Posted on May 13, 2015
Oskar Groening :"The bookkeeper of Auschwitz" on Trial!
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Oskar Groening “The Bookkeeper of Auschwitz”
I am currently enrolled in “The History of World War II”, a class at Granite State College. I have really enjoyed the class so far, I find great value in learning about our history, not only as a country, but as a member of the human race. It is important the we can look back and learned from our mistakes as well as our past success. When people, of the United States at least, look back at World War II they see a battle between good and evil. The Allied Nations vs. The Axis of Evil. The thing I have come to learn from this class is that there was much more going on behind the scenes that the average person knows.
In the past few weeks, it seems, the past has caught up with the present. The number of survivors from the WWII era is getting smaller and smaller. This has caused, among other things, a push to make sure the last of those involved with some of the more atrocious acts be punished. the most prevalent of these is the case of Oskar Groening.
Oskar Groening is being put on trial for his involvement as a guard at Auschwitz. He is known as the “Bookkeeper of Auschwitz” and was responsible for rounding up all the banknotes and money from the prisoners as well as searching their luggage and hiding it out of site of the other incoming prisoners. He has openly admitted to being “morally guilty” but that he was just a small cog in a much bigger machine. He has gone as far as stating that he requested a transfer after he found out what was happening, but he was denied. Now he is being charged with 300,000 counts of murder.
I understand the need to punish people for crimes committed but I am unsure how I feel about this case. Mr. Groening is 93 years old, is he even the same person he was 70 plus years ago? Has too much time passed at this point for this trial to be effective? Of course the victims and victims families want to see anyone involved with these acts of evil punished, but what exactly are we accomplishing with the 93 year old man? He has been very open with his involvement and has shown remorse. Should people be trial due to moral guilt? What other precedents for cases will this trial open up? Was he just following orders, and it is known that anyone who was against the Nazis at the time, was eliminated. Should he have risked his own life to get away from what was happening?
I do not normally get into discussions about politics, but this is very interesting as I feel the consequences of this trials could be far reaching. My view, with the current information I have, is my “opinion” on the current situation and I would like to see how everyone else feels about this. Again, I think this is a very important trial, what do you think? Does anyone have any more information on this? Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from everyone!
I am currently enrolled in “The History of World War II”, a class at Granite State College. I have really enjoyed the class so far, I find great value in learning about our history, not only as a country, but as a member of the human race. It is important the we can look back and learned from our mistakes as well as our past success. When people, of the United States at least, look back at World War II they see a battle between good and evil. The Allied Nations vs. The Axis of Evil. The thing I have come to learn from this class is that there was much more going on behind the scenes that the average person knows.
In the past few weeks, it seems, the past has caught up with the present. The number of survivors from the WWII era is getting smaller and smaller. This has caused, among other things, a push to make sure the last of those involved with some of the more atrocious acts be punished. the most prevalent of these is the case of Oskar Groening.
Oskar Groening is being put on trial for his involvement as a guard at Auschwitz. He is known as the “Bookkeeper of Auschwitz” and was responsible for rounding up all the banknotes and money from the prisoners as well as searching their luggage and hiding it out of site of the other incoming prisoners. He has openly admitted to being “morally guilty” but that he was just a small cog in a much bigger machine. He has gone as far as stating that he requested a transfer after he found out what was happening, but he was denied. Now he is being charged with 300,000 counts of murder.
I understand the need to punish people for crimes committed but I am unsure how I feel about this case. Mr. Groening is 93 years old, is he even the same person he was 70 plus years ago? Has too much time passed at this point for this trial to be effective? Of course the victims and victims families want to see anyone involved with these acts of evil punished, but what exactly are we accomplishing with the 93 year old man? He has been very open with his involvement and has shown remorse. Should people be trial due to moral guilt? What other precedents for cases will this trial open up? Was he just following orders, and it is known that anyone who was against the Nazis at the time, was eliminated. Should he have risked his own life to get away from what was happening?
I do not normally get into discussions about politics, but this is very interesting as I feel the consequences of this trials could be far reaching. My view, with the current information I have, is my “opinion” on the current situation and I would like to see how everyone else feels about this. Again, I think this is a very important trial, what do you think? Does anyone have any more information on this? Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from everyone!
WWII World War Two
Morals
Law
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 14
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My grandfather left Germany when it was a bad time to be a Jew.
He came to America when it was a bad time to be a German.
He lied about his age to the recruiter in hopes of returning to Europe in order to fight Hitler.
And when Groening dies, he & my grandfather may likely never meet --because, as our Hymn goes, "the streets of Heaven are guarded by the United States Marines."
As for crimes against humanity: nunquam alieno. And that has no statute of limitations.
He came to America when it was a bad time to be a German.
He lied about his age to the recruiter in hopes of returning to Europe in order to fight Hitler.
And when Groening dies, he & my grandfather may likely never meet --because, as our Hymn goes, "the streets of Heaven are guarded by the United States Marines."
As for crimes against humanity: nunquam alieno. And that has no statute of limitations.
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There is no statute of limitations for crimes against humanity and for supporting genocide. The "I was only following orders" defense has also been deemed invalid. If he is actually not guilty, then he will be found so in trial.
I don't think "I'm sorry, that was so long ago" is a sufficient defense when you directly supported the murder of hundreds of thousands of people as part of one of the worst and darkest chapters of human history.
I don't think "I'm sorry, that was so long ago" is a sufficient defense when you directly supported the murder of hundreds of thousands of people as part of one of the worst and darkest chapters of human history.
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SPC Chad Kolod
This is why it is such a big deal! Again I agree with everything your saying. I just feel like there's more to consider.
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To me... he should have been tried when he came forward about it.. But I am with SPC Kolod on this I dont know if trying him 70 years later is going to really accomplish anything... besides putting a man in jail for war crimes and showing people that we are actually doing something... But at the same time why are others that are still out there being ignored? Just my opinion off the hip.
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