1. Inhalt
  2. Navigation
  3. Weitere Inhalte
  4. Metanavigation
  5. Suche
  6. Choose from 30 Languages

Holocaust

Demjanjuk's last bid to avoid Nazi crimes trial rejected

Germany's highest court has thrown out a request to block the trial of alleged Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk. There is now nothing standing in the way of what could be the last Nazi war crimes trial in Germany.

Alleged Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk

Demjanjuk's legal team can no longer keep him from standing trial

The Federal Constitutional Court said on Wednesday that it had rejected complaints from Demjanjuk's lawyer, Ulrich Busch, against plans to open the trial in Munich at the end of November and to keep the 89-year-old suspect in custody until then.

Busch had based his request on Demjanjuk's ailing health, saying the 89-year-old was unfit to stand trial.

After the end of World War II, the Ukrainian-born Demjanuk settled in the United States. He was deported to Germany last May after losing a long legal battle to avoid standing trial.

Demjanjuk maintains that he is innoncent of the 29,000 counts of accesory to murder with which he is charged.

He claims he harmed nobody during the Nazi regime and that he was a Red Army soldier held as a prisoner of war by the Germans.

glb/Reuters/dpa
Editor: Chuck Penfold

DW.DE

Demjanjuk fit to stand trial in Germany

German state prosecutors say accused Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk, 89, is fit enough to stand trial over allegations that he was an accessory to murder at a Nazi death camp. (03.07.2009) 

Germany files charges against alleged Nazi guard Demjanjuk

A court in Germany has formally charged alleged Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk with 27,900 counts of being an accessory to murder in World War Two. (13.07.2009) 

Demjanjuk appeal rejected

The former concentration camp guard, John Demjanjuk, has had his appeal challenging his deportation rejected by Germany's highest court. (08.07.2009) 

More on this topic

People stand along side each other to form a human chain on the 67th anniversary of the Allied bombing of Dresden during WWII in Dresden, Germany, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. British and U.S. bombers on Feb. 13-14, 1945 destroyed Dresden's centuries-old baroque city center. The chain was formed to protest against neo-nazis who use the memorial day to spread their ideology by demonstrations in Dresden. (Foto:Jens Meyer/AP/dapd)

Dresden commemorates World War II bombing anniversary 13.02.2012

Thousands commemorated the bombing of Dresden and spoke against far-right extremism on Monday, the anniversary of the Allied air assault that devastated the eastern city. Police escorted a march of up to 1,600 neo-Nazis.
A statue of Katharina Henot at the Cologne City Hall

Cologne rehabilitates witches killed 400 years ago 13.02.2012

The western German city of Cologne needs to rehabilitate the women it condemned as witches centuries ago, a city committee has said. The body argued that it was a moral duty to do so.
white roses in front of a monument to the dead of Dresden

In eastern city of Dresden, tolerance thwarts extremism 13.02.2012

Fewer right-wing extremists than expected marched in Dresden on the 67th anniversary of the city's destruction; but 13,000 gathered for a human chain of tolerance in the afternoon.

Europe

JAHRESRÜCKBLICK 2011 - A European Union flag waves accross the Parthenon of Acropolis in Athens, Greece on 03 November 2011. Political developments are extremely fluid on Thursday in Athens, a day after a high-profile meeting in Cannes between Greek PM George Papandreou and the German and French leaders, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, a meeting that resulted in the Papandreou government backing off a decision for a referendum in January -- ostensibly to approve a lending agreement -- and instead eyeing a referendum in December over the question of Greece's membership in the Eurozone. EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Greece's fate hangs in balance

Eurozone finance ministers kept Greeks waiting on Wednesday after Athens fell short of their target for budget cuts. There was also concern about whether a future Greek government would implement the measures.

Culture

A scene from the film "Indignados" by Tony Gatlif

Politically provocative

The films at this year's Berlinale are political, provocative and meant to spark debate.

People and Politics

Germany's Debt Concerns - Regional Governments Take Action

Mining the Mountains - The Search for Tin Causes Controversy