chief executioner in Europe during the postwar period.
Woods, a master sergeant from San Antonio, Texas (originally from Kansas), had volunteered for executioner duties and had significant experience by that point. Over his military career, he was involved in numerous hangings, with contemporary reports crediting him with hundreds of executions, though exact verified numbers vary.
The Historical Context
The Nuremberg Trials represented a landmark in international law — the first major effort to hold leaders accountable for systematic atrocities, including the Holocaust and aggressive war. After months of testimony and evidence, 12 men were initially sentenced to death. Hermann Göring committed suicide the night before, leaving ten to face the gallows: Joachim von Ribbentrop, Wilhelm Keitel, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Julius Streicher, Fritz Sauckel, Alfred Jodl, and Arthur Seyss-Inquart.
The executions were conducted efficiently in sequence, with Woods and his assistant, Joseph Malta, handling the process. Woods reportedly completed the ten hangings in approximately 103 to 106 minutes total — a brisk pace for such a somber and meticulously documented procedure.
Woods himself later stated: “I hanged those ten Nazis… and I am proud of it… I wasn’t nervous… A fellow can’t afford to have nerves in this business.” He emphasized that the task was necessary and that his team performed professionally.
The Procedure and Woods’ Role
Woods had prepared the gallows in advance, using standard U.S. Army hanging protocols with calculated drop lengths based on the prisoners’ weights. Each man was brought in individually, given a chance for final words, hooded, and executed. The process for each was designed to be swift, with Woods aiming for quick resolution of the sentences handed down by the tribunal.
Historical accounts note that Woods approached his duty with a sense of duty and professionalism, having handled similar responsibilities for U.S. military personnel convicted of serious crimes during the war. His selection for Nuremberg underscored the Army’s trust in his experience for this high-profile assignment.
After the executions, the bodies were cremated, and ashes were scattered to prevent any sites from becoming shrines.
Legacy of the Event
The Nuremberg executions marked the end of the main trial phase and symbolized the Allies’ commitment to accountability rather than summary revenge. John C. Woods became a figure associated with this chapter of history — a soldier who performed one of the grimmest duties in the pursuit of postwar justice. He continued serving until his death in 1950 from an accidental electrocution while on duty.
While debates exist about the technical details of hanging methods (standard vs. long-drop techniques used in some other jurisdictions), the event stood as a formal legal conclusion to the trials. Woods’ work that day helped close a dark chapter, ensuring that those responsible for immense suffering faced consequences as determined by the international court.
This episode reminds us of the importance of justice systems in addressing atrocities, even in the aftermath of the most devastating conflict in history. The rapid sequence of the proceedings reflected the gravity and finality of the tribunal’s verdicts.