The Charter of these tribunals had four countsbof offences:
• Crimes against peace, i.e., beginning a war of aggression by planning, preparation or initiation, or in violation of treaties, such as the Hague Conventions of 1899, 1907, the Treaty of Versailles, violation of Mutual Non-aggression Pact by Germany with France, Belgium and Poland, and the 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact.
• War crimes, i.e., crimes under the laws of war, which included violation of customary and conventional rules and regulations relating to warfare.
• Crimes against humanity, i.e., inhuman treatment (murder or persecution) on racial or religious grounds during war and in occupied territories.
• Conspiracy to commit these crimes.