The first Belsen trial started in September 1945. Forty-five people were tried by a British court-martial in a converted gymnasium. Among them were camp commander Joseph Kramer, other SS members, female guards, and a number of kapos (prisoners in charge of other prisoners, for instance while they were at work). They were charged with crimes against humanity, ill-treatment of prisoners, and other abuse that had taken place in the camp. The process took two months. At the end, eleven defendants were sentenced to death. Others received prison sentences, ranging from one year to life imprisonment. Fifteen people were acquitted.
In 1946 and 1948, two more trials were held against former Bergen-Belsen camp staff.
