World War II War Crimes and War Crimes Trials Records
The United States conducted war crimes trials in Europe under three jurisdictions: the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, U.S. military tribunals at Nuremberg, and U.S. Army courts.
General authority for the proceedings of all three jurisdictions was derived from the Declaration of German Atrocities (Moscow Declaration), released November 1, 1943, which expressed Allied determination to arrest and bring to justice Axis war criminals. This declaration of intent served as one of the bases for all war crimes trials, whether undertaken by military commissions, U.S. military tribunals, or international military tribunals.
Records in the National Archives custody document American participation on international bodies and the activities of American organizations in the investigation and prosecution of German war criminals.
Records at Presidential Libraries:
- Investigating the Holocaust at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
- Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum:
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum:
- John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum:
History Hub Blog Posts:
- Records of the International Military Tribunal (IMT) at Nuremberg in the National Archives Collection of World War II War Crimes Records (Record Group 238)
- Records of the United States Military Tribunals, Nuremberg in the National Archives Collection of World War II War Crimes Records (Record Group 238)
- Records Relating to World War II War Crimes in Europe in the Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army) (Record Group 153)
- Records Relating to World War II War Crimes in Europe in the Records of United States Army, Europe (Record Group 549)