93-Year-Old Former Nazi Auschwitz Guard Prosecuted In Germany
- 10 years ago
Prosecutors in Germany have charged a 93-year-old former Nazi guard with three hundred thousand counts of accessory to murder, for the time he spent working at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Oskar Groening worked as a Nazi SS guard at Auschwitz, and has talked openly about his experiences there, including many atrocities.
Prosecutors in Germany have charged Oskar Groening, a 93-year-old former Nazi guard, with three hundred thousand counts of accessory to murder, for the time he spent working at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
In the past he has talked openly about his experiences there, including many atrocities.
According to historical records, in May and June of 1944, around 450 thousand Hungarian Jews were taken to Auschwitz concentration camp in occupied Poland, and almost three hundred thousand of them were gassed to death upon arrival.
Groening claims to have only witnessed the unspeakable war crimes, and says that he didn’t participate in the murder of Jewish people.
Thomas Walther, the lawyer who is representing 20 Auschwitz victims and their families in the case is quoted as saying the trial gives his clients a chance “to participate in bringing justice to one of the SS men who had a part in the murder of their closest relatives. Many of the co-plaintiffs are among the last survivors of Auschwitz.”
The 93-year-old former Nazi is also charged with helping the Nazi party benefit economically by collecting and tallying money that was stolen from victims of the concentration camp.
Groening’s lawyer refused to comment on the charges.
Prosecutors in Germany have charged Oskar Groening, a 93-year-old former Nazi guard, with three hundred thousand counts of accessory to murder, for the time he spent working at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
In the past he has talked openly about his experiences there, including many atrocities.
According to historical records, in May and June of 1944, around 450 thousand Hungarian Jews were taken to Auschwitz concentration camp in occupied Poland, and almost three hundred thousand of them were gassed to death upon arrival.
Groening claims to have only witnessed the unspeakable war crimes, and says that he didn’t participate in the murder of Jewish people.
Thomas Walther, the lawyer who is representing 20 Auschwitz victims and their families in the case is quoted as saying the trial gives his clients a chance “to participate in bringing justice to one of the SS men who had a part in the murder of their closest relatives. Many of the co-plaintiffs are among the last survivors of Auschwitz.”
The 93-year-old former Nazi is also charged with helping the Nazi party benefit economically by collecting and tallying money that was stolen from victims of the concentration camp.
Groening’s lawyer refused to comment on the charges.