Editing Roland Freisler (section)

== 20 July Plot show-trials ==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 151-39-23, Volksgerichtshof, Reinecke, Freisler, Lautz.jpg|thumb|upright|1944 Freisler presiding over the [[People's Court (Germany)|German People's Court]] with [[Hermann Reinecke]] at left and at right, Oberreichsanwalt [[Ernst Lautz]] ]]
[[File:Anklage Trott.jpg|thumb|upright|Criminal case against six defendants in the 20 July 1944 plot in the [[People's Court (Germany)|German People's Court]], presided over by Judge Roland Freisler, who were tried and executed 15 August 1944]]
In August 1944, some of the arrested perpetrators of the [[20 July Plot|failed assassination of Adolf Hitler]] were brought before Freisler for punishment. The proceedings were filmed in order to be shown to the German public in cinema newsreels, and portray how Freisler ran his court; he would often alternate between questioning the defendants in an analytical manner, then suddenly launching into a furious verbal tirade, even going so far as to shout insults at the accused from the bench. The shift from cold, clinical interrogation to fits of screaming rage was designed to psychologically disarm, torment and humiliate those on trial while discouraging any attempt on their part to defend or justify their actions. At one point, Freisler yelled at [[Generalfeldmarschall|Field Marshal]] [[Erwin von Witzleben]], who was trying to hold up his trousers after being purposely given old, oversized and beltless clothing: "You dirty old man, why do you keep fiddling with your trousers?"

Another instance is from Freisler's public appearance during the trial of the defendant [[Ulrich Wilhelm Graf Schwerin von Schwanenfeld|Ulrich-Wilhelm Graf Schwerin von Schwanenfeld]]. The footage taken shows Freisler drowning out Schwerin's weak and muted testimony, prompted by his concern over the Wehrmacht's "numerous murders in Poland", by roaring at him in an exaggerated and theatrical manner, declaring "''Sie sind ja ein schäbiger Lump!''" (roughly, "You really are a lousy piece of trash!").<ref>Zimmermann, Jacobsen: ''20. Juli 1944.'' 1960, S.&nbsp;199.</ref><ref>Chronos Media, ''Graf Schwerin von Schwanenfeld bleibt standhaft vor Roland Freisler'' [Count Schwerin von Schwanenfeld stays strong in front of Roland Freisler]:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3qsImhAswo.</ref>

Nearly all of the accused were sentenced to death by hanging, with some of the sentences being carried out within two hours of the verdict being delivered.<ref name="Helfer"/>