The Genesis of Global Dialogue: UFMG Exhibition Explores Simultaneous Interpretation at the Nuremberg Trials

The Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) has inaugurated a significant exhibition titled “1 Trial, 4 Languages – Pioneers of Simultaneous Interpretation in Nuremberg.” The grand opening took place on November 10, 2025, at 19:00, within the historic Faculty of Law building. This display is designed to highlight how pivotal historical events can catalyze profound transformations within the realm of intercultural communication.

The Nuremberg Trials, which spanned from 1945 to 1946, were foundational not only for establishing modern international criminal law but also for launching the field of professional simultaneous interpretation. During this critical period, humanity acutely recognized the urgent need for instantaneous and precise information exchange across diverse cultures. Previously, international discourse often relied heavily on French or on consecutive interpretation, methods that significantly impeded the pace of proceedings.

Elke Limberger-Katsumi, a German interpreter and the curator of the exhibition, pointed out that all previous attempts at simultaneous translation had been amateurish and failed to deliver the necessary results. A pivotal figure in developing and implementing this groundbreaking system was the Franco-American researcher Léon Dostert (1904–1971), who served as the head of the translation department. Dostert introduced a crucial principle: each interpreter was mandated to work exclusively from a foreign language into their native tongue. This required rigorous training and maintaining a measured pace of speech, thereby ensuring the reliable transmission of meaning despite substantial inherent difficulties.

The working conditions for these pioneering linguists were extraordinarily challenging. Interpreters grappled with severe technical hurdles, including bulky cables snaking across the courtroom floor. The specialists themselves were confined to cramped booths equipped with cumbersome gear. Microphones were large and had to be manually passed between the three specialists who worked in rotation, taking 1.5-hour shifts within the same small cabin. Researchers have calculated that over the entire 216-day process, these simultaneous interpreters spent approximately 1,500 hours operating under these demanding conditions.

The linguistic obstacles were equally formidable. The German language, having been transformed by the Nazi regime (1933–1945), incorporated specific terminology—concerning, for instance, gas chambers and concentration camps—that was entirely new to the interpreters. The exhibition showcases the exceptional competence of these linguists, who transcended the role of mere technical intermediaries to become architects of a new global dialogue. Their efforts were instrumental in accelerating the legal process and documenting key decisions that served as vital lessons for subsequent generations. The display also serves as a powerful reminder that the Nuremberg Trials themselves commenced on November 20, 1945, and were conducted publicly, a factor which fostered the blossoming of simultaneous interpretation as an indispensable component of international justice.