Memoir and Documents May Link Minnesota Man to World War II Atrocities

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany – Following evidence that a former Nazi SS officer has been living in Minnesota since 1949, Polish prosecutors promised to assist the U.S. Department of Justice in their investigation of falsified immigration papers. As obligated, Germany may prosecute Michael Karkoc for war crimes as a Nazi with “command responsibility,” even if no country can prove Karkoc’s direct involvement in atrocities.

Michael Karkoc is accused of having led a company in World War II that committed war crimes on behalf of the Nazis. (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press)

While no current evidence demonstrates that Karkoc directly committed war crimes, evidence corroborates suggestions that Karkoc was present as the company leader when his Ukrainian company massacred civilians. Further, Nazi SS files mention Officer Karkoc’s involvement in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, where Nazis brutally suppressed a Polish rebellion.

In 1949, Karkoc denied his World War II military service to American authorities. However, records demonstrate that Karkoc worked as an officer and founding member of the SS-led Ukrainian Self Defense Legion. According to an SS payroll document, Karkoc was the highest-ranking officer of the company. Later, Karkoc was an officer in the SS Galician Division. Both organizations were blacklisted and their members forbidden from entering the United States.

While Germany plans to investigate with the possibility of future prosecution, Poland may also be a possibility because most alleged crimes were against Poles on Polish territory. Regardless, Karkoc would be unlikely to be tried in his native Ukraine, where such men are today largely seen as national heroes who fought for the country against the Soviet Union.

Members of his unit and other witnesses have told stories of brutal attacks on civilians. But Karkoc refused to answer questions. “I don’t think I can explain,” Karkoc said.

“It was all like a trance: setting the fires, the shooting, the destroying,” one of Karkoc’s men, Vasyl Malazhenski recalled in a 1967 statement. “Later, when we were passing in file through the destroyed village,” Malazhenski said, “I could see the dead bodies of the killed residents: men, women, children.”

In 1995, Karkoc published a memoir in Ukrainian. Karkoc wrote that he joined the German army in 1941, following the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. At that time, he fought on the Eastern Front in Ukraine and Russia, where he received an Iron Cross for bravery. In 1943, Karkoc helped found the Ukrainian Self Defense Legion. Also, Karkoc served as a company commander in the unit, which the SS managed until the end of the war. However, Karkoc does not discuss massacres of civilians.

As a hobby, a retired clinical pharmacologist researched Nazi war crimes. Through that research, he found Karkoc’s name among members of the SS Galician Division who emigrated to Britain. After an internet search revealed Karkoc’s Minnesota address, the pharmacologist informed AP.

One of Karkoc’s four sons born after the war stated that the story is “notably lacking in proof or evidence,” calling the AP’s story “sensationalist and scandalous.”

If finding the officers who committed World War II atrocities has been challenging to date, a greater difficulty presents itself in ensuring that Michael Karkoc is in fact Officer Karkoc.

For further information, please see:

Minneapolis Star Tribune – Son Disputes Report That Minneapolis Man was Ex-Nazi Commander – 15 June 2013

New York Times – Minnesota Man, 94, is Investigated for Nazi Ties – 15 June 2013

USA Today – Shock Lingers after Nazi Unit Leader Found in Minnesota – 15 June 2013

Associated Press – AP Impact: Commander of Nazi-Led Unit Lives in US – 14 June 2013

International Business Times – Minnesota Nazi: Michael Karkoc, 94-Year-Old Former Nazi-SS Commander, Found Living in Minneapolis – 14 June 2013

The Telegraph – Commander in Nazi SS-Led Unit Linked to Atrocities ‘Found Living in Minnesota’ – 14 June 2013

U.S. Concludes Assad Used Chemical Weapons Against Rebels

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – The Obama administration has confirmed that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against the rebel opposition. The administration also acknowledged that Syria has crossed the “red line”, commonly referred to by President Obama, that would trigger more significant U.S. involvement in the conflict.

U.S. intelligence analysts have determined that chemical weapons have been used against Syrian rebels on a small scale several times. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

American intelligence analysts used physical evidence to conclusively determine that the Assad regime attacked Syrian rebels with the nerve agent sarin. According to a C.I.A. report, hair, blood, and urine samples of two Syrian rebels, one dead and one wounded, tested positive for the toxin after being involved in firefight northeast of Damascus in mid-March.

Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes addressed the media regarding the conclusion.

“Following a deliberative review, our intelligence community assesses that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale against the opposition multiple times in the last year,” Rhodes, said in a statement released by the White House on Thursday afternoon. “Our intelligence community has high confidence in that assessment given multiple, independent streams of information.”

“The president has made a decision about providing more support to the opposition that will involve providing direct support to the Supreme Military Council. That includes military support,” said Rhodes.

Despite acknowledging the U.S. will provide the rebels increased support, the level of support remains unclear. However, President Obama has recently come under fire for approaching the conflict cautiously and this news will undoubtedly lead to more calls for action.

Sen. John McCain, who has been highly critical of the president’s Syria policy, urged the president to implement a no-fly zone and provide the rebels with anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. However, McCain was pleased that the administration’s acknowledged the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons, but still he pushed for further action.

“I thank the president for acknowledging that Syrians are using chemical weapons,” McCain said. “Just to provide additional weapons to the Syrian National Army is not enough. We have got to change the equation on the battleground.”

Earlier this week former President Bill Clinton agreed with Senator McCain. Clinton said, “Sometimes it’s best to get caught trying, as long as you don’t overcommit.”

“Some people say, ‘O.K., see what a big mess this is? Stay out!’” Mr. Clinton said. “I think that’s a big mistake.”

President Obama will attend a G-8 meeting next week in Northern Ireland, where the conflict in Syria is expected to be one of the main talking points. Russia, also a G-8 member country, has supported the Syrian government throughout the conflict.

For further information, please see:

Al Arabiya – Obama decides to arm Syrian rebels after chemical weapons proof – 13 June 2013

CBS – U.S.: Syria used chemical weapons, crossing “red line” – 13 June 2013

CNN – White House: Syria crosses ‘red line’ with use of chemical weapons on its people – 13 June 2013

New York Times – Syria Has Used Chemical Arms on Rebels, U.S. and Allies Find – 13 June 2013

USA Today – U.S. has determined Syria used chemical weapons – 13 June 2013

Seven Killed by U.S. Drone Strike in Pakistan

By Kevin M. Mathewson

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia          

NORTH WAZIRISTAN, Pakistan – Two missiles, from suspected US drones, have killed seven people in a village in the North Waziristan tribal area, close to the Afghan border on Friday. The troubled border region is known as a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants.

“The U.S. drone fired two missiles targeting a militant compound and killing at least seven militants.” a senior local security official said.

The drone attack came just days after Nawaz Sharif took over as Pakistan’s prime minister for an unprecedented third term and asked the United States to end its drone attacks against militants.

“We respect the sovereignty of others and they should also respect our sovereignty and independence. This campaign should come to an end.” Sharif stated in regards to the U.S. campaign.

Last month President Obama announced stricter targeting rules for the drone campaign against militant suspects.

It is unclear who the target of the attack was, though several militant groups have camps in the area. Pakistan Taliban, whose deputy leader Waliur Rehman was killed in a drone strike on May 29, is said to be stationed there. Rehman was the number two in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction and had a $5 million U.S. government bounty on his head.

On Thursday the families of Pakistani victims of U.S. drone strikes wrote to Sharif urging him to stop the U.S. campaign, even by shooting the U.S. drone’s down if necessary.

Drone attacks are incredibly controversial in Pakistan, where parts of the government and military have been accused of ignoring or even condoning some of the strikes. It has been claimed that between 2004 and 2013, U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan have killed up to 3,460 people.

It has been estimated by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, that of those 3,460 deaths, 890 of them were civilians with a vast majority of strikes being carried out under the Obama administration.

In May, President Obama said the drone strikes were part of a legitimate campaign against terrorism, calling them “legal” and “just.” However, on May 9th the high court in the northwestern city of Peshawar declared the U.S. drone strikes targeting suspected militants a “war crime.”

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Pakistan drone strike kills seven in North Waziristan – 8 June 2013

4 News – Pakistan summons US diplomat over drone strike – 8 June 2013

The Daily Star – US drone strike kills 7 in Pakistan – 8 June 2013

The Voice of Russia – Pakistan protests to US over drone strikes that kill nine – 8 June 2013

Reuters – Pakistan summons envoy after U.S. drone strike kills nine – 8 June 2013