Latest news with #GregorFormanek
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
German court still building cases against former Nazis
When two former Nazis who worked at concentration camps recently died aged 99 and 100, many believed the atrocities of the Holocaust were finally at an end. However, a special court in Germany is still pursuing around a dozen of those who helped the Nazis commit mass murder, eighty years after the end of the Second World War, The Post has learned. 'We are always working on new prosecutions,' said Thomas Will, chief prosecutor at the Central Office of the State Justice Administration for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes in Ludwigsburg, just outside the city of Stuttgart. The special court has helped to find and prosecute some 7,000 Nazi war criminals since its inception in 1958, according to its website. 9 Polish prisoners pictured after being liberated from the Dachau concentration camp in 1945 at the end of World War 2. The Nazis executed millions of people at camps such as Dachau, including the Holocaust of six million Jewish people. Everett/Shutterstock 9 Thomas Will, senior public prosecutor and head of the Central Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes, stands at filing cabinets in the institution's archive. He says the court is still preparing prosecutions of 'some dozen' accessories of Nazi crimes. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images The court is currently searching for 'accessories to National Socialist crimes' born between 1925 and 1927, who were teenage administrators or guards at camps where the murders of more than 11 million people, including the Holocaust of six million Jews, were perpetrated by the Nazis. But even those cases are getting difficult to prosecute due to the advancing ages. Last month, the last-known Nazi concentration camp guard died before he was set to face German prosecutors for the murder of more than 3,300 people at Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Gregor Formanek, 100, was a teenager during his employment at the camp and was to be tried as a minor. He would likely have received a suspended sentence if he had been found guilty. Another teenage Nazi, Irmgard Furchner, 99, was hired as a shorthand typist at Stutthof concentration camp, working there between 1943 and 1945. In 2021, when she was 96, she was charged with 11,412 counts of accessory to murder. She was the last person to have been convicted in Germany for Holocaust-era crimes and died in January, although her death was only recently announced. She was given a two-year suspended sentence in 2022. 9 Irmgard Furchner was hired as a shorthand typist at a Nazi concentration camp when she was a teenager. Her trial for accessory to murder began when she was 96, and she was tried as a juvenile. She died earlier this year at 99 years old. POOL/AFP via Getty Images 9 Gregor Formanek was an SS officer at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. He died last month just before he was about to face tril for the murder of more than 3,300 people. He was 100 years old. News Licensing / MEGA As accessories to Nazi crimes are becoming increasingly difficult to find, one of the world's most celebrated Nazi hunters has gone into retirement. But Efraim Zuroff, 76, the New York City-born Holocaust historian who headed up the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem, said dozens of former Nazis are still roaming Eastern Europe. 'There are Holocaust criminals in Eastern Europe who have not been prosecuted, since not a single one of the countries which made the transition from Communism to democracy are interested in putting them on trial,' he said. He told The Post last week officials who helped the Nazis carry out atrocities in Hungary, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania and other Eastern European countries remain at large and have never faced charges. 'Any justice is better than no justice,' said Zuroff. 'But right now there is nothing on the docket in Germany, and countries like Lithuania and others did nothing to bring murderers to justice.' 9 Emaciated prisoners at the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald in April 1945 shortly after the camp was discovered by allied forces. Northcliffe Collection/ANL/Shutterstock 9 New York City-born Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff recently retired although he said he is continuing to work to help stamp out antisemitism. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Zuroff's latest book, 'Our People: Discovering Lithuania's Hidden Holocaust,' is about Lithuania where his maternal grandparents are from. He co-wrote it with Ruta Vanagaite, a Lithuanian writer whose family members were among the perpetrators of the Holocaust in the country. During their research they interviewed an elderly woman leaving a supermarket and asked her about her time in the war, causing her to break down in tears because her family had decided not to help hide her best friend, a young Jewish girl. 'She told us that they were more afraid of their neighbors than the Germans because the neighbors would tell on them, so they couldn't hide her Jewish friend,' Zuroff said, adding that his co-writer had to leave the country after revealing hard truths about Lithuanians in the book, which was denounced by the country's leadership. 