# War Crimes/Crimes against humanity trial outcomes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 15, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032 "2003-12-15T01:31:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032/1 "2003-12-15T01:31:45Z")

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Two questions brought up by the capture of Saddam.

1. How many heads of state have been tried for war crimes or crimes against humanity? (Tried not indicted or otherwise been charged.)
2. Have any of the (former) heads of state put on trial for such crimes been found innocent?

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**Author:** ![Garnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Garnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garnet)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032/2 "2003-12-15T07:45:50Z")

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I believe that Slobodan Milosevic, ex-president of Yugoslavia, is the first and only head of state to be tried by an international court for war crimes. His trial is still ongoing. I don’t know if other heads of state have been tried for war crimes by a single country, however.

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**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032/3 "2003-12-15T08:57:02Z")

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[Admiral Dönitz](http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_D%f6nitz) was German head of state after Hitler’s suicide, and he was convicted by the international tribunal at Nuremberg (for crimes against peace in his previous role as commander of the U-boat force, though).

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**Author:** ![marky33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@marky33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marky33)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032/4 "2003-12-15T12:31:13Z")

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This cite explains all [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2003/12/15/do1591.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/12/15/ixportal.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2003/12/15/do1591.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/12/15/ixportal.html)

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**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-trial-outcomes/219032/5 "2003-12-15T16:16:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Garnet \*  
> \*\*I believe that Slobodan Milosevic, ex-president of Yugoslavia, is the first and only head of state to be tried by an international court for war crimes. His trial is still ongoing. I don’t know if other heads of state have been tried for war crimes by a single country, however. \*\*

I know General Hideki Tojo (the Japanese prime minister during the war), Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, and Pierre Laval (Head of State and Prime Minister of Viche France, respectavely) were all tried.  
Has it really been just that small handful? ☹