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WIESENTHAL CENTER WELCOMES OPENING IN AACHEN, GERMANY OF TRIAL OF FORMER SS HITMAN HEINRICH BOERE-NUMBER 6 ON SWC WANTED LIST |
Jerusalem-The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the opening today in Aachen, Germany of the trial of former Dutch Nazi SS executioner Heinrich Boere who is accused of the murder of three Dutch civilians during World War II as a member of the “Silbertanne” SS execution squad which operated in the Netherlands. In a statement issued today in Jerusalem by it chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center noted that Boere, who escaped to Germany soon after the war, had been sentenced to death by a Dutch court in 1949 but had been spared extradition due to the fact that he had been granted German citizenship on the basis of his collaboration with the Nazis during World War II.
According to Zuroff:
“The prosecution of Heinrich Boere sends a very powerful message that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the murderers and that elderly age should not protect the killers of innocent civilians. Boere’s victims and their families are just as worthy of obtaining justice today as they were right after he committed his crimes.
“We commend the German prosecutors, and particularly Ulrich Maass of Dortmund, for their determination to bring Boere to justice, and hope that the recent intensification by the German judicial authorities of the efforts to hold Nazi war criminals accountable will be continued and produce results in similar cases such as those of Dane Soeren Kam (#4) and Dutchman Klaas Carl Faber (#5).”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
www.operationlastchance.org www.wiesenthal.com |
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Wiesenthal
Center Urges German Authorities to Prevent Flight
of Convicted Nazi War Criminal Josef Scheungraber |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center today urged the German judicial
authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent the escape
of Nazi war criminal Josef Scheungraber who was convicted two
days ago in Munich for his role in the murder of civilians
in Falzano di Cortona, Italy in June 1944. In a statement issued
in Jerusalem by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr.
Efraim Zuroff, the Center pointed to Scheungraber’s derisive
comments in the wake of his verdict which he called “a swindle”
and noted that other Nazi criminals even older than Scheungraber,
like Croatian Milivoi Ašner, had successfully escaped justice
by fleeing their county of origin.
According to Zuroff:
“Given Scheungraber’s contempt of the
court and its verdict, one cannot rule out an escape attempt
to a country which will be less inclined to see that he is
held accountable for his crimes. We therefore urge the German
authorities to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure
that he will not escape punishment.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
www.operationlastchance.org www.wiesenthal.com
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER: DEUTSCHE BEHÖRDEN SOLLEN FLUCHT DES VERURTEILTEN NS-KRIEGSVERBRECHERS
JOSEF SCHEUNGRABER VERHINDERN |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute die deutschen Behörden
dazu aufgefordert, alle notwendigen Maßnahmen zu ergreifen,
um eine mögliche Flucht des verurteilten NS-Kriegsverbrechers
Josef Scheungraber zu verhindern. Scheungraber war wegen seiner
Beteiligung an der Ermordung von Zivilisten in Falzano di Cortona
im Juni 1944 verurteilt worden. In einer Stellungnahme wies
der Direktor des Wiesenthal Centers in Jerusalem, Dr. Efraim
Zuroff, auf Scheungrabers abfällige Kommentare zu dem Urteil
hin, das er als „Schwindel“ bezeichnete und das Gericht zudem
als „Saustall“ titulierte. Ferner nannte Zuroff das Beispiel
des kroatischen Kriegsverbrechers Milivoj Asner, der 2005 im
Alter von 92 Jahren von Kroatien nach Österreich geflohen war,
wo er seitdem seinen Lebensabend genießt. Obwohl älter als
Scheungraber, gelang ihm die Flucht.
