A German law firm has decided to represent former SS Capt. Erich Priebke for free when he goes to trial on war crimes charges in Italy.
Heinrich Wirtz, a partner in the Berlin firm of Anwaltsburo Andreas Schultz, arrived last week in the Andean resort town of San Carlos di Bariloche, where Priebke awaits extradition to Italy.
“We think Mr. Priebke is innocent,” said Wirtz, who added, “We shall help him free of charges as a matter of humanity.”
“We are not Nazis,” Wirtz said. “We do this because this might be the last case involving Germans in relation to the war.”
Wirtz added that Priebke had contacted the Berlin law firm on the “recommendation of his many friends in Berlin.”
Sergio Widder, representative of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Argentina, said he was surprised by these developments.
“We don’t know who these people are,” he said, adding that he could not say “who is behind this unexpected help to a Nazi war criminal.”
Priebke could be flown to Rome from Argentina before the end of the month to face what is expected to be an emotional and painful trial before a military tribunal.
Tullia Zevi, president of the Union of Italian Jewish communities, said the extradition would be “positive for the image of both Italy, which seeks justice for its victims, and for Argentina, which in the past showed too much tolerance in accepting and supporting tens, if not hundreds, of Nazis and escaping fascists.”
Argentina’s Supreme Court ruled Nov. 2 that Priebke be extradited to Italy to stand trial for his involvement in the 1944 massacre of 335 Romans – 75 of them Jewish – at the Ardeatine Caves south of Rome.
The massacre, which was ordered in reprisal for the killing by partisans of 33 German soldiers, is regarded as the worst war crime committed on Italian soil.
The Argentine Supreme Court decision overturned an appeals court ruling three months ago refusing extradition.
Legal disputes delayed the formal ruling to extradite Priebke for a 18 months.
Priebke was unmasked in May 1994 by an ABC-TV news team in Bariloche.
He has lived openly in the town under his own name since 1948.
Priebke, who has been under house arrest in Argentina since May 9, is awaiting the arrival of an Italian police unit that will accompany him to Italy.
According to local reports, Priebke’s health is deteriorating. His doctor maintained that he fell into a state of depression in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, adding that Priebke has high blood pressure and is suffering from senility.
But Argentine Justice Minister Rodolfo Barra, who was in Italy last week to meet with Italian officials about Priebke’s case, dismissed reports that Priebke was too ill to be extradited.
Barra told reporters in Rome on Nov. 6 that Priebke’s extradition would take place “within two weeks.”
Barra added that it would be “very difficult” for Priebke’s lawyers to block the extradition.
Italian officials welcomed the Argentine court’s ruling to extradite Priebke.
Argentine has “recognized Italy’s right to have the chance to put on trial a person who took part in one of the worst human tragedies,” former Justice Minister Giovanni Conso told Italian radio.
Conso signed an international arrest warrant for Priebke 17 months ago.
He said the trial – expected to be one of Italy’s most emotional – “will be a day of light for justice, a day of sunlight.”
Priebke has admitted taking part in the massacre, but said he was just following orders and would have been killed himself if he had refused to participate.
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