Editing Nuremberg trials (section)

===Closing===
On 31 August, closing arguments were presented.{{sfn|Mouralis|2019|pp=23–24}} Over the course of the trial, crimes against humanity and especially against Jews (who were mentioned as victims of Nazi atrocities far more than any other group) came to upstage the aggressive war charge.{{sfn|Sellars|2013|p=171}}{{sfn|Priemel|2016|pp=119, 150}} In contrast to the opening prosecution statements, all eight closing statements highlighted the Holocaust; and the French and British prosecutors made this the main charge, as opposed to that of aggression. All prosecutors except the Americans mentioned the concept of [[genocide]], which had been recently invented by the Polish-Jewish jurist [[Raphael Lemkin]].{{sfn|Priemel|2016|pp=62, 120}} British prosecutor Shawcross quoted from witness testimony about a murdered Jewish family from [[Dubno]], Ukraine.{{sfn|Priemel|2016|p=120}} During the closing statements, most defendants disappointed the judges by their lies and denial. Speer managed to give the impression of apologizing without assuming personal guilt or naming any victims other than the German people.{{sfn|Priemel|2016|pp=138, 141}} On 2 September, the court recessed; and the judges retreated into seclusion to decide the verdict and sentences, which had been under discussion since June. The verdict was drafted by British deputy judge [[Norman Birkett]]. All eight judges participated in the deliberations, but the deputies could not cast a vote.{{sfn|Hirsch|2020|pp=370, 372}}{{sfn|Sellars|2013|pp=160–161}}