Even so, the Sèvres Treaty of 10.8.1920 accused Turkish authorities of many massacres and envisaged criminal responsibility (Art. 230). Those responsible would be surrendered to an Allied State or to an int’l. court. However, that treaty never entered into force and, after the successful culmination of the National Independence War, the Lausanne Treaty was signed on 24th July, 1923. With a declaration regarding general amnesty and the protocol annexed to the treaty all Turkish officials were pardoned. Of course, national proceedings were brought, as explained before, but that is another thing. In brief, the efforts to prosecute at an international level the alleged perpetrators of war crimes during WWI failed.
With the advance in technology, air force attacks became an important part of war strategy. Since unprotected cities and non-military sites were targeted, the distinction between combatant (savaşan) and non-combatant blurred and civilian loss of life was estimated at millions. With the advance in technology, air force attacks became an important part of war strategy. Since unprotected cities and non-military sites were targeted, the distinction between combatant (savaşan) and non-combatant blurred and civilian loss of life was estimated at millions. The war on land was also conducted ruthlessly, and Nazis in particular did not blink an eye before killing civilians during military invasions. Military losses were also very heavy, with only Russia losing 7 million soldiers, half of which were prisoners of war (POWs) in the hands of Germans. Undoubtedly, the greatest horror of WWII was the “Final Solution” implemented by Hitler in order to destroy the Jewish, the infamous “Holocaust” in which around 6 million Jewish were exterminated. The Japanese forces also killed an estimate of over 6 million Chinese civilians.Members of the Allied forces also committed many serious violations. The arbitrary confinement of 120,000 citizens of Japanese origin in American internation camps throughout the war, or the wanton destruction and confiscation of property on Polish territory by the hands of the Soviet forces are examples.The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki constitute two of the biggest tragedies in the history of mankind. However, at the end of the war it were the atrocities committed by German and Japanese forces which stood out as the most brutal ones, and the common outrage of public opinion made sure that consensus was reached on the necessity to punish those responsible.
Already during the war a will had been expressed to punish certain crimes. For example, the St.James Palace Declaration of 13.1.1942 expressed the intention to cooperate in the punishment of certain acts of violence committed against civilized nations, and war crimes through the establishment of an int’l. judicial organ. Already during the war a will had been expressed to punish certain crimes. For example, the St.James Palace Declaration of 13.1.1942 expressed the intention to cooperate in the punishment of certain acts of violence committed against civilized nations, and war crimes through the establishment of an int’l. judicial organ. A war crimes commission was created in 1942.Later, the Allied States issued the joint Moscow Declaration (Declaration of the Four Nations on General Security - 30.10.1943) in which they had stated that the crimes committed by the Nazi regime would be punished: “Those German officers and men and members of the Nazi party who have been responsible for, or have taken a consenting part in the above atrocities, massacres and executions, will be sent back to the countries in which their abominable deeds were done in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws of these liberated countries.” / “The above declaration is without prejudice to the case of the major criminals, whose offences have no particular geographical localization and who will be punished by the joint decision of the Government of the Allies”.
As the war drew to an end, and the scope of atrocities committed by the Nazi regime was better understood and exposed, int’l. public opinion expressed great outrage and feelings of revenge flamed. As the war drew to an end, and the scope of atrocities committed by the Nazi regime was better understood and exposed, int’l. public opinion expressed great outrage and feelings of revenge flamed. At this point, there was no doubt as to the fact that Nazi leaders would have to be punished, but the methodology was debated. There were two options: resorting to criminal prosecutions or going for summary executions (derhal infaz). United Kingdom and part of the USA administration favoured the latter solution. Soviet Russia and USA Secretary of War Henry Stimson preferred an international judicial process.Until early 1945, Stimson’s plan envisaging a fair trial seemed unlikely to succeed. But the barbaric massacre by Nazis of American soldiers who had already surrendered proved a turning point. News of the slaughter soon reached American public opinion and caused great rage. Stimson argued that this was not an isolated accident, but a product of the systematic acts planned and perpetrated by Nazis throughout the War. Stimson convincingly defended that summary execution would allow very few criminals to be punished, further converting them into martyrs. On the other hand, judicial prosecution would obtain maximum popular support, gain historical respect and make sure that Nazi atrocities were historically exposed.
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