United States Holocaust Museum launches “Mladic files” documenting war crimes of Ratko Mladic

Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada
Published: October 29, 2011  

October 27, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has launched “The Mladic Files,” a multimedia website providing in-depth, real-time reporting of the trial of Ratko Mladic in The Hague. In addition to documenting the trial of the man accused of orchestrating the largest massacre in Europe since World War II, the project will examine related issues such as whether bringing to justice those responsible for mass atrocities may help prevent future ones.

“The Mladic Files” will provide a multifaceted account of the proceedings against Mladic, who, as commander of the Bosnian Serb Army during the 1992–95 Balkans conflict, has been indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. “The Mladic Files” is available at www.ushmm.org/mladic-files. The project’s blog is available on Foreign Policy’s website.

The project is being led by the Museum’s Goldfarb Fellow, prize-winning foreign correspondent and author Michael Dobbs, who will follow the trial as part of his investigation into the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica. In addition to observing the legal proceedings in The Hague, Dobbs will travel to Srebrenica, Sarajevo, and Belgrade to interview Mladic’s victims and associates, posting his discoveries to the website as he seeks to uncover what drove the Bosnian Serb military commander to order Europe’s deadliest massacre since World War II.

“‘The Mladic Files’ will not only document the trial but also explore the roots of the Srebrenica massacre and its ongoing impact in the former Yugoslavia and the international community,” says Michael Abramowitz, Director of the Committee on Conscience, the Museum’s genocide prevention program. “This historic trial will play an important role in determining if Mladic’s actions constituted genocide. We are pleased that, through our fellowship program, the Museum will be able to provide deeper insights into the trial and the events that brought it about.”

As part of its genocide prevention efforts, the Museum has long shone a spotlight on the atrocities in the Balkans and in particular the massacre at Srebrenica, which is one of the few cases that the international community has deemed genocide. The Museum has been monitoring the arrests and trials of those accused of crimes against humanity in the region.

The Museum’s work on genocide and related crimes against humanity is guided by the Committee on Conscience, a standing committee of the Museum’s Council. The Committee on Conscience’s mandate is to alert the national conscience, influence policy makers, and stimulate worldwide action to confront and work to halt acts of genocide or related crimes against humanity.

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit ushmm.org.

Source: United States Holocaust Museum