The federal prosecutor’s office in Ludwigshaven reported Wednesday that proceeding are pending against some 1,200 suspected Nazi war criminals but few if any are expected to be brought to trial because of their advanced age and the reluctance of many witnesses to testify.
The suspects are mainly former guards at Nazi concentration camps who were involved in the mass killings of Jews and others. Most of them range in age from 75 to 80 and the average age of witnesses is 73.
According to the prosecutor’s office, state attorneys encountered tremendous difficulties compiling evidence against individual suspects, a process that took years in many cases. In addition, many potential witnesses refuse to testify, or suffer severe health problems or are unable to remember events or identify suspects.
If any are brought to trial, the prosecution would have to rely mainly on written testimony from other countries, mostly in Eastern Europe, and it is questionable that convincing cases could be made in those circumstances.
Nevertheless, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office said it will continue to function as long as proceedings are pending against any suspected war criminals in West Germany.
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