Former Buchenwald guards face possible charges in Germany

Five suspects, aged 92 to 96, served at concentration camp where 56,000 people were killed

The front gate at Buchenwald whose inscription reads, 'To Each What He Deserves.' (Courtesy of Paul Paul Pugliese)
The front gate at Buchenwald whose inscription reads, 'To Each What He Deserves.' (Courtesy of Paul Paul Pugliese)

BERLIN, Germany — German prosecutors are investigating whether to bring accessory to murder charges against five men who were guards at the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II.

Jens Rommel, head of the federal prosecutors’ office that investigates Nazi war crimes, confirmed a story in the taz newspaper Thursday that his office had found sufficient evidence against the men to turn their cases over to Thuringia state prosecutors.

His office can’t bring charges.

Some 56,000 people were killed at Buchenwald, which was near the German city of Weimar.

Rommel said the suspects are between ages 92 to 96 and all live in Germany. He said all but one served at Buchenwald during 1944-45.

They’re suspected as accessories to murder for helping the camp function. There is no evidence of their involvement in specific deaths.

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