Hubert Zafke, a 95-year-old remnant of World War II and former Nazi, is finally facing justice. Zafke worked at the notorious Auschwitz during the time when Anne Frank’s family arrived. His involvement ranged from Aug. 15 to Sept. 14 1944, yet the casualties he was an accessory to number almost 4,000.
Over one million people lost their lives to the machinations of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi army during World War II. He and his allies killed over six million Jews during the brutal Holocaust.
Zafke served as an SS Medic.
The 95-year-old was brought into Neubrandenburg State Court to answer for his crimes at Auschwitz.
The trial has been postponed three times from its initial start date in February due to his health issues. Zafke’s lawyers have claimed that the 95-year-old suffers from high blood pressure, thoughts of suicide and a general state of poor health.
The ex-Nazi claims he only dealt with injured soldiers and not prisoners. Prosecutors were quick to dismiss his defense.
His case has become a race against time due to his age and health. It wouldn’t be the first time an ex-Nazi soldier passed before standing trial.
John Demjanjuk, who worked as a concentration camp guard, died in 2012 at the age of 91 before he could stand trial. Ernest Tremmel, another ex-Nazi, passed away in April only a week before his trial was set to start.
What prosecutors have in mind for Zafke remains unknown. It is the hopes of many that he will face justice for his crimes at the infamous Auschwitz and for the near 4,000 deaths that he has been stated to be an accessory to.
While many are not sure his health will hold out long enough for the trial to gain any momentum, it is clear that the prosecutors in his trial do not plan on letting him slip away from his crimes for as long as they can help it.
