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Court rules former Nazi camp guard, 100, can face trial in Germany (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 10 hours ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Summary

A German court ruled that 100-year-old former Nazi guard Gregor Formanek can stand trial for aiding 3,322 murders at Sachsenhausen concentration camp (1943–1945).

The decision overturns a lower court's ruling that deemed Formanek unfit for trial due to insufficient psychiatric evaluation.

Germany has intensified efforts to prosecute remaining Nazi war criminals since a 2011 precedent allowed convictions without proof of direct killings.

Time is critical, as many suspects have died or become unfit for trial, leaving historical accountability as an urgent priority.

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[-] ModernRisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

It’s good that this is happening. However, my question is; how much of an impact will this have on said people?

Most of them are at such an age that they’re closely to passing/ dying away.

I’m really curious about their life after the events of WW2. Did they change or not? Did they manage to escape and life their “good” life with or without remorse? So many questions.

[-] Cethin@lemmy.zip 7 points 7 hours ago

The purpose of penal rulings is to dissuade repeats of those actions, as other know they can be held accountable. It's still a good precident to go after them. Sure, they won't suffer much, but it shows to others who may want to follow in their footsteps that we will try to punish them if we can. If a new fascist group rises that wants to do the same thing, people will have to consider that, if they fail, they will be held accountable.

[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 4 points 8 hours ago

Impact is likely minimal as pretty much everyone with direct involvement is dead. As for his life after, I doubt there was much regret, prison guards weren't just randomly assigned. He actively has to choose that assignment and be approved for it.

[-] whithom@discuss.online 13 points 9 hours ago

I wonder what this person’s life has been like since then. Did that experience change them to be a good person, or have they continued to be a terrible human. But at 100, I can’t imagine they are going to imprison them? But it would be good to have a testimony about what happened.

[-] EvilBit@lemmy.world 5 points 8 hours ago

So is this gonna be the last Nazi that actually faces consequences for doing Nazi stuff? Should I bake a cake or something to commemorate it?

[-] TunaCowboy@lemmy.world 10 points 7 hours ago

Don't worry, nazis part two is scheduled for release in 2025.

[-] EvilBit@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago

Right, but will that have any consequences?

[-] Cethin@lemmy.zip 3 points 7 hours ago

If they try to do what they imply they'll do, and they fail, then hopefully. If the succeed, probably not. We have to make sure they can't succeed.

[-] TunaCowboy@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago

You'll have to tune in after the water wars to find out.

this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2024

143 points (98.6% liked)

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