UNWCC archives – United Nations War Crimes Commission archive

The archives of the UNWCC are extensive, covering over 450,000 pages of densely packed, largely unseen material, of interest to scholars and scholars, lawyers and historians, and members of the public interested in war crimes and international criminal law, human rights, and the history of the Holocaust and Second World War.

The documents of the UNWCC may be viewed by appointment at the Wiener Library, Russell Square, London. Contact library@wienerlibrary.co.uk.

NAVIGATING THE ARCHIVE

The UNWCC archive is fairly well organised, but can be fairly difficult to navigate unless one is familiar with it.

To aid this, the archival finding aid originally produced by the UNWCC is here, while an index produced by the UNWCC to its minutes and documents in 1949 can be found here.

A guide to these archives, produced by researchers at SOAS, can be found here. It includes detailed descriptions of how to navigate an often-opaque and complex archive, and should be your first port of call when investigating the archive. Below, we have identified the individual files and document types that are available, along with a brief description of each document type.

Charge files

These are the 8,000 Charge Files submitted by the various members states to the UNWCC. These were pretrial documents submitted to the Commission for approval; each contained the details of a given crime (suspects, location, laws violated, details of the atrocity or war crime in question), as well as a summary of the evidence available to prosecutors at the time (many of the early cases were submitted while the war was ongoing, meaning that they were based on evidence smuggled out of refugee camps). These were then assessed by the Commission, which judged whether there was a prima facie case or not; if there was, these would then be approved for prosecution in UNWCC-supported national courts.

This also includes a number of cases that were withdrawn by their member states, and not pursued. In the majority of cases, this seems to be because the charges in question were found to be erroneous, or lacking sufficient basis to even pursue charges.

These are useful sources of historical information – as well as providing extremely fulsome historical detail on war crimes and the Holocaust, they also provide useful historical context, showing how much was known at any given point (especially regarding official knowledge of the Holocaust). They also provide a valuable historical precedent in international criminal law, showing early legal rulings on issues such as war crimes, command responsibility, and the prosecution of sexual violence.

(Reel 1) Charge files – Belgians vs Germans 1-260
(Reel 2) Charge files – Belgians vs Germans 261-399
(Reel 2) Charge files – Canada vs Germans 1-11
(Reel 2) Charge files – China vs Germans 1-1
(Reel 3) Charge files – Czechslovakia vs Germans 1-246
(Reel 3) Charge files – Czechslovakia vs Hungarians 1-8
(Reel 4) Charge files – Denmark vs Germans 1-192
(Reel 4) Charge files – Ethiopia vs Italians 1-10
(Reel 4) Charge files – France vs Germans 1-180
(Reel 5) Charge files – France vs Germans 181-520
(Reel 6) Charge files – France vs Germans 521-880
(Reel 7) Charge files – France vs Germans 881-1320
(Reel 8) Charge files – France vs Germans 1321-1720
(Reel 9) Charge files – France vs Germans 1721-2060
(Reel 10) Charge files – France vs Germans 2061-2231
(Reel 10) Charge files – France vs Italians 1-30
(Reel 10) Charge files – Greece vs Albanians 1-1
(Reel 10) Charge files – Greece vs Bulgarians 1-140
(Reel 11) Charge files – Greece vs Bulgarians 141-199
(Reel 11) Charge files – Greece vs Germans 1-179
(Reel 11) Charge files – Greece vs Italians 1-131
(Reel 11) Charge files – Luxemberg vs Germans 1-97
(Reel 12) Charge files – Netherlands vs Germans 1-270
(Reel 13) Charge files – Netherlands vs Germans 271-584
(Reel 14) Charge files – Norway vs Germans 1-80
(Reel 14) Charge files – Poland vs Germans 1-180
(Reel 15) Charge files – Poland vs Germans 181-500
(Reel 16) Charge files – Poland vs Germans 501-840
(Reel 17) Charge files – Poland vs Germans 841-1170
(Reel 18) Charge files – Poland vs Germans 1171-1564
(Reel 19) Charge files – UK vs Germans 1-330
(Reel 20) Charge files – UK vs Germans 331-490
(Reel 21) Charge files – UK vs Germans 491-630
(Reel 22) Charge files – UK vs Germans 631-672
(Reel 22) Charge files – UK vs Italians 1-114
(Reel 22) Charge files – UK vs Romanians 1-2
(Reel 23) Charge files – USA vs Germans 1-158
(Reel 23) Charge files – USA vs Italians 1-3
(Reel 24) Charge files – Yugoslavia vs Albanians 1
(Reel 24) Charge files – Yugoslavia vs Bulgarians 1-40
(Reel 24) Charge files – Yugoslavia vs Germans 1-360
(Reel 25) Charge files – Yugoslavia vs Germans 361-561
(Reel 25) Charge files – Yugoslavia vs Hungarians 1-11
(Reel 25) Charge files – Yugoslavia vs Italians 1-221
(Reel 26) Charge files – Australia vs Japanese 1-19
(Reel 26) Charge files – France vs Japanese 1-1
(Reel 26) Charge files – UK vs Japanese 1-28
(Reel 26) Charge files – USA vs Japanese 1-241
(Reel 27) Periodical lists of war crimes suspects 1-30
(Reel 28) Periodical list of war crimes suspects 31-54
(Reel 29) Periodical list of war crimes suspects 55-80
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Belgium vs Germans
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Czechslovakia vs Germans
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Denmark vs Germans
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – France vs Germans
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – France vs Italians
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Greece vs Bulgarians
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Greece vs Germans
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Greece vs Italians
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Greece vs Romanians
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Luxembourg vs Germans
(Reel 30) Withdrawn charge files – Netherlands vs Germans
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – Australia vs Japanese
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – Poland vs Germans
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – UK vs Bulgarians
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – UK vs Germans
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – UK vs Italians
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – USA vs Germans
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – USA vs Japanese
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – Yugoslavia vs Bulgaria
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – Yugoslavia vs Germans
(Reel 31) Withdrawn charge files – Yugoslavia vs Italian
(Reel 32) Index list of accused war criminals and UNWCC status determinations (hand-written)

Operational documents

These are the documents produced by the UNWCC as part of its operation – Meeting Minutes from the UNWCC as a whole, from its various Committees (Facts and Evidence, Enforcement, and Legal Committee) and Offices. It also includes correspondence between the UNWCC and its various National Offices, as well as publications by National Offices and Allied militaries collected by the Commission.

Lists of war criminals

These are the lists compiled by the UNWCC of war criminals, with particular emphasis placed on the staffs of major concentration camps.

CROWCASS

CROWCASS (the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects) was a UNWCC agency responsible for tracing Axis nationals suspected of war crimes; these are the lists that it produced detailing wanted and detained persons.

South East Asian cases

These documents relate to the largely Australian and American detention and pursuit of suspected Japanese war criminals, as well as (in some cases) their trials.

Trial reports

The UNWCC – unlike bodies such as the ICC today – did not conduct trials itself, but rather operated in a supervisory and coordinating role for Allied states to carry out their own trials. When these were carried out, they were (usually) reported back to the UNWCC, although the latter’s early closure meant that many trials were concluded after the UNWCC had been shut down. Owing to different legal practices, different countries provided different degrees of detail in their cases.

Yamashita trial

This is a partial transcript of the trial of Tomoyuki Yamashita, Military Governor of Japan to the Philippines, for his role in atrocities carried out in Singapore, Manila, and the Philippines.

(Reel 116) Yamashita Trial Transcript Vols VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXII
(Reel 117) Yamashita Trial exhibits (various)
(Reel 117) Yamashita Trial Transcript Vols XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV
(Reel 119) Yamashita trial transcript p2477 – 4656
(Reel 120) Yamashita Trial Prosecution and Defence Witnesses p4657-7027

International Military Tribunal for the Far East

This is a partial transcript of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), also known as the Tokyo Trials. Convened in April 1946, it tried high-level leaders accused of participation in the waging of war and the commission, aiding, and abetting of atrocities.

