John Demjanjuk's trial began in Jerusalem, marking a pivotal moment in post-World War II justice. Demjanjuk was accused of being 'Ivan the Terrible,' a notorious guard at the Treblinka extermination camp in Poland. The trial highlighted the complexities of prosecuting individuals linked to the Holocaust decades after the events transpired. Prosecutors presented evidence, including testimonies from survivors, who described the horrific conditions and brutalities at the camp where hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered. The trial was unique in that it exemplified the struggle of bringing former Nazis to justice in a legal system that faced many challenges, including the preservation of evidence and the passage of time. Demjanjuk's defense claimed that there had been a case of mistaken identity, arguing that he was not the person described in survivor accounts.

In addition to the legal proceedings, the trial raised significant ethical questions about memory, guilt, and the legacy of the Holocaust. It was notable for being one of the first instances where such a trial was conducted in Israel, a country established in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust. The Israeli society, still dealing with the effects of the Holocaust, was deeply engaged in this trial, which took on broader implications of collective memory and justice. Demjanjuk's trial ran for several years and was marked by appeals, political controversy, and varying public perceptions about the justice system's ability to effectively handle such cases.