Fifteen former Nazi judges and prosecutors have been expelled from the West German judiciary to date, the Conference of State Ministers of Justice was told today.
The Ministers met to discuss charges against West German judiciary members who formerly served on Hitler’s special courts and other questions. In reporting on the expulsions. Dr. Flehinghaus, North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Justice, told a press conference that in a number of such cases, legal or disciplinary probes had been opened and that in many cases proceedings were dropped when accusations proved to be unfounded.
He refused to report on the number of cases in progress, arguing that “figures would only give a distorted picture.” Dr. Fritz Schaeffer. West German Minister of Justice, said the small number of judicial officials who were expelled showed that the West German judiciary was “by far not as bad as its reputation abroad.”
Dr. Erwin Schuele, director of the Central War Crimes Investigation Commission, reported on Nazi security service files he found recently in the Washington, D.C. archives. He said the files contained “invaluable” material but nothing which would make new investigations necessary.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