„Angesichts Scheungrabers Beschimpfung
des Gerichts und des Urteils kann es nicht ausgeschlossen werden,
dass auch er in ein Land fliehen will, das nicht so großen
Wert auf die Strafverfolgung von NS-Verbrechern legt. Deswegen
fordern wir die deutschen Behörden dazu auf, alle möglichen
Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, damit er seiner gerechten Strafe nicht
entgeht“, so Zuroff.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org www.wiesenthal.com
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מרכז
שמעון ויזנטל מברך על ההרשעה וגזר הדין של פושע המלחמה הנאצי
יוסף שונגראבר (Josef Scheungraber); משבח את המאמץ המחודש
של רשויות החוק בגרמניה להעמיד לדין את פושעי מלחמת העולם השניה |
ירושלים
- מרכז שמעון ויזנטל בירך היום על החלטתו של בית המשפט במינכן
להרשיע את קצין הוורמכט לשעבר, סגן יוסף שונגראבר על חלקו בעשרה
מקרי רצח בעת הוצאה להורג של אזרחים בפאלזאנו די קורטונה, איטליה
ביוני 1944.
בהודעה שהוציא צייד הנאצים ומנהל מרכז ויזנטל בישראל, דר' אפרים
זורוף, שיבח המרכז את המאמצים המחודשים של רשויות החוק בגרמניה
להעמיד לדין את פושעי מלחמת העולם השנייה ועמד על חשיבותם של משפטים
אלה:
לדברי זורוף:
"גזר הדין שניתן היום נותן תוקף
מחודש לעקרונות החשובים שהזמן החולף אינו ממעיט מאשמתם של הפושעים
ושגיל מבוגר לא יכול להוות הגנה חוקית לרוצחים. בהקשר לכך, קורבנות
פאלזאנו די קורטונה ראויים לכך שרוצחיהם ייענשו היום לא פחות
מאשר אילו היו נענשים בשנת 1944."
למידע נוסף נא להתקשר לטל. 7214156-050
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| Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Conviction and Punishment of Nazi War Criminal
Josef Scheungraber; Praises Renewed Efforts by German Judiciary
to Prosecute World War II Criminals |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the conviction today
in a Munich court of former Wehrmacht lieutenant Josef Scheungraber
on ten counts of murder for his role in the reprisal executions
of civilians in Falzano di Cortona, Italy in June 1944. In
a statement issued by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center praised the renewed efforts of
the German judiciary to prosecute World War II criminals and
noted the importance of these trials.
According to Zuroff:
“Today’s verdict reinforces the critical
principles that the passage of time in no way diminishes the
guilt of the perpetrators and that elderly age should not serve
as a legal protection for murderers. In this regard, the victims
of Falzano di Cortona are just as deserving today that their
killers be punished as they were in 1944.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| NS-VERBRECHER
HEINRICH BOERE KANN DOCH VOR GERICHT GESTELLT WERDEN - WIESENTHAL-CENTER
SEHR ZUFRIEDEN |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute die Entscheidung begrüßt,
wonach der in den Niederlanden bereits verurteilte NS-Täter
Heinrich Boere nun doch in Deutschland zur Verantwortung gezogen
werden kann. Der Leiter des Wiesenthal-Zentrums in Jerusalem,
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, sagte, es sei wichtig, dass Heinrich Boere
angesichts seines hohen Alters möglichst schnell vor Gericht
gestellt wird.
Die Zentralstelle bei der Staatsanwaltschaft
Dortmund für die Bearbeitung von NS-Verbrechen hat gegen Heinrich
Boere Anklage wegen dreifachen Mordes erhoben. Als Angehöriger
der Waffen-SS hatte Boere in den Niederlanden drei Männer erschossen.
In seiner Heimat war er deswegen zu lebenslänglicher Haft verurteilt
worden. Als deutscher Staatsbürger wird er nicht ausgeliefert,
das holländische Urteil wird in Deutschland nicht vollstreckt.
Ein Gutachter hatte ihn Anfang dieses Jahres für verhandlungsunfähig
erklärt, das Landgericht Aachen einen Prozess abgelehnt. Diese
Entscheidung wurde nun durch das Oberlandesgericht in Köln
revidiert.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 –
507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com
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WIESENTHAL
CENTER ERSTATTET ANZEIGE BEIM BERLINER
GENERALSTAATSANWALT: WER SAGT IM FALL HEIM DIE UNWAHRHEIT? |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute beim Generalstaatsanwalt
in Berlin Anzeige erstattet. Hintergrund sind die unerklärlichen
Widersprüche in Aussagen zur Frage, ob der ehemalige KZ-Arztes
Dr. Aribert Heim noch lebt oder schon tot ist. Während sein
Sohn Rüdiger im Februar im ZDF erklärt hatte, sein Vater sei
bereits 1992 in Ägypten verstorben, ist derzeit beim Bundesfinanzhof
immer noch ein Verfahren anhängig, bei dem die Frage geklärt
werden soll, ob Dr. Aribert Heim Kapitalertragssteuern für
sein Berliner Millionenvermögen zahlen muss.