9 Nazi SS Officer F. Hosler in front of a lorry filled with the bodies of his victims at Belsen concentration camp. ANL/Daily Mail/Shutterstock 9 Austrian architect Simon Wiesenthal devoted his life to hunting Nazis around the world. In 1983, he prevailed on US president Ronald Reagan to help capture Walter Rauff, the head of the Gestapo, who was was living openly in Chile. Bettmann Archive 9 Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk was convicted as an accessory to murder at the Sobibor concentration camp. He was convicted by a German court in 2011 as an accessory to the murder of more than 28,000, and died a year later at a German nursing home. AP However, the lady's story 'was just representative of everything that happened in Lithuania during the war,' said Zuroff, adding 'Ninety percent of Jews were killed there.' Unlike Eastern Europe, the US and Germany were the only countries that actively prosecuted Nazi war criminals, Zuroff claimed. The Department of Justice's Office of Special Investigations investigated 1,700 suspected Nazis in the US and prosecuted 300. Zuroff began his career as a Nazi hunter when he joined the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles in 1978. In Jerusalem, where he now lives, he held a leading role in 'Operation Last Chance,' a campaign which offered cash for information leading to the conviction of Nazi war criminals. The campaign led to the prosecution of John Demjanjuk, an Ohio autoworker, who was convicted as an accessory to murder at the Sobibor death camp. Now even in retirement, Zuroff said he is continuing to fight against what he calls Holocaust distortion. He said he is guided by the late Wiesenthal, an Austrian architect who began searching for Nazis right after the end of the Second World War. Wiesenthal told him although he was not religious, he believed he would meet the victims of the Holocaust in the afterlife and they would ask him what he did to help the victims. 'I'll do anything possible to fight against Holocaust distortion in countries like Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary,' Zuroff told The Post. 'It's an insult to the victims and the kind of thing that allowed people to say Hamas were the victims of Oct. 7 not the Jews,' he said referring to the terrorist attack in 2023 that left 1,200 Israelis dead.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
SS guard ‘The Last Nazi' dies aged 100 after being unmasked by The Sun as he dodged justice to end over 3k camp victims
AN SS guard unmasked by The Sun last as the 'last Nazi' has died - bringing to an end the historic hunt for Holocaust war criminals. Gregor Formanek, 100, was dubbed "cruel and treacherous" for supporting the killing of 3,300 prisoners at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany, according to damning evidence. 7 Gregor Formanek - believed to be the last Nazi after being tracked down by The Sun - has died aged 100 Credit: Simon Jones - Commissioned by The Sun 7 Formanek, pictured with wife, was a guard at a concentration camp during the Holocaust Credit: SIMON JONES 7 He was accused of helping to murder 3,300 people at the notorious WW2 prison Sachsenhausen Credit: Bundesarchiv 7 Prisoners in striped uniforms at the Sachsenhausen camp near Berlin, in December 1938 Credit: Getty He was identified as the last remaining source of a conviction by officials in Germany, who ruled last year he was fit enough to face trial. But a court has now confirmed the Final Solution suspect has passed away before he could be put in the dock. His death makes him the final SS accomplice to be revealed to the world. He takes with him all hopes of one final conviction. The death marks a poignant moment for Nazi hunters, who have spent decades tracking down WWII war criminals and bringing them to justice. Formanek joined the SS late in the war, becoming a part of the infamous Nazi squad in July 1943 at Sachsenhausen, which was set up in 1936. More than 200,000 prisoners passed through Sachsenhausen, notorious for its gaschambers and horrifying medical experiments. At the end of the war, Formanek was captured by Russia's Red Army and spent just ten years behind bars before being released to find work as a porter. In later life, Formanek lived in comfort with his wife in a £400,000 apartment near Frankfurt. 'The last Nazi' accused of 'cruel killings' of 3,300 at sick death camp may NEVER face justice after trial is scrapped Formanek was ruled unfit to stand trial back in June before a court rowed back on the ruling in December. Carmen Whitmore, 68, of Market Harborough, Leics., whose uncle, Great Escape pilot Jimmy James, was at Sachsenhausen - previously blasted: 'Nazis need to be held accountable.' Formanek, born in Romania, as the son of a German-speaking master tailor, was first tracked down by The Sun in 2023 after an extensive investigation into surviving Nazi suspects. He was discovered living openly under his real name in a leafy Frankfurt suburb, his past unknown to most locals. Neighbours believed the pensioner was simply a retired manager - unaware of his chilling SS record. 7 Prisoners clear snow at the Sachsenhausen camp in 1941 Credit: Paul Popper 7 It is estimated that a total of 100,000 people were killed at Sachsenhausen Credit: UKTV- Abandoned Engineering When confronted by The Sun about his wartime role, Formanek cryptically replied: 'First, tell me who you are.' His wife, clearly unsettled, added: 'Don't say he was an SS man so loudly. People will wonder what's going on.' It later emerged that Formanek had been officially indicated by German prosecutors for his role in the "insidious killing" of prisoners between July 1943 and February 1945. Three other former guards under investigation were deemed too ill to stand trial — making Formanek the last viable case. Rosalyn Peake, 66, whose father Leslie Kleinman survived the camp by lying about his age, told The Sun: 'It's justice for me that Formanek was named. And it's vital for teaching future generations.'
