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93-Year-Old Auschwitz guard charged with 300,000 Counts of Accessory to Murder
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:17 pm
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:17 pm
German prosecutors have charged a 93-year-old man with over 300,000 counts of accessory to murder, authorities announced on Monday.
Oskar Gröning was 21 when he joined the SS and only 24 when the War ended. He served as a clerk guarding items confiscated/stolen from prisoners at the death camp and upon witnessing atrocities he requested a transfer to a front-line unit. His request was granted in 1944 and he was captured by the British on the Western Front in June of 1945.
After the war Gröning returned to Germany and lived a quiet life as a worker in a glass factory. He never hid or denied his time in the SS and he often made a point to confront Holocaust deniers:
"I saw everything, the gas chambers, the cremations, the selection process. One and a half million Jews were murdered in Auschwitz. I was there."
Gröning in 2005:
Throughout his life Gröning has maintained that he, himself, was never involved in any of the atrocities that took place in Auschwitz during the time he was there yet German authorities brought him up on charges of over 300,000 counts of accessory to murder on Monday.
In a renewed drive to bring perpetrators of the Holocaust to justice, Germany in 2011 passed a landmark ruling that allowed charges to be brought against those who worked for the Nazi regime in lesser positions.
Thomas Walther, who represents 20 Auschwitz victims and their families in the case against G. said this was their last chance to bring "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.
Oskar Gröning was 21 when he joined the SS and only 24 when the War ended. He served as a clerk guarding items confiscated/stolen from prisoners at the death camp and upon witnessing atrocities he requested a transfer to a front-line unit. His request was granted in 1944 and he was captured by the British on the Western Front in June of 1945.
After the war Gröning returned to Germany and lived a quiet life as a worker in a glass factory. He never hid or denied his time in the SS and he often made a point to confront Holocaust deniers:
"I saw everything, the gas chambers, the cremations, the selection process. One and a half million Jews were murdered in Auschwitz. I was there."
Gröning in 2005:
Throughout his life Gröning has maintained that he, himself, was never involved in any of the atrocities that took place in Auschwitz during the time he was there yet German authorities brought him up on charges of over 300,000 counts of accessory to murder on Monday.
In a renewed drive to bring perpetrators of the Holocaust to justice, Germany in 2011 passed a landmark ruling that allowed charges to be brought against those who worked for the Nazi regime in lesser positions.
Thomas Walther, who represents 20 Auschwitz victims and their families in the case against G. said this was their last chance to bring "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.
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Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:22 pm to KSGamecock
Collective guilt is valid, Eichmann defense is not. That's the way it is.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:24 pm to genro
Is the Chewbacca defense valid?
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:26 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberatin' and conjugatin' the Emancipation Proclamation, does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense! If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:30 pm to KSGamecock
quote:
He served as a clerk guarding items confiscated/stolen from prisoners at the death camp and upon witnessing atrocities he requested a transfer to a front-line unit. His request was granted in 1944 and he was captured by the British on the Western Front in June of 1945.
Seems like a cool dude. I probably would have kept my head down and kept working the desk job instead of getting killed at the western front.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:38 pm to Yellerhammer5
>Be Oskar Gröning
>Born to family with tradition of military service
>Mom dies before my fifth birthday
>Dad is a WWI vet who's business goes bankrupt because of reparations
>War starts, can't join cause I'm too young
>Finally old enough, enlist in SS cause patriotism
>Sent to work at Auschwitz
>Guarding suitcases and piles of money and shite
>See a baby get killed
>frick this, I'd rather die on the front than be part of this, transfer
>War ends
>Spend life owning crimes of regime and admitting to the horrors of the holocaust
>MFW charged with 300,000 counts of murder 70 years later
>Born to family with tradition of military service
>Mom dies before my fifth birthday
>Dad is a WWI vet who's business goes bankrupt because of reparations
>War starts, can't join cause I'm too young
>Finally old enough, enlist in SS cause patriotism
>Sent to work at Auschwitz
>Guarding suitcases and piles of money and shite
>See a baby get killed
>frick this, I'd rather die on the front than be part of this, transfer
>War ends
>Spend life owning crimes of regime and admitting to the horrors of the holocaust
>MFW charged with 300,000 counts of murder 70 years later
This post was edited on 9/15/14 at 5:42 pm
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:39 pm to KSGamecock
Stupid to do this. It seems that he joined the SS not knowing what they were all about, and upon seeing it, asked for transfer. I guess that's just part of being on the losing side.
Doesn't really matter, he is 93. He'll likely die before serving any real prison time
Doesn't really matter, he is 93. He'll likely die before serving any real prison time
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:43 pm to deltaland
quote:
Stupid to do this. It seems that he joined the SS not knowing what they were all about, and upon seeing it, asked for transfer. I guess that's just part of being on the losing side. Doesn't really matter, he is 93. He'll likely die before serving any real prison time
The SS wasn't just the army, it was for the true believers and practitioners.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:43 pm to deltaland
And from what I've read he's been largely up front about Auschwitz and apologetic about what went on there. He didn't really have a choice. Don't see the point of charging him here
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:44 pm to NYCAuburn
quote:
The SS wasn't just the army, it was for the true believers and practitioners.
In the early years yes but in the later years not so much.
This post was edited on 9/15/14 at 5:45 pm
Posted on 9/15/14 at 5:50 pm to KSGamecock
Should have used the Jewbacca defense
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:06 pm to KSGamecock
An entire nation was led into lunacy of the first order. Some such as the young Gröning came to see the horror of their fellow citizens' efforts.
It's unfortunate but understandable that survivors of Auschwitz hold all participants accountable, no matter their later enlightenment.
It's unfortunate but understandable that survivors of Auschwitz hold all participants accountable, no matter their later enlightenment.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:12 pm to KSGamecock
This is just stupid. War's over, it sucks and people did terrible stuff but ya kinda missed your opportunity to try him.
I have a bit of sympathy for Nazi soldiers because in reality -- what would you do? How do you say no? Where would you go?
I think the whole thing sucks, and to keep dredging it up with these strictly superficial, meaningless trials are fricking stupid.
I have a bit of sympathy for Nazi soldiers because in reality -- what would you do? How do you say no? Where would you go?
I think the whole thing sucks, and to keep dredging it up with these strictly superficial, meaningless trials are fricking stupid.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:28 pm to StrawsDrawnAtRandom
quote:
War's over, it sucks and people did terrible stuff but ya kinda missed your opportunity to try him.
frick this. And frick him.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:35 pm to Gradual_Stroke
quote:
frick this. And frick him.
Moral outrage!!!!!11 Nazis is baddd!!
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:36 pm to StrawsDrawnAtRandom
quote:
in reality -- what would you do? How do you say no? Where would you go?
A huge question and one that anyone with some sort of empathy would have to ask.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:38 pm to the808bass
quote:
Nazis is baddd!!
Yea, silly me for demonizing Nazis and the holocaust. What on earth was I thinking?
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:39 pm to Gradual_Stroke
It's the easiest moral judgment in history to make. But pat yourself on the back some more.
Later we can see where you come down on spousal abuse and child soldiers.
Later we can see where you come down on spousal abuse and child soldiers.
Posted on 9/15/14 at 6:40 pm to StrawsDrawnAtRandom
quote:
I have a bit of sympathy for Nazi soldiers because in reality -- what would you do? How do you say no? Where would you go?
You fight back, you resist, and you refuse. You escape. You do anything and everything in your power to get your family and yourself to safety. You do NOT go along with genocide. That isn't "okay". This is what Nazi sympathizers have a hard time with.
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