The Social Democratic Opposition has formally requested an explanation of the Adenauer Government on what happened to the two-year-old investigation of former Reich Attorney Ernst Lautz who was charged with responsibility in the execution of Jews and other political, racial and religious prisoners.
In January 1956, Dr. Hugo Gerstenmaier, President of the German Parliament, commenced legal action against Lautz on charges that as prosecutor under the Nazis he demanded and received death sentences against many prisoners charged with offenses which even under the Nazi mockery of laws did not call for capital punishment.
Thus far the only disciplinary action against Lautz has been to suspend since January 1956, one-third of his government pension of 1,300 marks a month. No date has been set for a hearing of charges against the former prosecutor.
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