Former Auschwitz guard, 93, charged with accessory to 300,000 murders

[Melech 9,900]

 

 

BERLIN –  A 93-year-old man has been charged with 300,000 counts of accessory to murder for serving as an SS guard at the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp, prosecutors said Monday.

Oskar Groening is accused of helping operate the death camp in occupied Poland between May and June 1944, when some 425,000 Jews from Hungary were brought there and at least 300,000 almost immediately gassed to death.

In his job dealing with the belongings stolen from camp victims, prosecutors said among other things he was charged with helping collect and tally money that was found.

"He helped the Nazi regime benefit economically, and supported the systematic killings," state prosecutors in the city of Hannover said in a statement.

Groening's attorney, Hans Holtermann, declined to comment on the charges.

Groening himself has openly talked about his time as a guard and said while he witnessed horrific atrocities, he didn't commit any crimes himself.

In 2005, he told Der Spiegel magazine he recalled one incident on "ramp duty" when he heard a baby crying. "I saw another SS soldier grab the baby by the legs..." he said. "He smashed the baby's head against the iron side of a truck until it was silent."

Groening, who lives in the Hannover area, is one of some 30 former Auschwitz guards who federal investigators recommended last year that state prosecutors pursue charges against under a new precedent in German law.

Groening is the fourth case investigated by Hannover -- two have been shelved because the suspects have been deemed unfit for trial, and one was closed when the suspect died.

Holtermann said, however, his client is in good health.

Thomas Walther, who represents 20 Auschwitz victims and their families as co-plaintiffs in the case against Groening as allowed under German law, said it's their last 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," he told The Associated Press.

 

mess http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/15/german-prosecutors-charge-former-auschwitz-guard-3-with-accessory-to-300000/?intcmp=latestnews

[Mr Josh 3]

I remember reading about this a while ago . 

[Melech 9,900]

I remember reading about this a while ago . 

the article is from 15th september tho

[Mr Josh 3]

the article is from 15th september tho

Yeah I saw it, but I'm still 100% sure I read it some months ago . 

 

Unless there was someone else convicted of 300k murders :air:

 

 

Edit: Turns out the one I'm referring to is about another 93 year old last year this time :air:

 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/26/germany-charges-3-year-old-alleged-auschwitz-guard/

[monsterdreams 1,529]

Woah this is big actually

[craig 680]

Going after geriatrics for crimes comitted when they were barely of age is so pointless

The guy was aged 10-22 during Hitler's time in power, the crimes were 70 years ago.

[Pharamon 6,839]

God will punish that monstrum

[hausofmike 127]

OMG the part about the baby. That's horrible.

[Cody Draco 2,531]

I don't know how I feel about this. Maybe he had to participate in the SS in order to survive. I'm taking a Holocaust course right now and I'm pretty sure every male who was fit for service had to serve.

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

Going after geriatrics for crimes comitted when they were barely of age is so pointless

The guy was aged 10-22 during Hitler's time in power, the crimes were 70 years ago.

it still means something to get as much justice and closure

[Goosey 3,017]

If they're trying him what about all the other German soldiers too. It's not like he was allowed to pick where he was stationed.

[Morphine Prince 109,655]

Disgusting how this happened only 70 years ago. This is probably the most horrific event in history to me. Can't believe this actually happened in developed countries.