MOSCOW, February 9 (Sputnik) — The lack of criminal prosecutions for those responsible for World War II crimes is a “decades-long” scandal, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, told SNA Radio on Monday.
“When it comes to legal assessments in regard to Nazi criminals, including those responsible for the happenings in Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Dachau, this is one of the most scandalous chapters of German post-war and legal history,” Heubner said.
Out of the 8,200 members of the Schutzstaffel (SS), a paramilitary organization that initially served as Hitler’s personal bodyguards, stationed at concentration camps, 6,500 survived until the end of the war. Only 43 of them faced trial in Germany and just a few were punished, he added.
"This is an actual scandal, carrying on for several decades," Heubner said.
Discussing the upcoming trial of Oskar Groening, a 93-year-old former SS member and Auschwitz guard, Heubner stated that Groening would have to “deal with the question of his personal guilt.”
The former SS member was stationed at the Auschwitz concentration camp for two and a half years, allegedly sorting and guarding prisoners' belongings.
"Groening’s case is special. Unlike others, he confirms everything that happened in Auschwitz as a witness from the scene. Nevertheless, and despite his advanced age, he will have to take another step and come to an uneasy conclusion: ‘the happenings were partially my fault, and I, among others, bear responsibility'," Heubner said.
The Auschwitz Committee vice president also noted that the Russian people has done “immensely much” to free Europe of fascism, adding that "for the sake of the Russian people today, we must maintain the historical justice, and truth is that the Soviet Union made a major contribution to the liberation of Europe."
"When the significance of this fact is minimized or questioned, the Russian people rightly perceive it as a diminution of its contributions to history," he said.
Turning to current events in Europe, Heubner expressed hope that existing conflicts would be resolved as soon as possible.
"Knowing what kind of disunity and tragedy we have experienced, you understand, how terrible today’s feud between the peoples of Europe is," he said.
Relations between Russia and Western Europe have deteriorated over the conflict in Ukraine, as the West has accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs. Moscow has repeatedly denied the claims, calling for dialogue between Kiev and independence supporters in Ukraine's eastern regions.