„Der Bundesfinanzhof geht scheinbar davon aus, dass Heim noch lebt“, so Dr. Efraim
Zuroff, Leiter des Wiesenthal Centers in Jerusalem. Wäre
er schon tot, dann wäre eine Klage, wie sie die Rechtsanwälte
Heims betreiben, wohl unzulässig. Tatsächlich wurde für die
Verhandlung des Berliner Finanzgerichts in Sachen Heim vom
8. Juni 2001 Folgendes protokolliert: „Laut Aussage des Anwalts
von Dr. Heim (RA Dr. Hoepfner) hat der Bevollmächtigte Dr.
Steinacker regelmäßig Kontakt mit dem sich im Ausland befindlichen
Dr. Heim.“ Im Berliner Urteil heißt es dazu: „Im Termin zur
mündlichen Verhandlung hat der Prozessvertreter des Klägers
sich zwar auf das Zeugnis des bevollmächtigten inländischen
Rechtsvertreters des Klägers (Dr. Steinacker, Frankfurt)
bezogen, der regelmäßig Kontakt mit dem im Ausland befindlichen
Kläger unterhalten solle.“
Das Wiesenthal Center dazu: „Wenn
Dr. Heim tatsächlich 1992 in Ägypten verstorben sein sollte,
dann kann sein Anwalt Steinacker nicht regelmäßig mit ihm
Kontakt gehalten haben.“ Es bestehe der Verdacht auf Falschaussage.
Angesichts des großen öffentlichen Interesses, welches dieser
Fall auf sicht zieht, hält das Wiesenthal Center nicht nur
eine Klärung der Frage für dringend erforderlich, wie die
Aussage der Anwälte vor Gericht rechtlich zu bewerten ist,
sondern auch des gesamten Sachverhaltes vor dem Hintergrund
der Fernsehberichterstattung über den angeblichen Tod Heims.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff: „Verhandelt die
bundesdeutsche Justiz hier seit 8 Jahren über einen Toten,
weil behauptet wurde, er lebe noch, oder sind die Strafverfolgungsbehörden
sind in diesem Jahr belogen worden, als behauptet wurde,
Dr. Aribert Heim sei 1992 verstorben?“
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 –
507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER BEGRÜSST SPÄTEN HAFTBEFEHL GEGEN DEMJANJUK |
Jerusalem.
Nachdem das Simon Wiesenthal Center heute zunächst seine tiefe
Besorgnis wegen der andauernden Verzögerungen beim Auslieferungsverfahren
des ehemaligen Wachmanns im Todeslager Sobibor, Ivan Demjanjuk,
zum Ausdruck gebracht hatte, begrüßt es jetzt die Entscheidung
des Münchener Amtsgerichts, wonach endlich ein Haftbefehl gegen
Demjanjuk erlassen wurde.
Das Wiesenthal Center hatte die „Verzögerungen“ durch die bayerische
Justiz kritisiert. Die Staatsanwaltschaft München hatte zunächst die
Zuständigkeit abgelehnt. Dann war ein umfangreiches gutachterliches Verfahren
eingeleitet worden. Jetzt drängt der Leiter des Wiesenthal Centers in
Jerusalem, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, darauf, dass Demjanjuks Auslieferung „schnell“
in die Wege geleitet wird und es nicht weitere Verspätungen gibt.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 –
507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER DEEPLY CONCERNED REGARDING DELAYS IN DEMJANJUK EXTRADITION
TO GERMANY;URGES BAVARIAN OFFICIALS TO EXPEDITE CASE |
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today expressed deep concern regarding
the continuous delays in the exrtraditon of former Sobibor
death camp guard Ivan Demjanjuk from the United States to Germany
to stand trial for his complicity in the murder of 29,000 Jews
in that camp. In a letter sent today to leading Bavarian officials
Governor Horst Seehofer and provincial Justice Minister Dr.
