ABSTRACT
The practices of the National Socialist Government in Germany resulting in destruction of entire human groups gave impetus to a reconsideration of certain principles of international law. The crime of genocide involves a wide range of actions, including not only the deprivation of life but also the prevention of life and also devices considerably endangering life and health. Genocide is established as a crime under international law on a plane with piracy although no treaties were signed to this effect. The concept of genocide can and must be used also in treaties between states for the settlement of conflicts and disputes with underlying ethnical, racial, and religious tensions, especially in cases where such tensions result in large scale criminality. However, in the case of the peace settlement relating to Germany the inclusion of anti-genocide clauses in the peace treaty or peace statute would be both timely and appropriate.
