War crimes prosecutors are searching for witnesses in the trial of former SS official Heinz-Guenther Wisner who is accused of atrocities at the Riga-Kaiserwald concentration camp during World War II. The trial, in Duesseldorf, is scheduled to open next September but no date has been specified.
Wisner has been described by the prosecution as the right-hand man of the notorious camp doctor, Eduard Kresbach. He is charged with personally killing many inmates, some of them in a brutal manner. During pretrial hearings, 52 witnesses testified. But the prosecution hopes to find more former inmates prepared to testify against Wisner in court. He is presently in prison pending trial. If convicted he could draw the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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.