Beate Merk, as well as the attorneys in charge of the case,
by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efarim Zuroff,
the Center noted that Germany's Zentrale Stelle, which investigates
Nazi war crimes had completed its examination of the Demjanjuk
case months ago and had unequivocally recommended his extradition
and prosecution in Munich, but the Bavarian judicial authorities
had still not taken the necessary measures to bring Demjanjuk
to justice.
According to Zuroff:
" The passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the perpetrators
and in a case like this, of a mass murderer who shares responsibility for the
annihilation of so many innocent victims, it is especially important that he
be brought to trial as quickly as possible, while justice can still be achieved.
" In that respect, the Bavarian judicial authorities and the court
in Munich have an important opportunity to send a very powerful message about
the necessity of pursuing Holocaust perpetrators and holding them accountable
for their crimes, a message which continues to be timely and important throughout
the world even, and perhaps especially, today.
" We therefore urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to help
expedite the extradition to Germany of Ivan Demjanjuk to to face trial in Munich
at the earliest possible date."
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214
- 156
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER CALLS UPON GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY TO INVESTIGATE ITS
FAILURE TO FIND MOST WANTED NAZI WAR CRIMINAL DR. ARIBERT HEIM
IN EGYPT |
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon the German Foreign
Ministry to fully investigate the failure of its representatives
to report the whereabouts in Egypt of the world's most wanted
Nazi war criminal Dr. Aribert Heim and thereby facilitate his
capture. In the wake of the recent findings by the New York
Times and German Channel Two ZDF which prove that Heim submitted
an application to extend his stay in Egypt in 1981, it is clear
that representatives of the German Embassy in Cairo most likely
were aware of the Nazi war criminal's residence in Egypt as
early as that year, but apparently failed to report this fact
to the German judicial authorities, despite the existing arrest
warrant for Heim's arrest. It is also possible that local German
diplomats may have been informed of Heim's demise, if he did
indeed die in Egypt in 1992, a fact which, in the Center's
opinion, has still not been conclusively proven.
In a statement issued here today by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center called for a thorough investigation by
the Foreign Ministry of the role of its Cairo Embassy during the more
than three decades that Heim apparently lived in Egypt, along with numerous
other Nazi war criminals who were never brought to justice.
According to Zuroff:
" One of the points that was clearly proven in the NYT and ZDF report
was that Heim definitely lived in the Egyptian capital for a fairly lengthy period
and thus there is a high liklihood that officials of the local German embassy
might have been well-aware of his whereabouts. This should be an important element
of a serious investigation of the failure of German officials to capture Heim
as well as numerous other Nazi war criminals who found refuge in Egypt after
World War II.'' Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER: DEUTSCHES AUSSENMINISTERIUM SOLL SEIN VERSAGEN BEI DER
FAHNDUNG NACH ARIBERT HEIM UNTERSUCHEN |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute das deutsche Außenministerium
dazu aufgefordert, das Versagen seiner Mitarbeiter bei der
Fahndung nach Aribert Heim in Ägypten zu untersuchen. Der wegen
mehrfachen Mordes gesuchte KZ-Arzt und SS-Führer hatte jahrelang
in Ägypten gelebt, ohne dass dies irgendwelche Konsequenzen
gehabt hätte. Dabei belegen die jüngsten Recherchen des ZDF
und der New York Times, dass die deutsche Botschaft bei der
Verlängerung seiner Aufenthaltsgenehmigung in Kairo im Jahre
1981 höchstwahrscheinlich davon erfuhr, dass er in Kairo lebte.
Das Dokument trägt seine deutsche Passnummer und vermerkt seine
deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit. Den Beamten hätte eigentlich
auffallen müssen, dass Heim zur Fahndung ausgeschrieben war.
