THE WAR CRIMES ACT 1991

Tyler Foster

What is the War Crimes Act?

It is an act of U.K. parliament It confers jurisdiction on the U.K.

courts to try and pass sentence for crimes committed in Nazi Germany or Nazi occupied territories by people who where not British citizens at the time, but have since gained British citizenship.

Passing of the act

The act was rejected by The House Of Lords.

Therefore, the act was only passed with the authority of The House of Commons, under the provisions of parliament acts 1911 and 1949. only the fourth act to be enacted under this.

Background of the act

The historical background of the act concerns the horrible consequences for the Jewish population after the German invasions in June 1941.

By 1948 British efforts to prosecute Nazi war criminals had all but ceased.

The War Crimes Act

The core of the act establishes jurisdiction in respect of offences of murder, manslaughter or culpable homicide committed in violation of the laws and customs of war committed between 1st September 1939 and June 5th 1945.

The jurisdiction can be exercised on a man irrespective of his nationality, provided that on 8th march 1990 or subsequently he has became a British citizen or resided in the uk.

The parliamentary debate

Following the publication of the report the government said that it would legislate in accordance with the main recommendations.

In the notice debate on 4th December 1989 the opinion in the Lords was more than 2 to 1 against. On June 4th 1990 the house of lords voted against the bill in a similar majority.

Results of the act

Only one person has been convicted under the act.

Anthony Sawoniuk was sentenced, in the Old Bailey, to life in prison.

He died while in prison in 2005. He was a Nazi collaborator for the

town of Demachaven in pre-war Poland.

He joined the SS until November 1944 until joining the polish II corps in the 8th army.

After the war he settled in Britain and became a British citizen.

He was tried in 1999 and found guilty for two counts of murder. He was believed to be involved in the brutal murders of 15 Jews in his hometown.

Other charges against him where dropped due to problems with evidence.

Sawoniuk’s trail was the first time a British Court has passed judgement on a matter that took place overseas.

Sawoniuk was described after his death as “a vile Nazi who will not be missed”