War Crimes Section [multiple media] Archives / Collections and Fonds
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War Crimes Section [multiple media]
Hierarchical level:SeriesContext of this record:Series includes:3 lower level description(s)View lower level description(s) -
Finding aid Textual records (Electronic) Finding aid 13-41 is a "from to" list of documents' numbers for volumes 3724 to 4110. This finding aid should be used in conjunction with the various databases used by the War Crimes Section to manage its records (see Mikan 4842078 and 4842090). 13-41 (99: Closed pending processing)Textual records (Electronic) Finding aid 13-41 consists of two parts and concerns the Deschênes Commission records in volumes 4111 to 4203, 4255 to 4258, and 4270. The first part is a verified file list, which includes volume numbers, file numbers, and file titles (severed). The second part is a guide to the list (open). 13-41 PDF (66:Severed)
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf002/13-41_4111925_vols 4111-4203_4255-4258_4270_severed.pdf
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf002/13-41_4111925_ volumes_ 4111-4203_4255-4258_4270_guide_open.pdfSound recordings (Electronic) See the Film, Video and Sound database for the item-level descriptions. Use MISA or VSA "other accession number" to search. (90: Open)Graphic material (Electronic) Finding aid 13-41 is a verified list for volume 4980 indicating the photograph number, source, page, position, and the extent of photographs 13-41 (90: Open)Moving Images (Electronic) See the Film, Video and Sound database for the item-level descriptions. Use MISA or VSA "other accession number" to search. (90: Open) -
Record information War Crimes Section [multiple media]
Date:1939-2010.Reference:R188-119-6-E, RG13Type of material:Textual material, Photographs, Moving images, Sound recordingsFound in:Archives / Collections and FondsItem ID number:4111925Date(s):1939-2010.Bilingual equivalent:Place of creation:CanadaExtent:122.9 m of textual records
ca. 7650 photographs
7 audiocassettes
6 audio reels
3 videocassettes
ca. 5650 index cards
1 map col. 62 cm x 51 cm [Scale:1:12,470,000].Language of material:EnglishScope and content:This series contains records created by the DOJ to fulfil its responsibilities in relation to war crimes. It also includes the files created by the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals (1985), also known as the Deschênes Commission.
Volumes 3724 to 3845 contain historical documents (identified by the prefixes A, C, E and S). Early in its operations, the DOJ War Crimes Section assigned letters to geographical areas, but this practice was not consistently applied and was discontinued. The individual letters assigned to files in these volumes therefore have no operational significance. The Sesame database is necessary to make sense of these files. Historical documents have been collected from archives and used in case development and litigation. These historical documents are often accompanied by affidavits attesting to their authenticity.
Volumes 3846 and 3847 contain documents of the Polish Corps (also referred as "P" documents) which have been processed through the Public Records Office, in the United Kingdom.
Volumes 3848 to 3917 contain witness statements (also referred as "W" documents). Witness statements were found in foreign archives or collected directly from individuals, such as victims or witnesses of a crime. These testimonies were often transcribed and sometimes translated. Many of them were recorded in various audiovisual media, including audio cassettes, audio reels, and videocassettes (VHS). Some of these recordings have not been transcribed. Nevertheless, they remain a unique documentary source to enhance our understanding of certain aspects of the conflict.
Volumes 3918 to 3940 contain witness statements (also referred as "W" documents). See above.
Volumes 3941 to 3973 contain investigative material (also referred as "D" documents) from other countries that were also conducting parallel war crimes trials. They are arranged thematically.
Volumes 3974 to 3977 contain witness statements and historical documents (also referred as "K" documents) relating to a particular suspect. When the DOJ attempted to migrate the data relating to this particular series of files into its Sesame database, an error occurred, so a parallel paper-based finding aid was created just for this suspect.
Volumes 3978 to 4110 contain original documents and original affidavits and true certified copies of documents with accompanying pockets containing affidavits.
Volume 4101 contains various witness statements.
Volumes 4111 to 4203, 4255 to 4258, 4270, and 4980 contain the records of the Deschênes Commission. They include transcripts of public and in-camera hearings, exhibits, operational files, case files of suspected war criminals and published and unpublished reports.
Volumes 4255 to 4258 and 4270 contain indexes intended as finding aids for records in volumes 4111 to 4203.
Volumes 5983 to 6353, 6359 to 6409, and 6420 to 6598 contain records relating to the trials of persons suspected of war crimes.Biography/Administrative history:Canada. Department of Justice. War Crimes Section : In March 1987, the federal government responded to the final report of the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals (1985), also known as the Deschênes Commission, by announcing that those alleged to have been involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity during the Second World War would be subject to criminal prosecution or revocation of citizenship and deportation. Subsequently, the Government of Canada created specialized war crimes sections within the DOJ and the RCMP. In 1998, the federal government set up a coordinated programme on crimes against humanity and war crimes, involving the DOJ, the RCMP, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. In December 2003, the Canada Border Services Agency became a partner in the programme.Additional information:Custodial history:Custodial history for the records of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada (volumes 4111 to 4203, 4255 to 4258, 4270 and 4980):
In accordance with the Order-in-Council establishing the Commission, Justice Deschênes filed the records with the Privy Council Office (PCO) in April 1987. In May of 1987, the PCO transferred the records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be used for operational purposes at the newly formed Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Section of its Litigation Branch. The exceptions were a research report authored by historian Alti Rodal as well as eight other legal research papers commissioned by the Commission and listed in appendix I-I of the Part I of the Deschênes Commission's final Report. These eight reports were accessioned by the National Archives as RG 33/144. Several reference copies of a redacted version of Rodal's Report produced by the PCO were kept at the National Archives, but these were not accessioned. In June of 1987, the Dominion Archivist and Deputy Minister of Justice agreed that all the Deschênes Commission records should be kept intact as a unit, and it was agreed they be transferred to the National Archives once they no longer required for operational purposes. A record disposition authority was subsequently drawn up and the records were transferred to Library and Archives Canada in January 2011.Accruals:Further accruals are expected.Related material:See also the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals fonds (MIKAN 135, R1079-0-3-E) RG 33 144 volume 1.Source:GovernmentFormer archival reference no.:RG13Other accession no.:2024-0146 VSA
2024-0145 VSA
2025-0002 VSA
2025-0005 VSA
2015-0088 VSA -
Ordering and viewing options Conditions of access:Textual records[Consultation Restricted by law]Volume [R188][Consultation Restricted by law]3724--4203;[Consultation Restricted by law]4255--4258;[Consultation Restricted by law]4270;[Consultation Restricted by law]5983--6140;[Consultation Restricted by law]6181--6353;[Consultation Restricted by law]6359--6409;[Consultation Restricted by law]6420--6598;[Consultation Restricted by law]Graphic (photo)[Consultation Restricted by law]Volume [R188] 4980[Consultation Restricted by law]Moving images (video)[Consultation Restricted by law]Audio-visual item no. assigned by LAC [R188][Consultation Restricted by law]22704AV--22706AV;[Consultation Restricted by law]65964AV--65984AV;[Consultation Restricted by law]Sound recordings[Consultation Restricted by law]Audio-visual item no. assigned by LAC [R188][Consultation Closed pending processing]22724AV--22728AV;[Consultation Closed pending processing]22750AV--22757AV;[Consultation Closed pending processing]65985AV--66017AV;[Consultation Closed pending processing]Terms of use:Copyright belongs to the Crown for the Government of Canada material. Credit Library and Archives Canada.You can order materials in advance to be ready for you when you visit. You will need a user card to do this.
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