Which allied commanders would have been tried as war criminals had the axis powers won the war?

Question

Given their own standards (e.g. Nuremberg trial), I think "Bomber Harris" would have been one of the front runners.

Of course assuming that the axis powers would adhere to the same standards of trial as the allies.

As this is hypothetical anyway, please bear with me.

efw: If you are right - what the hell were people like Karl Doenitz or Erich Raeder and even Keitel or Jodl convicted for?

Answer 1

I agree that Sir Arthur Harris probably would have been at the top of the list, as would Lord Portal, General Carl Spaatz and others responsible for the bomber offensives. Of course I also agree with the others that say there wouldn't have been trials for war criminals...they'd have just murdered them all. And the reality is, if it would have gotten that desperate, all these guys would have probably been shot down themselves fighting it out until the end.

Answer 2

Sorry to burst your bubble, an opinion was rendered in international courts to wit:

"in the light of international humanitarian law, it should be borne in mind that during the Second World War there was no agreement, treaty, convention or any other instrument governing the protection of the civilian population or civilian property, as the Conventions then in force dealt only with the protection of the wounded and the sick on the battlefield and in naval warfare, hospital ships, the laws and customs of war and the protection of prisoners of war"

At the time, "total war" meant the civilians on both sides faced indiscriminate aerial bombing, including incendiary attacks, nuclear attacks, and assaults on centers of culture/churches/schools, etc.

A change in the Geneva Conventions, beginning in 1949 were the results from the uproar of the fire bombing of Dresden, nuclear attacks on Japan, and other indiscriminate carpet bombing during WW II.

Therefore, in answer to your question, there were no specific treaties or conventions broken AT THE TIME of the bombings and therefore it was not a war crime, these prohibitions all came after the war.

Answer 3

Given the axis powers well known love and respect for law, order, and due process, ( yes I am joking), there would have been no trials, just executions or labor camps for all captured commanders.

Answer 4

Interesting hypothetical question. Aggressive war as defined at Nuremberg would probably not have fit. If one assumes crimes against humanity would apply then perhaps those who ordered use of the atomic bombs, bombing of Dresden, etc., would have been tried.

Answer 5

probably all of them, except the axis were not big on trials, they just shot people they were not happy with