The Sun
30-04-2025
- The Sun
SS guard ‘The Last Nazi' dies aged 100 after being unmasked by The Sun as he dodged justice to end over 3k camp victims
AN SS guard unmasked by The Sun last as the 'last Nazi' has died - bringing to an end the historic hunt for Holocaust war criminals. Gregor Formanek, 100, was dubbed "cruel and treacherous" for supporting the killing of 3,300 prisoners at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany, according to damning evidence. 7 7 7 7 He was identified as the last remaining source of a conviction by officials in Germany, who ruled last year he was fit enough to face trial. But a court has now confirmed the Final Solution suspect has passed away before he could be put in the dock. His death makes him the final SS accomplice to be revealed to the world. He takes with him all hopes of one final conviction. The death marks a poignant moment for Nazi hunters, who have spent decades tracking down WWII war criminals and bringing them to justice. Formanek joined the SS late in the war, becoming a part of the infamous Nazi squad in July 1943 at Sachsenhausen, which was set up in 1936. More than 200,000 prisoners passed through Sachsenhausen, notorious for its gaschambers and horrifying medical experiments. At the end of the war, Formanek was captured by Russia's Red Army and spent just ten years behind bars before being released to find work as a porter. In later life, Formanek lived in comfort with his wife in a £400,000 apartment near Frankfurt. Formanek was ruled unfit to stand trial back in June before a court rowed back on the ruling in December. Carmen Whitmore, 68, of Market Harborough, Leics., whose uncle, Great Escape pilot Jimmy James, was at Sachsenhausen - previously blasted: 'Nazis need to be held accountable.' Formanek, born in Romania, as the son of a German-speaking master tailor, was first tracked down by The Sun in 2023 after an extensive investigation into surviving Nazi suspects. He was discovered living openly under his real name in a leafy Frankfurt suburb, his past unknown to most locals. Neighbours believed the pensioner was simply a retired manager - unaware of his chilling SS record. 7 7 When confronted by The Sun about his wartime role, Formanek cryptically replied: 'First, tell me who you are.' His wife, clearly unsettled, added: 'Don't say he was an SS man so loudly. People will wonder what's going on.' It later emerged that Formanek had been officially indicated by German prosecutors for his role in the "insidious killing" of prisoners between July 1943 and February 1945. Three other former guards under investigation were deemed too ill to stand trial — making Formanek the last viable case. Rosalyn Peake, 66, whose father Leslie Kleinman survived the camp by lying about his age, told The Sun: 'It's justice for me that Formanek was named. And it's vital for teaching future generations.' 7
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
SS guard ‘The Last Nazi' dies aged 100 after being unmasked by The Sun as he dodged justice to end over 3k camp victims
AN SS guard unmasked by The Sun last as the 'last Nazi' has died - bringing to an end the historic hunt for Holocaust war criminals. Gregor Formanek, 100, was dubbed "cruel and treacherous" for supporting the killing of 3,300 prisoners at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany, according to damning evidence. Advertisement 7 Gregor Formanek - believed to be the last Nazi after being tracked down by The Sun - has died aged 100 Credit: Simon Jones - Commissioned by The Sun 7 Formanek, pictured with wife, was a guard at a concentration camp during the Holocaust Credit: SIMON JONES 7 He was accused of helping to murder 3,300 people at the notorious WW2 prison Sachsenhausen Credit: Bundesarchiv 7 Prisoners in striped uniforms at the Sachsenhausen camp near Berlin, in December 1938 Credit: Getty He was identified as the last remaining source of a conviction by officials in Germany, who ruled last year he was fit enough to face trial. But a court has now confirmed the Final Solution suspect has passed away His death makes him the final SS accomplice to be revealed to the world. He takes with him all hopes of one final conviction. Advertisement Read more WW2 news The death marks a poignant moment for Nazi hunters, who have spent decades tracking down WWII war criminals and bringing them to justice. Formanek joined the SS late in the war, becoming a part of the infamous Nazi squad in July 1943 at Sachsenhausen, which was set up in 1936. More than 200,000 prisoners passed through Sachsenhausen, notorious for its gaschambers and horrifying medical experiments. At the end of the war, Formanek was captured by Russia's Red Army and spent just ten years behind bars before being released to find work as a porter. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Exclusive In later life, Formanek lived in comfort with his wife in a £400,000 apartment near Frankfurt. 'The last Nazi' accused of 'cruel killings' of 3,300 at sick death camp may NEVER face justice after trial is scrapped Formanek was Carmen Whitmore, 68, of Market Harborough, Leics., whose uncle, Great Escape pilot Jimmy James, was at Sachsenhausen - previously blasted: 'Nazis need to be held accountable.' Formanek, born in Romania, as the son of a German-speaking master tailor, was Advertisement He was discovered living openly under his real name in a leafy Frankfurt suburb, his past unknown to most locals. Neighbours believed the pensioner was simply a retired manager - unaware of his chilling SS record. 