Comments on: Finding a scapegoat

By: rick

rick — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:07:02 +0000

I'm deadly serious.

If you work in the employ of an industry whose sole purpose is the extermination of a people, I have very little sympathy for you.

When people say that the average German had no choice and had to work at these camps, I believe they are wrong. They could have chosen not to. They could have left the country, as so many of the French attempted during occupation, or they could have died in the pursuit of the higher good.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:24:18 +0000

In reply to rick.

That might just be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

By: rick

rick — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:34:33 +0000

"Might as well capture the cooks and janitors and try them for aiding the murder of those 29,000 people, eh?"

If they worked in the camp, I'm going to say yes.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:41:36 +0000

Oh, and to clarify. My grandpa was not charged or convicted with any crime, but in the eyes of the Allies, all Germans were evil.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:39:00 +0000

It's so sad that people who had no choice where they should be, can be held responsible for the actions of others. In those days, few had any choice and soldiers and guards in the army did NOT HAVE A CHOICE. They were conscripted, forced to be a part of what many did not agree with. They followed orders because often their families were threatened if they did not. In Nazi Germany children were forced to inform on their parents. Some, so young, that they did not know what they were doing.

We can't compare modern day military practices in the Canadian army, to those during World War II.

My grandfather was taken from the farm field in Austria, to fight in World War I. He never saw his parents again, never had the chance to say goodbye to his mother. He wouldn't talk about the war. But hey, he was the enemy, right? So he was charged and convicted just because he was on the wrong side. My great grandfather on my other side, was a soldier for the British.

Mr Demanjanjuk, he too was conscripted. Hmm, how old was he? He was 17 years old when the war started. Think of that before you think he is the beast they assume. Oh, and being Ukrainian he had even less rights and probably even less of a wish to be there. Know what was going on? Yes, likely. Be in any position to do anything about it? No. But everyone else is dead, so he is the one who pays for others' sins.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:21:49 +0000

Have they released details on what the proof is?

His name was on a personnel manifest.

Do you think they will convict him without proof of guilt?

An Israeli court did.

By: Jeff Milner

Jeff Milner — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:47:42 +0000

"there is no proof he did anything more than stand guard"

Have they released details on what the proof is?

Do you think they will convict him without proof of guilt?

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:35:45 +0000

Might as well capture the cooks and janitors and try them for aiding the murder of those 29,000 people, eh?

By: rick

rick — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:52:45 +0000

What kind of a person could work at a death camp and not know what was going on?

Willful ignorance does not a defense make.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:34:09 +0000

In reply to Dallas.

Except we don't even know that he was in the same room where the people were killed. All we know is that he was likely a guard somewhere in the camp. He could have been guarding the front gate, the barracks, the work camp, or a host of other locations.

After all, what kind of security would it be if every guard was over at the gassing chamber?