BLUF
The WW2 Nuremberg precedent rejected “just following orders” as a defence for war crimes—Lt. Calley’s My Lai (Vietnam) conviction reaffirmed individual accountability and shaped modern rules requiring service members to disobey clearly illegal commands.Learning Outcomes:
- Understand that following illegal orders is not a defence under international or military law.
- Recognise the moral and legal responsibility of service members to assess and refuse unlawful commands.
- Apply lessons from historical cases to ensure compliance and ethical decision-making in operations.