7 Prisoners clear snow at the Sachsenhausen camp in 1941 Credit: Paul Popper 7 It is estimated that a total of 100,000 people were killed at Sachsenhausen Credit: UKTV- Abandoned Engineering Advertisement When confronted by The Sun about his wartime role, Formanek cryptically replied: 'First, tell me who you are.' His wife, clearly unsettled, added: 'Don't say he was an SS man so loudly. People will wonder what's going on.' It later emerged that Formanek had been officially indicated by German prosecutors for his role in the "insidious killing" of prisoners between July 1943 and February 1945. Three other former guards under investigation were deemed too ill to stand trial — making Formanek the last viable case. Advertisement Rosalyn Peake, 66, whose father Leslie Kleinman survived the camp by lying about his age, told The Sun: 'It's justice for me that Formanek was named. And it's vital for teaching future generations.' 7 Sachsenhausen was notorious as a training ground for Hitler's mass extermination Credit: Getty
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Last-known Nazi death camp guard takes his secrets to the grave: 100-year-old former SS officer dies before he could face trial over helping to kill thousands of WWII prisoners
The last-known Nazi concentration camp guard due to face trial in Germany has died — just before he could be held to account for his alleged role in one of the Third Reich's most horrific killing machines. Gregor Formanek, a former SS guard at Sachsenhausen concentration camp, was accused of aiding and abetting the murder of 3,322 people, including prisoners of war, Jews, and political detainees. But on April 2, 2025, aged 100, he died — ending the case before it ever reached court. His death was confirmed by the Hanau Regional Court this week, which had been preparing to retry the case after a higher court overturned an earlier decision declaring him unfit to stand trial. The Frankfurt Higher Regional Court had slammed the original medical assessment as inadequate and ordered fresh investigations into Formanek's health, demanding that the Hanau Youth Chamber re-examine the evidence. Formanek, who was a teenager during his time at the camp, was to be tried under juvenile law, but his advanced age had complicated proceedings. Critics say those delays played right into the hands of old men avoiding justice. 'He helped kill thousands,' said one co-plaintiff. 'He lived free for 80 years. The victims never had that chance.' The case had been closely watched as possibly the last major Nazi war crimes trial in German history. Formanek's death now means no one will answer for these 3,322 murders. Sachsenhausen, located near Berlin, was the site of mass executions, forced labour, starvation, torture, and medical experiments. At least 100,000 people died there between 1936 and 1945. Formanek was accused of actively supporting the operation of the killing system — but avoided prosecution for decades. In 2023 the Hanau court refused to open the trial, citing a medical expert's opinion that Formanek was too frail. The case was revived only after recent legal shifts allowed Germany to pursue anyone involved in the functioning of a death camp, regardless of direct action. But like many before him, Formanek took the truth to the grave. With his death, prosecutors must now drop the case. The Hanau court called it an 'irreversible procedural obstacle.' Formanek had lived undetected for decades in a modest flat near Frankfurt, until reporters tracked him down last year - but the former camp guard remained silent on the allegations against him. Born in September 1924 in Romania to a German-speaking tailor, Formanek joined the SS on July 4, 1943, and became part of the Sachsenhausen guard battalion in Brandenburg. One Stasi document chillingly notes that Formanek 'continued to kill prisoners'. Holocaust survivor Jurek Szarf, 90, vividly recounted the brutal treatment prisoners endured at Sachsenhausen. Deported at age ten to Ravensbrueck with his aunt and mother, Jurek was later transferred to Koenigs Wusterhausen and then Sachsenhausen. His mother starved to death in the Wusterhausen concentration camp in February 1945. 'I was in the hospital block in Sachsenhausen with my father and my uncle and was supposed to be shot. We waited for hours for the execution, then we were freed,' Mr Szarf told German newspaper Bild about being freed in April 1945 aged 12. He was deported to Sachsenhausen from the other concentration camp where he was held just days before he was freed. The infamous 'Work Sets You Free' sign at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp gates, picture on the memorial service in January 2019 Built in 1936 to house high-ranking political prisoners, Sachsenhausen is the camp where the Nazis perfected killing methods that were scaled up and used to murder millions at larger and more notorious camps such as Auschwitz (pictured: prisoners at Sachsenhausen) Mr Szarf said: 'The SS drove the prisoners from Sachsenhausen on a long march to escape the approaching Red Army. My father, my uncle and I were too weak to march. 'Two other uncles went with us. One was shot by SS guards, the other was beaten to death.' After the war, Formanek was arrested by the Red Army and sentenced by a Soviet military tribunal to 25 years in prison for espionage and crimes against humanity. Released after ten years, he moved to West Germany and lived quietly as a porter. Germany has been scrambling to bring the last surviving former Nazi war criminals to justice since a 2011 landmark ruling paved the way for several trials.
