The hunt for last nazis

03-24-09, 05:56 PM

Read a couple of interesting news items on the BBC about the hunting of the last remaining nazi war criminals from WW 2. The Simon Wiesenthal organisation is still tracking some nazis who, naturally, are already quite old and in about ten years will be dead. But there are still some that are either alive or have not been confirmed dead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7857753.stm

Serge Klarsfeld has also taken part in the nazi-hunts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7858822.stm

Platapus · 03-24-09, 06:04 PM

Seems like a waste of time and resources to me. These are old men (assuming that they were 21 years old in 1945, the youngest would be 85 Years old). They are gonna die soon and no longer pose any threat.

War criminals have "escaped" since the start of warfare and the world goes on.

Between Project Paperclip and GehlenOrg (and I am sure other such programs) it is a bit late for the US to be concerned with "hunting" nazis.

Schroeder · 03-24-09, 07:09 PM

@Platapus

It is for the victims sake. Even after all this year it would surely be a relief for the survivors to know that justice was brought to their tormentors.
If they find them they shall sentence them and lock them up for the rest of their lifes even if that isn't that long anymore.

03-24-09, 07:19 PM

Quote:

They are gonna die soon and no longer pose any threat.

"Doctor death" also on the list, you heard what he did? If not find some articles about him. I don`t think thise khm....... "man" diserve to breathe air.

GoldenRivet · 03-24-09, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Seems like a waste of time and resources to me. These are old men (assuming that they were 21 years old in 1945, the youngest would be 85 Years old). They are gonna die soon and no longer pose any threat.

War criminals have "escaped" since the start of warfare and the world goes on.

Between Project Paperclip and GehlenOrg (and I am sure other such programs) it is a bit late for the US to be concerned with "hunting" nazis.

100 % agree there...

just let it go already

they will never ALL be found

what would they do, put them in jail for the rest of their lives? (few years)

bookworm_020 · 03-25-09, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

100 % agree there...

just let it go already

they will never ALL be found

what would they do, put them in jail for the rest of their lives? (few years)

Well even if they don't succeed in getting them jailed, at least they will be exposed and forced to face there crimes.

It may seem like a lot of effort to go too for a couple of old men, but would it be a good example to set if you can hide for long enough, you can get away with murder???

03-25-09, 05:21 AM

If you click the topics above the article ('Most Wanted' etc.) under Right/Wrong? you'll see two opinions about how the money available should be used. To hunt the remaining war criminals or to oppose nascent racist movements. Not up to me to decide but if it was it would be difficult to say which would be a better choice, I kinda understand both views.

And I don't consider the old nazis victims at all, it's about time that criminals were brought to the court and were not allowed to hide behind the uniform like often happens. That guy Aribert Heim was in Finland too during the war, I think I've even walked past the house that he was stationed in. He later became the 'doctor of death in Mauthausen.

Schroeder · 03-25-09, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

And I don't consider the old nazis victims at all, it's about time that criminals were brought to the court and were not allowed to hide behind the uniform like often happens.

Just in case you referred to my post with this, I didn't say that the Nazis are the victims. I said they shall hunt them down so that the people who suffered from them (the victims of the Nazi terror) may find some peace.

03-25-09, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Just in case you referred to my post with this, I didn't say that the Nazis are the victims. I said they shall hunt them down so that the people who suffered from them (the victims of the Nazi terror) may find some peace.

No I didn't refer to your post, just thinking aloud really. And I agree, it is because the victims and their relatives demand justice. There are other issues that still linger too, like force labour that was used to build, for example, some of the u-boat pens and other structures, and even worked for some of the companies that still exist. These people are still around too and many have not been compensated in any way.

Schroeder · 03-25-09, 07:38 AM

There has been a compensation payment a few years ago. I think people who were forced to work got 10000€.
Half of the money came from the government and the other half from the companies that used forced labour.

