Nazi war criminals: How old is too old to prosecute?

The last few years have been filled with news stories about aging men who are accused of helping the Nazis systematically murder millions of people during the course of their reign of terror from 1933-1945. The name that is the most fresh in my mind is that of John Demjanjuk who was a Ukrainian guard who was accused of murdering nearly 30,000 people at Sobibor and Treblinka. He claimed it was a case of mistaken identity. A German court found him guilty in 2011, by March 2012 he waiting for his appeal to be heard.

More names have popped up the last year or so of the known Nazi war criminals that are still alive.  Hans Lipschis. Laszlo Csatary. Soren Kam. Gerhard Sommer. Ivan Kalymon. Vladimir Katriuk. Agimantas Dailide. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is attempting to round up any and all Nazi war criminals that they can locate.

The question becomes: is there a point where age becomes a factor in hunting down Nazis? Should tax dollars be spent on locating men (and some women) who are in their 80s and 90s in order to possibly get a conviction before they die? Is there a line, if so where is it drawn?

To put in my two cents: as historians-in-training, we are taught to be objective. That you cannot take a side in order to get the full, unbiased story. However, it is hard to be unbiased with the pictures of thousands of lifeless bodies piled up in boxcars, gas chambers, or mass graves. I have walked the paths of Auschwitz. I have stood in the "shower room" at Dachau. I have walked the route from the train station in Krakow to the site of where Plaszow used to be. I have walked the site of Treblinka. I have walked through the Jewish cemeteries in Poland, many which were desecrated during the war. I have sat and spoken with not just survivors, but their families. 

What I have witnessed is evidence. Evidence of their crimes. My Mom once asked me if I did not think it was possible for men like that to change. I responded that it is only possible to change once you admit and repent for the crimes that you have committed. None of these men have paid for their crimes, and many are enjoying their last years without a care in the world.

 My Mom would follow that question up with whether or not it is really worth spending all that time and money tracking down someone, trying them, and having them die shortly after. Taking my historian hat off again, I responded as a human being. It is not about how much it cost, but the justice that is brought forth for the victims and their families. In addition, it shows the rest of the world that no matter how old you are, if you commit crimes against humanity or any war crimes for that matter, that you will be found and punished.

Putting the historian hat back on, I must beg the question to the rest of the world: How old is too old to prosecute for war crimes? Should there be a statue of limitations? 

For articles pertaining to current Nazi war criminals click here, here, here, here

For the 2013 Simon Wiesenthal Center Report on their Most wanted Nazi list, click here

Source: BBC News Online

New Perspective: Hitler's Children (BBC)

Rainer Hoess
Source: UK Telegraph

I had taken a hiatus from posting interesting history-related things, especially in regards to World War II because I was enjoying almost 12 months of various research projects. However, I was told by my Uncle that I should watch the BBC's documentary entitled Hitler's Children. Personally, I thought what new information could I get in regards to the world's most infamous dictator and his loyal band of thugs?

Hitler's Children is not about Hitler, but a question that I have had in my mind since I was eleven years old after standing at the gate of Dachau looking up at the funny words "arbeit macht frei". I had finished my exploration of the camp much ahead of my parents and grandmother and needed a couple minutes to myself to think. A million questions poured out of me, it would not be until we returned home to the States and I began to learn the horrors of the Third Reich, more specifically, the Holocaust, that the burning question of what happened to the family members of Nazis?

I will be the first to admit that when I was younger I wanted nothing more then every member of the Nazi elite's family to realize what their loved one did and somehow be punished for it. However, as I ventured down the path of a historian, grew older, and received more education I realized the sins of the father should not necessarily be slapped onto the child. Do I believe it is necessary to keep Holocaust education alive in Germany? Yes. Do I believe it is necessary to keep Holocaust education alive throughout the world? Yes.

Hitler's Children offers an exploration of what it was like to grow up in the shadow of evil: Niklas Frank, the son of Hans Frank who became the Governor-General of Poland. Bettina Goering, the great-niece of Hermann Goering. Monika Hertwig, the daughter of Amon Goeth, the Commandant of Plaszow, whose brutality was made famous by Ralph Fiennes portrayal in Steven Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece, Schindler's List. Katrin Himmler, the great-niece of Heinrich Himmler, one of the architect's of the 'Final Solution'. Rainer Hoess, the grandson of Rudolf Hoess, the Camp Commandant of Auschwitz.

Each one of their stories is slightly different, yet just as heartbreaking. At one time one states that they feel like the only reason they were born was to remember the sins of their grandfather. Two of them have written books on their notorious relatives, including Niklas Frank, who writes about his parents' evilness within the Third Reich hierarchy. Rainer Hoess visits Auschwitz, and is terrified that he will be recognized as Rudolf Hoess' relation.

 Bettina Goering is the 'child' that left me the most shocked. She did not want the risk of bringing any more evil into the world since she looks so much like her uncle, Hermann Goering, that she and her brother had themselves sterilized. I cannot even begin to imagine the thought process of deciding to do such a thing. The guilt that must be placed on not only her shoulders, but the shoulders of the rest of the family must be incredible.

Many ask why do survivors and families of survivors want to remember the horrible things that happened to them. It is so it does not happen again. However, nearly 80 years later it seems rather cliche to say that when looking back the world still hasn't learned with such genocides as Colombia, Kosovo, Rwanda, and Darfur. The pain and guilt that many feel for their family's participation is still fresh. However, Hitler's Children does an excellent job exploring what it is like to live with the guilt of their Father\Grandfather\Uncle's ruthless and barbaric actions during the war.


To view Hitler's Children on YouTube, click here

For more information on Bettina Goering, click here or here

For books by Niklas Frank click here

For articles on Katrin Himmler click here or here

To purchase Katrin Himmler's book The Himmler Brothers on Amazon click here

To watch Monika Hertwig discuss her Father, Amon click here

To buy Inheritance, click here