Spätestens beim angeblichen Tod von Aribert Heim im Jahre 1992 hätte
die Botschaft in Kairo wach werden müssen. Wenn die Angaben der Zeugen
stimmen, dann wurde ein Vertreter der Botschaft ans Sterbebett von Aribert
Heim gerufen. Seine Aufgabe wäre es gewesen, den Todesfall zu registrieren.
Spätestens hier hätte es auffallen müssen, dass es sich bei dem vermutlichen
Toten um den wegen Mordes weltweit gesuchten Mann handelte.
In
einer Stellungnahme hat der Nazijäger und Leiter des Jerusalemer
Büros des Wiesenthal Centers eine gründliche Untersuchung
der Rolle der Botschaft in Kairo durch das deutsche Außenministerium
verlangt. Es müsse geklärt werden, wie es möglich war, dass
Aribert Heim 30 Jahre in Ägypten leben konnte, obwohl er
seine Identität nur dürftig verschleiert hatte. Neben Heim
lebte eine ganze Reihe von anderen NS-Verbrechern in Ägypten.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff: „Die Recherchen
von ZDF und New York Times haben bewiesen, dass Heim für
lange Zeit in Ägypten gelebt hat und dass es sehr wahrscheinlich
ist, dass die Beamten der deutschen Botschaft davon wussten.
Diese Fragen müssen dringend aufgeklärt werden. Wie war es
möglich, dass Heim unbehelligt in Ägypten leben konnte und
dabei mehrfach Besuch von Verwandten erhielt? Die Untersuchung
sollte sich auch auf andere NS-Täter erstrecken, die in Ägypten
Unterschlupf fanden.“
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER:DECISION TO STOP PROSECUTION OF SS EXECUTIONER BOERE HIGHLIGHTS
FAILURES OF GERMAN JUDICIARY TO HOLD NAZI WAR CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE |
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today expressed its “deepest frustration”
in the wake of a decision by a German court not to proceed
on medical grounds with the prosecution of Dutch SS executioner
Heinrich Boere, who was finally indicted last year for his
role in the murder of three civilians in the Netherlands during
World War II. A member of the SS Silbertanne commando, Boere
was convicted and sentenced to death in The Hague in 1949,
but he escaped to Germany, where he lived unprosecuted for
decades.
In a statement issued here today, the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, severely criticized the German judiciary’s
failure in this and many similar cases of non-German Nazi
collaborators, who committed terrible crimes in their native
countries and were able to escape justice by fleeing to Germany,
where they had been granted citizenship by order of Hitler.
Zuroff also emphasized the failure of the German authorities
to give the cases of Holocaust perpetrators the priority
they deserved, which would have significantly reduced the
number of suspects spared for reasons of ill health.
According to Zuroff:
“The case of Heinrich Boere is a perfect example of all the failures
of German justice in holding Nazi war criminals accountable. For years,
the Dutch authorities asked for him to be returned to the Netherlands
or be tried in Germany to no avail. Had this case been given the priority
it deserved, Boere would have been in jail long before he was able
to escape justice on medical grounds.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
www.operationlastchance.org |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER: ENTSCHEIDUNG ZUGUNSTEN DES SS-VOLLSTRECKERS BOERE DOKUMENTIERT
DAS SCHEITERN DER DEUTSCHEN JUSTIZ BEI DER STRAFVERFOLGUNG VON
NS-VERBRECHERN |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute seine „tiefste Frustration“
über die Entscheidung des Schwurgerichts Aachen (NRW) zum Ausdruck
gebracht, wonach der holländische SS-Vollstrecker Heinrich
Boere wegen Verhandlungsunfähigkeit nicht vor Gericht gestellt
wird. Boere war im vergangenen Jahr endlich wegen seiner Teilnahme
an der Ermordung von drei Zivilisten in den Niederlanden angeklagt
worden. Als Angehöriger des SS-Kommandos „Silbertanne“ hat
er Angehörige des Widerstands erschossen. Boere war in Den
Haag 1949 in Abwesenheit zum Tode verurteilt worden. Aber ihm
gelang die Flucht nach Deutschland, wo er bis heute unbestraft
lebt.
