The spiritus rector of the Nuremberg Academy Dr Oscar Schneider, former Federal Minister for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development, passed away on 29 December 2024 at the age of 97. We express our deepest condolences to his family.
Academy Director Professor Dr Christoph Safferling pays tribute to the departed: “The International Nuremberg Principles Academy mourns the loss of its spiritus rector. We will honour his legacy. Dr Schneider's commitment to justice will continue to inspire and guide all of us at the Academy. His work has laid the foundation for continuing and strengthening the principles of international law that were established at the Nuremberg trials in response to the crimes of National Socialism.”
Dr Schneider was a passionate advocate and driving force behind the founding and development of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy. With tireless dedication and visionary foresight, his contribution was crucial for the Academy to become a renowned institution and a global forum for exchange on international criminal law at the interface between academia and practice.
His commitment was not limited to the founding of the Nuremberg Academy. Dr Schneider was also significantly involved in the creation of the Nuremberg Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Trials Memorial. His tireless efforts and his ability to bring together various players and institutions made it possible to establish these important institutions. He has received numerous honours for his work, including the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Bavarian Constitutional Medal in Gold. (em)