M45

Morotai Trial M45 was one of the largest Australian war crimes trials conducted after the Second World War. The case concerned the alleged mistreatment of Allied prisoners of war held at Tantui Prisoner of War Camp on Ambon. Proceedings commenced at Ambon on 2 January 1946 before being transferred to Morotai on 19 January, where the trial concluded on 15 February 1946.

The prosecution initially brought charges against ninety-one officers, guards and a civilian interpreter associated with the Shirozu Unit and the administration of the camp. At the close of the prosecution case, the court ruled that no prima facie case had been established against eleven of the accused, who were acquitted. The remaining eighty defendants stood trial, resulting in four death sentences, thirty-two terms of imprisonment and forty-four acquittals. This page summarises the trial, the accused, the sentences imposed and the surviving archival records, including the Judge Advocate General's review.