In einer Stellungnahme übte der Nazijäger und Direktor des Wiesenthal Centers
in Jerusalem, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, harte Kritik am Scheitern
der deutschen Justiz in diesem und vielen ähnlichen Fällen
von nichtdeutschen Nazi-Kollaborateuren, die in ihren Heimatländern
grausame Verbrechen verübt hatten und der Gerechtigkeit durch
Flucht nach Deutschland entkamen, wo sie aufgrund eines Erlasses
von Adolf Hitler die deutsche Staatsbürgerschaft erhielten.
Zuroff hob auch das Versäumnis der deutschen Strafverfolgungsbehörden
hervor, die diesen Fällen nicht die notwendige Priorität
eingeräumt haben, so dass eine hohe Zahl von Beschuldigten
wegen ihres hohen Alters und angegriffener Gesundheit straffrei
davonkommt.
Efraim Zuroff: „Der Fall Boere ist
ein typisches Beispiel für die Versäumnisse der deutschen
Justiz bei der Strafverfolgung von NS-Tätern. Für viele Jahre
haben die Niederlande seine Auslieferung verlangt, dass eine
Strafe in Deutschland vollstreckt wird oder er in Deutschland
vor Gericht gestellt wird – ohne Erfolg. Hätte sein Fall
die notwendige Aufmerksamkeit zum richtigen Zeitpunkt erhalten,
wäre er ins Gefängnis gewandert, lange bevor er der Gerechtigkeit
aus gesundheitlichen Gründen entkommen konnte.“
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org |
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| THE
WIESENTHAL CENTER WELCOMES INVESTIGATION OF IVAN DEMJANJUK AND
URGES THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE EXTRADITION REQUEST |
The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today in Berlin has welcomed the announcement
of the Zentrale Stelle at Ludwigsburg according to which they
have collected enough evidence for an indictment against the
presumed mass murderer Ivan Demjanjuk. The Wiesenthal Center
expressed the expectation that he is going to be tried in Munich
as quickly as possible. (The Zentrale Stelle of Ludwigsburg
has passed the case there because Demjanjuks last German residence
was near Munich.)
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, director of the Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem who is actually
staying in Berlin, says: "We urge the German Government to expedite this case as quickly as possible so
that Demjanjuk can be fully punished for his crimes"
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org |
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| IWAN
DEMJANJUK: DAS WIESENTHAL CENTER BEGRÜSST ERMITTLUNGEN IN LUDWIGSBURG
UND FORDERT VON DER BUNDESREGIERUNG SOFORTIGES AUSLIEFERUNGSERSUCHEN |
Das
Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute in Berlin die Mitteilung
der Zentralen Stelle in Ludwigsburg begrüßt, wonach genügend
Beweismaterial für eine Anklageerhebung gegen den mutmaßlichen
Massenmörder Iwan Demjanjuk zusammengetragen worden sei. Das
Wiesenthal Center brachte die Erwartung zum Ausdruck, dass
es möglichst schnell zu einer Anklageerhebung durch die Staatsanwaltschaft
in München kommt. (Die Zentrale Stelle in Ludwigsburg hat den
Fall dorthin abgegeben, weil Demjanjuks letzter deutscher Wohnsitz
bei München war.)
Dr.Efraim Zuroff, Leiter des Wiesenthal Centers in Jerusalem, der sich zurzeit
in Berlin aufhält, macht darauf aufmerksam, dass die Zeit
drängt: „Nun muss die Bundesregierung möglichst schnell ein
Auslieferungsersuchen an die USA richten, damit Demjanjuk
vor Gericht gestellt werden kann.“
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org |
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| Wiesenthal
Center Receives New Information on Whereabouts of Most Wanted
Nazi War Criminal Dr. Aribert Heim |
Puerto
Montt, Chile – The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced today
that it had already received new information regarding the
possible whereabouts of its “Most Wanted” Nazi war criminal
Dr. Aribert Heim, in the framework of the launch of the latest
stage in its “Operation: Last Chance” project. In a press conference
held here today by its chief Nazi hunter, Israel director Dr.
