Germany has been praised for its efforts to bring suspected Nazi war criminals to justice.

The country has been awarded an “A” grade by the Los Angeles - based Simon Wiesenthal Centre in a new report on the international commitment to tracking down former Nazis.

It is the first time anywhere other than the United States has been given the top mark. The findings are based on the period between April 2009 and March 2010.

However, countries including Hungary and Canada have come under criticism in the new report for failing to prosecute suspected Nazi war criminals.

Hungary was criticised for failing to imprison Sandor Kepiro, a Hungarian military officer alleged to have been involved in the slaughter of 1,246 civilians in 1942. He was convicted of involvement in the massacres both before the Nazi invasion of Hungary, and after the war by the Hungarian authorities while he was living in Argentina.

Libel charges brought by Mr Kepiro against the centre’s director, Efraim Zuroff, were thrown out of a Hungarian court last month after the plaintiff did not show up for the court case.

Following his victory Mr Zuroff said: “I will not be satisfied until he is prosecuted."