"Former Nazi camp guard, 101, convicted" Topic

A German court has handed a five-year jail sentence to a 101-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard, the oldest person so far to go on trial for complicity in war crimes during the Holocaust…

The Guardian: link

A life sentence.

And rightly so, if a little late.

Funnily enough, he lived in the communist and "anti fascist" GDR after World War II and its judicial authorities knew about his SS past in Sachsenhausen since the 1970s.
However, it also took the West German authorities about twenty years after the German reunification to get an investigation underway.

handed a five-year jail sentence to a 101-year-old

I'm so glad we've solved the worlds more pressing problems.

If it makes those guilty of contemporary war crimes think for a moment, then it is still a pressing problem or relevance to today. In practice I doubt it will do so, but who imagined we would ever see Serbian or Khmer Rouge criminals face trial?

Both East and West Germany made great use of ex Nazi officials and intelligence/police assets.

Finally it is worth remembering that ex Nazis had no problem with becoming devout communists. The two ideologies had far more in common than might be apparent at first glance.

If it makes those guilty of contemporary war crimes think for a moment

I somehow don't think this will ever cross their minds….

In fact, the lesson that might be "learned" by contemporaries is, "Well, even if I get caught, it won't be for a long, long time. . . ."

I believe the relevant maxim is, "Justice delayed is justice denied."

Better late than never.

Considering how leniently more senior Nazis were treated in the late 1940s, this seems… questionable.

This isn't justice, just virtue signalling…

Hatred never seems to end.
Think about it.
What do the Haters Become… the Evil Nazi Legacy?

Now, and for recent decades… a whole lot more Hatred… muchly deserved… but will go on…and on. Won't End.

This may be the final chapter in the hateful book of the Holocaust.

Was the evidence of crimes really only he has the same name, birth place and date of birth as someone listed as a guard?

"the lawyer said working as a security guard at a concentration camp alone should not suffice for a guilty verdict."

On the face of it, that kind of seems like a fair point.

It is known, that all SS guards in Sachsenhausen were involved in major liquidations of Sachenhausen inmates.

There are dozens of evidences (a photo, papers, letters from relatives etc.), which taken as a whole, leave no doubt that he was the SS guard Josef Schütz in Sachsenhausen.

Guards could have evaded their murderous activities if they had wanted to – but at the risk of front-line duty. You could say, that you didn't want to participate in liquidations There are documented cases in Sachsenhausen of such men getting themselves transferred. One of them was subsequently assigned to guard dog training.

He repeatedly became entangled in contradictions that, considering his otherwise mental clarity, could not be attributed to mental deterioration or stress.

Crimes of this kind do not require any individual action of a defendant under German criminal law.
Even aiding and abetting mass murder is punishable.
To have been SS guard in Sachsenhausen is punishable by law.
And rightly so.

That's rather more convincing.

The nazis were an odd bunch, full of contradictions. I didn't realise you could choose to be transferred if you were made a camp guard.

'Guards could have evaded their murderous activities if they had wanted to – but at the risk of front-line duty. You could say, that you didn't want to participate in liquidations There are documented cases in Sachsenhausen of such men getting themselves transferred.'

I had not heard of this, either. But… doubt many would have taken it up due to 'going on record' and 'fear factor' for families.
Probably signing own 'death sentence' on E Front in most cases. They would have been on record as an'undesirable'element. Families would possibly have become ineligible for rations, etc. State would have recognised disaffection. IMO.

ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that there were many Evil, Sadistic B*****s… but.. some, especially Clerks, etc. … just doing a job and wanting to survive in a Very Bad Place.

Many of the WORST, most sadistic, B*****S were from 'occupied' populations… utter scum, by any book.

Most Post War 'Nazi Hunting'… in 2 decades after 45 was deserved… some certainly 'slipped through'… especially those with 'connections'. But… as 'supply' of 'guilty' began to run out… it has become 'Vengeance', 'Vendetta', 'Persecution' for it's own sake.
And… if you 'look sideways'… JUST as Bad as the horrific acts by perps.

I DO NOT CONDONE ATROCITIES or Naziism… but… the dictum that "Just Following Orders" is not acceptable defence… and becomes grounds for prosecution…does NOT wash with me.

Just WHAT was one guy with a Rifle… or a girl with a typewriter supposed to do?

And not all would have been Evil… SOME may have 'helped' in SMALL ways… food, etc. People are MOSTLY Human.

OK… shoot me… but I regard actions against senile Old Men.. in 90s/100s… as 'Persecution'… simple.

What will 'Nazi Hunters/Haters' do when no 'actual' Nazis from WW2 are left? Are we starting to see this NOW?

I doubt that there will be any 'bestseller' books or 'Movies', showing the horror and quandaries… 'on the other side of the wire'.

There are very few WWII Veterans from all nations left. Soon I'd think WWII Nazis like many others in WWII will be gone. We just can forget what happened …

There's always an other evil blighter all too happy to label his chosen targets as inhuman.
His populace aren't all evil.
They don't believe the worst stories they hear.
Surely, those are just enemy propoganda. Our lads wouldn't do that.

I've also long thought following orders seems like a reasonable defence. Even if someone told you there was the option. Would you take the chance they were mistaken?