(Reel 118) Indictment against 28 Japanese defendants
(Reel 121) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p7028 – 9653
(Reel 122) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Defence and Prosecution Witnesses p9654 – 12123
(Reel 123) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p12124 – 14550
(Reel 124) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p14551 – 16910
(Reel 125) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p16911 – 19374
(Reel 126) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p19375 – 21827
(Reel 127) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p21828 – 23966
(Reel 128) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p23967 – 26345
(Reel 129) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p26396 – 28826
(Reel 130) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p28827 – 32142
(Reel 131) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p32143 – 34364
(Reel 132) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p34365 – 36815
(Reel 133) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p36816 – 39300
(Reel 134) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Prosecution and Defence Witnesses p39301 – 41740
(Reel 135) Transcript of proceesdings for the IMTFE p41711 – 44859
(Reel 136) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE p44860 – 47939
(Reel 137) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE + reports of sessions in President Webb’s chambers p 47940 – 48412
(Reel 138) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE – affidavits on atrocities 1621 – 2227
(Reel 139) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE – affidavits on atrocities 2228 – 11523
(Reel 140) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 8 – 80
(Reel 141) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Exhibits 81 – 474
(Reel 142) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 445 – 729
(Reel 143) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 730-871
(Reel 144) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 872-1244
(Reel 145) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 1245-1506
(Reel 146) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 1507 – 1748
(Reel 147) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 1749 – 1995
(Reel 148) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE 1996 – 2199
(Reel 149) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE 2200 – 2370
(Reel 150) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 2371 – 2557
(Reel 151) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 2558 – 2946
(Reel 152) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 2947 – 3225
(Reel 153) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 3226 – 3524
(Reel 154) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 3525 – 3840
(Reel 155) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Court Exhibits 3841 – 3915
(Reel 155) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Photo Exhibits
(Reel 155) Transcripts of Proceedings of IMTFE LPS Analyses of Documentary Evidence 1 – 488
(Reel 156) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE LPS Analyses of Documentary Evidence 489 – 2137
(Reel 157) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Chronological summary of prosecution evidence to 10 December 1946
(Reel 157) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE LPS Analyses of Documentary Evidence 2138 – 4040
(Reel 158) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE – Judges’ rulings
(Reel 158) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE – Summation of the Prosecution’s Introduction Indictment and Charges
(Reel 158) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE General Index of the Record of the Defence Case
(Reel 158) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE IPS evidence summaries
(Reel 158) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE IPS response to Defence Motion to Dismiss
(Reel 158) Transcript of proceedings for the IMTFE Japanese conferences etc appearing in evidence
(Reel 159) Transcipt of the IMTFE – Individual Defendants Hashimoto to Shigemitsu
(Reel 160) Transcipt of the IMTFE – Individual Defendants Shimada to Umezu
(Reel 160) Transcipt of the IMTFE POW Evidence Summations
(Reel 160) Transcipt of the IMTFE Reply of Prosecution to Defence Summations
(Reel 160) Transcript of the IMTFE Narrative Summary of the Records p101 – 2190
(Reel 161) Transcript of the IMTFE Narrative Summary of the Records p2191 – 4427
(Reel 162) Transcript of the IMTFE Miscellaneous IPS documents
(Reel 162) Transcript of the IMTFE Narrative Summary of the Records p4428 – 7071
(Reel 163) Transcript of the IMTFE Defence requests and Court Orders
(Reel 163) Transcript of the IMTFE Opening Statement of the Defence
(Reel 163) Transcript of the IMTFE Rejected defence documents No 51 – 281
(Reel 164) Transcript of the IMTFE Rejected defence documents No 281 – 791
(Reel 165) Transcript of the IMTFE Rejected defence documents 791 – 1284
(Reel 166) Transcript of the IMTFE Rejected defence documents 1290 – 1835
(Reel 168) Transcript of the IMTFE Rejected defence documents 2251 – 2297
(Reel 169) Transcript of the IMTFE Judgement p1 – 1136
(Reel 169) Transcript of the IMTFE Rejected defence documents 2943 – 3120
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – Dissenting Opinion of the Justice from France
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – Dissenting Opinion of the Justice Roling of the Netherlands
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – Judgement
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – Separate Opinion of the President Concerning Opinion of Justice Jaranilla of the Philippines 2
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – Separate Opinion of the President Concerning Opinion of Justice Jaranilla of the Philippines
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – USA and others v Araki and others 2
(Reel 170) Transcript of the IMTFE – USA and others v Araki and others

Miscellaneous documents

This is a collection of miscellaneous documents, largely from the International Military Tribunals.

