Original U.S. WWII IMTFE Japanese War Crimes Tribunal Tokyo Trial 7th Infantry Division Patch & Philippine Ring Group - Sugamo Prison

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind Group. Following Japan's defeat and occupation by the Allies, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, United States General Douglas MacArthur, issued a special proclamation establishing the IMTFE. A charter was drafted to establish the court's composition, jurisdiction, and procedures; the crimes were defined based on the Nuremberg Charter. The Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal was composed of judges, prosecutors, and staff from eleven countries that had fought against Japan: Australia, Canada, China, France, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States; the defense consisted of Japanese and American lawyers. The Tokyo Trial exercised broader temporal jurisdiction than its counterpart in Nuremberg, beginning from the 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

Twenty-eight high-ranking Japanese military and political leaders were tried by the court, including current and former prime ministers, cabinet members, and military commanders. They were charged with fifty-five separate counts, including the waging wars of aggression, murder, and various war crimes and crimes against humanity (such as torture and forced labor) against prisoners-of-war, civilian internees, and the inhabitants of occupied territories; ultimately, 45 of the counts, including all the murder charges, were ruled either redundant or not authorized under the IMTFE Charter. The Tokyo Trial lasted more than twice as long as the better-known Nuremberg trials, and its impact was similarly influential in the development of international law; similar international war crimes tribunals would not be established until the 1990s.

This is a tremendous patch grouping consisting of a gorgeous WAR-CRIMES-TRIALS I.M.T.F.E. TOKYO JAPAN patch, a War Crime Tribunal / Philippine Military Police patch, a tremendous 7th Infantry Division “Sugamo Prison” patch, a small Philippines badge, and a Philippines ring.

The IMTFE patch measures 1⅝ x 4” and is in great shape, the cloth just being a bit stained. The War Crimes Tribunal patch measures 3 x 3⅜” and is in similar condition and construction, and it’s clear that most of these items have always been together. The 7th ID patch is 3⅜ x 3½” and is in great order. The Sugamo Prison patches have always been extraordinarily scarce. 

The small Philippines badge is ⅝ x 2⅛” and is missing some material as shown. The Philippines ring is theater-made and a great example.

A great group, ready for further research and display.