03-25-09, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

There has been a compensation payment a few years ago. I think people who were forced to work got 10000€.
Half of the money came from the government and the other half from the companies that used forced labour.

Does it cover everyone? And how are the recipients decided? Is it just for German nationals or for everyone? If everyone then that is news to me.

Boris · 03-25-09, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

Does it cover everyone? And how are the recipients decided? Is it just for German nationals or for everyone? If everyone then that is news to me.

My grandmother was a Russian forced labour worker under the Germans... for the Wehrmacht I'm pretty sure, because that's where she met my grandfather. I remember she got her compensation some years ago.

03-25-09, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris

My grandmother was a Russian forced labour worker under the Germans... for the Wehrmacht I'm pretty sure, because that's where she met my grandfather. I remember she got her compensation some years ago.

Ok then. I remember this issue being discussed in the media some time ago and that there were still groups of people who hadn't been compensated yet. I'm glad that there has been progress.

Schroeder · 03-25-09, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

Does it cover everyone? And how are the recipients decided? Is it just for German nationals or for everyone? If everyone then that is news to me.

International.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiftun...kunft%E2%80%9C

I can only provide a German link so far.
Under the topic "Ausstattung" you can see how much money was issued to international partner organisations that transferred the money then to the victims.

03-25-09, 10:01 AM

Ok, thank you for the info. Btw, another question although I suppose I really should Google and find the info myself but I'm kinda interested as to what people here know. I don't really speak German although I'm learning so I can't really read German sources. What about the Swiss banks, is that issue still unresolved? I remember that the Swiss banks were for a long time pretty adamant about not giving any info about the wealth stored in them, even if it was derived from the era of the Third Reich.

03-24-09, 05:56 PM	#1
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	The hunt for last nazis Read a couple of interesting news items on the BBC about the hunting of the last remaining nazi war criminals from WW 2. The Simon Wiesenthal organisation is still tracking some nazis who, naturally, are already quite old and in about ten years will be dead. But there are still some that are either alive or have not been confirmed dead. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7857753.stm Serge Klarsfeld has also taken part in the nazi-hunts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7858822.stm

03-24-09, 06:04 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,375 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Seems like a waste of time and resources to me. These are old men (assuming that they were 21 years old in 1945, the youngest would be 85 Years old). They are gonna die soon and no longer pose any threat. War criminals have "escaped" since the start of warfare and the world goes on. Between Project Paperclip and GehlenOrg (and I am sure other such programs) it is a bit late for the US to be concerned with "hunting" nazis. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

03-24-09, 07:09 PM	#3
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	@Platapus It is for the victims sake. Even after all this year it would surely be a relief for the survivors to know that justice was brought to their tormentors. If they find them they shall sentence them and lock them up for the rest of their lifes even if that isn't that long anymore. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

03-25-09, 07:38 AM	#10
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	There has been a compensation payment a few years ago. I think people who were forced to work got 10000€. Half of the money came from the government and the other half from the companies that used forced labour. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

03-25-09, 05:21 AM	#7
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	If you click the topics above the article ('Most Wanted' etc.) under Right/Wrong? you'll see two opinions about how the money available should be used. To hunt the remaining war criminals or to oppose nascent racist movements. Not up to me to decide but if it was it would be difficult to say which would be a better choice, I kinda understand both views. And I don't consider the old nazis victims at all, it's about time that criminals were brought to the court and were not allowed to hide behind the uniform like often happens. That guy Aribert Heim was in Finland too during the war, I think I've even walked past the house that he was stationed in. He later became the 'doctor of death in Mauthausen.

03-25-09, 10:01 AM	#15
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Ok, thank you for the info. Btw, another question although I suppose I really should Google and find the info myself but I'm kinda interested as to what people here know. I don't really speak German although I'm learning so I can't really read German sources. What about the Swiss banks, is that issue still unresolved? I remember that the Swiss banks were for a long time pretty adamant about not giving any info about the wealth stored in them, even if it was derived from the era of the Third Reich.