(Reel 171) Catalogue of Nuremberg Documents
(Reel 171) Guide and stack list of records of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials 1945-1949
(Reel 171) Guide to the records of the UNWCC
(Reel 171) Indices to the 12 Nuremberg US Military Tribunal Proceedings
(Reel 171) Indices to the Nurnberg and other Proceedings
(Reel 171) List of finding aids available to the War Crimes Unit for the IMTFE
(Reel 171) Photographs from the UNWCC and Nazi Crime Exhibition
(Reel 171) Tokyo Trials functional index

Index of war criminals

This is a card index of suspects and charge file references for the entire UNWCC caseload, which occasionally includes identifying details and outcomes of trials for some cases. The non-German cases are less complete, but this remains an extremely useful tool for navigating the archive, especially as it cross-references individual perpetrators who were listed multiple times in Charges across the UNWCC member states.

(NDX1) (Ger) Abb – Baranowski
(NDX1) (Ger) Baranowski – Berghaus
(NDX1) (Ger) Berghaus – Bolmann
(NDX1) (Ger) Bolnei – Bucher
(NDX1) (Ger) Bucher – Czycholt
(NDX2) (Ger) Dabrowski – Dorscht
(NDX2) (Ger) Dorscht – Ernthof
(NDX2) (Ger) Erpf – Forster
(NDX2) (Ger) Forster – Gehrke
(NDX2) (Ger) Gehrke – Goymann
(NDX3) (Ger) Grabau – Haertl
(NDX3) (Ger) Haertz – Heimerdinger
(NDX3) (Ger) Heimersen – Hinteregger
(NDX3) (Ger) Hinthal – Hullinger
(NDX3) (Ger) Hullinger – Kagek
(NDX3) (Ger) Kagel – Kaht
(NDX4) (Ger) Kaibel – Kladde
(NDX4) (Ger) Klaebe – Kollmann
(NDX4) (Ger) Kollmann – Krumm
(NDX4) (Ger) Krumm – Laukorst
(NDX4) (Ger) Laumann – Ljubov
(NDX5) (Ger) Lobach – Marsch
(NDX5) (Ger) Marschaall – Michalowski
(NDX5) (Ger) Michalowski – Muller
(NDX5) (Ger) Muller – Oehme
(NDX5) (Ger) Oehmig – Petzel
(NDX5) (Ger) Petzel – Pezon (inc Pezzano (It) and Mumm (misfiled))
(NDX6) (Ger) Pfab – Rabus
(NDX6) (Ger) Rabus – Riedl
(NDX6) (Ger) Riedl – Saffel
(NDX6) (Ger) Saggau – Schlude
(NDX6) (Ger) Schlueffer – Schreider
(NDX6) (Ger) Schreier – Schreyer
(NDX7) (Ger) Schriba – Seidel
(NDX7) (Ger) Seidel – Stadler
(NDX7) (Ger) Stadler – Suhr
(NDX7) (Ger) Suhren – Ufken (+ Ugolini (It))
(NDX7) (Ger) Uhl – Walter
(NDX7) (Ger) Walter – Wekwert
(NDX8) (Al) Boljotinac – Deva
(NDX8) (B) Anev – Zlatarov
(NDX8) (Ger) Weisminger – Wittman
(NDX8) (Ger) Wittman – Zwer
(NDX8) (Ger) Zwerger – Zyto
(NDX8) (Hu) Apatini Fahrenbach – Zombori
(NDX8) (It) Acqua-Freddi – Loddi
(NDX8) (It) Lomaglio – Zuccari (inc. unknown)
(NDX8) (J) Abeko – Taneka (inc Unknown)
(NDX8) (Ro) Buzdugan – Matiescu
(NDX8) (various) Unknown
(NDX9) (Ca) (Trial outcomes) Holzer – Weigel
(NDX9) (Fr) (Trial outcomes) Auer – Zank
(NDX9) (N) (Trial outcomes) Bruns – Weimann
(NDX9) (Nl) (Trial outcomes) Gerbsch – Zuelhke
(NDX9) (P) (Trial outcomes) Buhler – Hoess
(NDX9) (UK) (Trial outcomes) Abel – Zimmerman
(NDX9) (USA) (Trial outcomes) Adami – Diehl
(NDX9) (USA) (Trial outcomes) Dierking – Otl
(NDX9) (USA) (Trial outcomes) Otte – Zwiener