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

HFOTD: 28 May 1940

On this day in 1940,  the eighteen day war that the Germans fought with the Belgian army came to a close when the Belgians surrendered. The Battle of Belgium marked a milestone in the early stages of the war when both sides would engage in a tank battle. The little ground that the Allies had been able to secure in Europe was quickly broken and they, especially the British retreated. Belgium would play a large role towards the end of the war in December 1944 when the American and German armies would face off in the Ardennes, the outcome of the Battle of the Bulge would determine whether or not the Germans would regain their hypothetical footing. In the end the Americans were victorious and five months later the war in Europe would be over.

To view a German newsreel depicting the Battle of Belgium click here.

Tourist Sieg Heil's at Auschwitz

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that a tourist gave the Nazi salute at Auschwitz...last week? Dumbass. Second thing? Ignorance. It was reported last week that two tourists were seen on security camera walking up to the entrance of the notorious death camp and giving the Nazi salute to the "arbeit macht frei" sign that hangs over the entrance to the camp. The offending tourists were kicked out of the museum and the police have gotten involved. Here's a little known fact for all of you "comedians" and skinheads from other countries: in Poland, such activities and any act of fascism can have you facing up to two years in prison for each offense. Let's all be adults here, people. You don't see us going to visit Hitler's precious Eagle's Nest and peeing on it do you? Gosh, you'd think after seventy years people would have more respect, even if they did not fully appreciate or belief the history that took place in a place like Auschwitz.

Click here for the article from Polska Radio.

Mein Kampf-- is Germany REALLY ready to have it released countrywide?

It was announced this week via German news source, DER SPIEGEL, that the banned work of ex-dictator Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, would be released to the German public. One German historian went so far as to say a way of describing the reasons to the rest of the world were that they were disarming the fuse of Mein Kampf's bomb. The Historian continues that it is a great source of understanding and studying Hitler's future policies that would become notorious when he became chancellor in 1933. Yes, I'm sure we're all quite aware of his policies by this point. I can understand wanting to release the book for scholarly research and students studying Hitler's agenda during his reign, but why fully release it to the public? In a world where anti-Semitism and Neo-Nazi movements are on the rise, not just in Germany, but all over the world, why add flame to the already billowing fire?

This book, which was once given out to every newly wed German couple, acted as a great propaganda tool for anyone who could stay awake to read it. Hitler, who may have thought he sounded like a great and powerful potential leader was probably one of the driest writers of the 20th century. Perhaps that is why the world was taken by surprise when Hitler slowly snuck that whole killing people who didn't agree with him or were different then his idea of the perfect 'Aryan', because no one could last more than a couple of pages without needing several pots of strong coffee or a good stimulant, like meth (der fuehrer's stimulant of choice). It is confusing to understand why now is the perfect time to release Mein Kampf now and five months ago when a publishing house wanted to publish it the German court system banned the distribution for at least thirty-six months. What has changed in that short amount of time?

To read the the Der Spiel article click here, to read the CNN article about continuing the ban click here, or to read an excerpt from Mein Kampf click here.

HFOTD: 27 May 1942

On this day in 1942, notorious Nazi, Reinhard Heydrich is assassinated in Prague. Seeing as he was one of those that helped plan and execute the Holocaust and was the leader of the Gestapo, the exiled Czechoslovakian government wanted him dead. The two would-be assassins were trained by British forces and were waiting for Heydrich in Prague when his open-top car passed by. Though he was mortally wounded, he would not die until June 2nd, and not from the wounds he sustained in the assassin, but from infection from conflicting ideas of his medical team.

For information on Heydrich click here, for the CIA report click here, or for a book on the assassination click here.

HFOTD: 25 May 1944

On 25 May 1944, Operation Knight was launched.

What was Operation Knight? It was a German operation that intended to remove Josep Broz (Tito), the anti-Nazi partisan leader, from the village where he was believed to be camped out in in Yugoslavia. The village where Broz and his comrades were staying was completely annihilated by the German troops searching for Broz, who had escaped prior to the attack on the village.

For more information try the following:

The History Channel

Biography

Have you seen this man? Hitler's potential disguises

It's interesting to think that Adolf Hitler would ever have been able to successfully escape Nazi-occupied Europe. Alas, the Allies were dead set on the idea that the Nazis would sneak him out if the Allies got close to Berlin. In fact, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) commissioned several artists to compose potential disguises that were released to Allied officials and troops on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

The scary thing? Most of them do not even come close to looking like the hard-eyed, psychotic dictator that the world has come to fear and remember as the man responsible for the destruction of 11 million lives.

Read the article in it's entirety at the London Mirror