By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany – At least one German is facing charges for his involvement in the Holocaust, and another German woman may face charges for separate involvement in the Holocaust.

 

Oskar Groening is on trial for his alleged part in the atrocities that occurred at Auschwitz. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

Oskar Groening, the “accountant / bookkeeper of Auschwitz,” is being tried by prosecutors in Luneburg for his role in the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The former Waffen-SS member has already acknowledged being a guard at the camp, but claims he did not commit any atrocities. Groening states that he counted money and cleared luggage from Jews who came into the camp, and has expressed guilt for taking part in the “killing machine that eliminated millions of innocent people.” Around 1.1 million people are estimated to have died within Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Groening’s charges are for accessory to murder for at least 300,000 of the deaths.

Hilde Michnia, also 93-years-old, is now being investigated by prosecutors in Hamburg following a complaint by a private citizen. She is alleged to have been an SS guard in the Bergen-Belsen and Gross-Rosen concentration camps, and also alleged to have been part of evacuating Gross-Rosen and forcing the prisoners to march to the Guben labor camp. An estimated 1,400 women died in the march to the Guben labor camp.

Michnia denies such claims, stating that she merely worked in the kitchen in Bergen-Belsen, where at least 52,000 died. She further claims that she did not see “gaunt, starving and diseased prisoners,” stating she worked elsewhere in the camp. British occupying forces in Luneburg tried Michnia in 1945, particularly for beating two men who stole turnips from the kitchen. 44 other camp guards and SS members were also tried alongside her for cruelty towards prisoners, and she was sentenced to one year in prison.

For more information, please see:

AP – Germany investigates woman suspected of being SS guard – 2 February 2015

JTA – German woman, 93, under investigation for role as SS guard – 2 February 2015

The Guardian – 93-year-old German woman suspected of being Belsen SS guard – 2 February 2015

The Independent – 93-year-old woman investigated over claims she was Nazi SS guard who helped march 1,400 people to their deaths – 2 February 2015

BBC – Trial date set for ‘Auschwitz bookkeeper’ Groening – 2 February 2015

Author: Impunity Watch Archive