Auschwitz guard charged

Von Tonner · 09-16-14, 04:49 AM

A 93 year old former guard is to be charged though he committed no crimes - he was simply a guard. If his only crime was he aided the Nazi regime through been a guard then the entire German army is likewise accountable.

I fully support never giving up in bringing to justice men or woman of whatever age if they committed war crimes, more so when it comes to the atrocities of the likes of Auschwitz - but an old man of 93 who was a guard billited to Auschwitz at the time. In my opinion that is taking it a little too far.

"Unlike most of the others, Groening has openly talked about his time as a guard and says while he witnessed horrific atrocities, he didn't commit any crimes himself.
But Hannover prosecutors said in a statement on Monday he was a cog in the machinery of destruction during his time at Auschwitz in 1944, noting that he helped collect and tally money stolen from murdered inmates.
He thus "helped the Nazi regime benefit economically, and supported the systematic killings".

http://www.news.com.au/world/breakin...b_uid=99350214

Jimbuna · 09-16-14, 05:02 AM

A hard one to call....I agree he was on the periphery of that awful place and carried out no atrocities but he did take part and aid in certain tasks allied to said atrocities.

There are no statute of limitations for these crimes and simply stating "I was following orders" has never and will never be an acceptable defence.

Also taking into account his age I shouldn't imagine the courts would be too harsh.

Eichhörnchen · 09-16-14, 09:33 AM

If you've ever been in a line of military types, expected to take your turn and do something you REALLY didn't want to do, and most of the others probably didn't either (and here I'm only talking about crossing a raging torrent weighed down by a ton of kit, on a little rope which is getting very slack) you'll know how impossible it is to say "I can't do it".

I don't know how guilty this old geezer was, but I think we should cut some slack for some of those guys who knew if they said "no" they'd be the next ones with a bullet-hole in their skull.

HunterICX · 09-16-14, 10:27 AM

Or send to the horrors of the Eastern Front for that matter.

Since he was open about it and spoke about the horrors he witnessed I doubt the guy was there on his free will back in the day.

Betonov · 09-16-14, 10:30 AM

I don't know, it all seems like a waste of time and money by now. Let him go. Grimm reaper or mosad will take care of him soon enough.

Wolferz · 09-16-14, 11:17 AM

I would think that just carrying the memories of that place and time would be punishment enough. Charging him with a count of murder for each and every soul taken by his peers is way over the top. I doubt if he was a supporter of the Nazi regime. Just another unfortunate German citizen who was forced into the military at gunpoint. Now if he joined of his own free will, then he shouldn't be charged with anything more than aiding and abetting. Not 300 million counts of murder. The architects of the holocaust were tried and hung long ago. It's time to leave it all in the past.

09-16-14, 04:49 AM	#1
Von Tonner Seasoned Skipper Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 711 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	Auschwitz guard charged A 93 year old former guard is to be charged though he committed no crimes - he was simply a guard. If his only crime was he aided the Nazi regime through been a guard then the entire German army is likewise accountable. I fully support never giving up in bringing to justice men or woman of whatever age if they committed war crimes, more so when it comes to the atrocities of the likes of Auschwitz - but an old man of 93 who was a guard billited to Auschwitz at the time. In my opinion that is taking it a little too far. "Unlike most of the others, Groening has openly talked about his time as a guard and says while he witnessed horrific atrocities, he didn't commit any crimes himself. But Hannover prosecutors said in a statement on Monday he was a cog in the machinery of destruction during his time at Auschwitz in 1944, noting that he helped collect and tally money stolen from murdered inmates. He thus "helped the Nazi regime benefit economically, and supported the systematic killings". http://www.news.com.au/world/breakin...b_uid=99350214

09-16-14, 05:02 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,918 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	A hard one to call....I agree he was on the periphery of that awful place and carried out no atrocities but he did take part and aid in certain tasks allied to said atrocities. There are no statute of limitations for these crimes and simply stating "I was following orders" has never and will never be an acceptable defence. Also taking into account his age I shouldn't imagine the courts would be too harsh. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-16-14, 10:27 AM	#4
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Or send to the horrors of the Eastern Front for that matter. Since he was open about it and spoke about the horrors he witnessed I doubt the guy was there on his free will back in the day. __________________

09-16-14, 11:17 AM	#6
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	I would think that just carrying the memories of that place and time would be punishment enough. Charging him with a count of murder for each and every soul taken by his peers is way over the top. I doubt if he was a supporter of the Nazi regime. Just another unfortunate German citizen who was forced into the military at gunpoint. Now if he joined of his own free will, then he shouldn't be charged with anything more than aiding and abetting. Not 300 million counts of murder. The architects of the holocaust were tried and hung long ago. It's time to leave it all in the past. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

09-16-14, 09:33 AM	#3
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,468 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	If you've ever been in a line of military types, expected to take your turn and do something you REALLY didn't want to do, and most of the others probably didn't either (and here I'm only talking about crossing a raging torrent weighed down by a ton of kit, on a little rope which is getting very slack) you'll know how impossible it is to say "I can't do it". I don't know how guilty this old geezer was, but I think we should cut some slack for some of those guys who knew if they said "no" they'd be the next ones with a bullet-hole in their skull.

09-16-14, 10:30 AM	#5
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I don't know, it all seems like a waste of time and money by now. Let him go. Grimm reaper or mosad will take care of him soon enough.