Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Germany Plans 20 Large-scale Trials of 150 Nazi War Criminals

October 27, 1959
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The Central War Crimes Investigation Commission reported today that it would press about 20 large-scale war crimes trials in 1960, involving 150 defendants, in a final attempt to bring war criminals to justice before the statute of limitations expires. The deadline is 1960 for crimes of homicide and 1965 for murder. The defendants include Nazi officials who participated in annihilation of Jews.

Chief Prosecutor Erwin Schnele said today that “we found that investigation of a person accused of war or concentration camp crimes often led us to investigate a whole complex of crimes committed by many persons.” He forecast that “a few hundred persons” would stand trial before the statute of limitations took effect.

One of the trials scheduled by the commission is of three former Nazi police officials who were found to be holding key posts in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland police forces.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement