The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials were held to punish those that were involved in war crimes. The Nuremberg trials sought to punish “not only the guards and others who carried out the orders to commit atrocities, but also the leaders who planned the atrocities and gave orders (page 197).” This is important because individuals who were simply following government orders would still be punished. The Tokyo trials convicted military and government leaders, and the trials also exposed “many acts of brutality (page 198)”. The Nuremberg trials led the Allies to establish the International Military Tribunal. The United Nations also set up a Human Rights Commission, which was set up to help prevent future atrocities. These trials showed that atrocities
