Interpreters revolutionized simultaneous interpretation during Nuremberg trials

The Instituto Goethe in Barcelona is hosting an exhibition to honor the role of interpreters during the Nuremberg trials.

The exhibition, organized in partnership with the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC), highlights how these professionals enabled the legal proceedings to function across four different languages. United States Attorney General Robert H. Jackson pushed for a new system of simultaneous interpretation to ensure the trials remained impartial and fair.

Léon Dostert, who served as a personal interpreter for General Eisenhower during World War II, managed the technical implementation. He coordinated the use of new equipment from IBM and organized the testing of hundreds of volunteers to establish the foundation for contemporary international criminal law. The exhibition also addresses the emotional toll on the participants, specifically the concept of vicarious trauma.

Many interpreters faced severe psychological distress while translating the testimonies of Nazi atrocities, some of whom were victims of the regime themselves. The display explores how these workers acted as the primary line of communication, often remaining invisible to the public while enduring the heavy psychological weight of the proceedings. The project aims to reclaim the history of the profession, which the director of the Nuremberg Trials Memorial Museum noted was often overlooked in historical accounts.

The exhibition serves as both a historical tribute and a warning about the ongoing mental health challenges faced by interpreters working in modern conflict zones.