Trial of Nazi Lesser Criminals May Be Turned over to Reestablished German Courts

The trial of thousands of lesser Nazi criminals in the American zone of Germany may be turned over to the reestablished German courts, assorting to an agreement reached between the offices of the U.S. chief war crimes counsel and the Judge Advocate General of the Army, it is reported here today. The agreement has been turned ever to the American Military Government for final action.

Observers here believe that this may mean that tens of thousands of German war criminals would escape prosecution, but it is pointed out that two German cities have already taken the lead in punishing their own criminals. Aschaffensburg has decided to bring its Nazis to trial as responsible for the destruction of the Jewish community, while the city of Bamberg will bring action against at least six Nazis for the looking and Tiring of the Jewish synagogue in that community and for atrocities committed against Jews.

In Nuremberg the city itself will indict the Nazi Party district leader, Zahnsison, and other Nazi leaders accused of organizing, on orders from Bayreuth, “spontaneous public action” against the Jews following the slaying in Paris of von Bath, a Nazi diplomat, by a Jewish refuges. On the night of Nov. 9, 1938, they led a group to the local synagogue, removed the silver ritual pieces and set fire to the structure. They also best up a number of Jews.

In Nuremberg the Jews were forced at that time to pay for the removal of the stones from the site where the synagogue had stood, but the removal was only partially completed. Fran Betty Wagner, a Bamberg Jeweler, saved the ritual pieces which she had been ordered to smelt down. They have now been returned to the six Jews serving of the Bamberg community. The Nazis responsible, who are now in American custody, will be brought to trial in about three months.