Efraim Zuroff, and its Latin American director Sergio Widder,
the Center's officials stated that since announcing its new
ad campaign for “Operation: Last Chance” in Santiago on Tuesday,
it had received two important tips regarding the possible whereabouts
of Dr. Heim in Chile.
According to Zuroff and Widder:
“The current phase of “Operation:
Last Chance” which includes an ad campaign focusing the 315,000
euros reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution
of Dr. Heim and meetings with top police and justice officials
in Chile and Argentina to help facilitate the ongoing investigations,
will not necessarily lead to Heim’s immediate capture. These
steps are designed, however, to put in place the tools which
we hope will ultimately lead to his arrest.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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WIESENTHAL
CENTER ERHEBT SCHWERE VORWÜRFE GEGEN
BERUFSVERBAND DEUTSCHER INTERNISTEN: SS-ARZT DR. SEWERING GEHÖRT NICHT
GEEHRT, SONDERN VOR GERICHT |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem fordert den Bundesverband
Deutscher Internisten dazu auf, seine Ehrung für den Euthanasie-Arzt
Hans-Joachim Sewering zurückzunehmen. Der Leiter des Büros,
Dr. Efraim Zuroff: „Es ist schon schlimm genug, dass Sewering
für seine Beteiligung am nationalsozialistischen Massenmord
nicht vor Gericht gestellt worden ist. Noch schlimmer ist es,
wenn man einen SS-Mann und Lügner, der der Gerechtigkeit bis
heute entkommen ist, trotz seiner Beteiligung an der Euthanasie
auch noch ehrt.“
Vor Jahren hatte das Wiesenthal Center die bayerische Justiz dazu aufgefordert,
das Beweismaterial gegen Dr. Sewering nicht länger zu ignorieren
und ihn vor Gericht zu stellen. Hans-Joachim Sewering hatte
in den Kriegsjahren sechs bis acht Patienten der Heilanstalt
Schönbrunn schriftlich in die Krankenmord-Anstalt Eglfing-Haar
überwiesen.
Drei von ihnen wurden dort ermordet.
Die Ermittlungen gegen Sewering waren
eingestellt worden, weil er behauptet hatte, von den Tötungen
nichts gewusst zu haben. „Diese Behauptung ist falsch“, so
Efraim Zuroff. „Die Schwestern haben von der Ermordung der
Kranken gewusst und ausgerechnet der SS-Arzt will es nicht
gewusst haben. Das ist lächerlich.“ Die Einstellung der Ermittlungen
war ferner damit begründet worden, dass ihm nur Totschlag
vorzuwerfen sei. Die Tat sei damit verjährt. „Demnach hätte
der Bundesverband der Internisten einen SS-Mann und mutmaßlichen
Totschläger geehrt“, sagt Efraim Zuroff. „Ein Skandal sondergleichen.“
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org
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|
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER HARSHLY CRITICIZES THE GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF INTERNISTS:
“SS DOCTOR SEWERING DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE HONORED BUT SHOULD
BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE” |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center of Jerusalem today called upon
the German Association of Internists (Bundesverband Deutscher
Internisten – BDI), to withdraw the medal it recently awarded
to Dr. Hans-Joachim Sewering, who was an active participant
in the Nazis’ infamous euthanasia program which resulted in
the mass murder of at least 100,000 chronically ill, handicapped,
and mentally ill civilians.
For years, the Center has been urging the German authorities to prosecute Sewering
for his role in killing patients of the Schoenbrunn Hospital
as part of the Nazis’ euthanasia program.
In a statement issued today in Jerusalem
by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
the Center accused Sewering of lying about his role in the
murders and his claim that he did not know what fate awaited
his patients.
According to Zuroff:
“In view of the fact that the nurses
working with Dr. Sewering knew that the patients sent to
the killing center at Eglfing-Haar would very likely be murdered,
it is virtually impossible that he had no idea of the fate
awaiting them. The honor recently bestowed upon him by the
Association of German Internists is an insult to his victims
and their families, and is incomprehensible in the light
of his record. How can a doctor who sent innocent patients
to their death be honored for his medical achievements?”
For further information:
Call 972-50-721-4156.
www.operationlastchance.org www.wiesenthal.com |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER’S CHIEF NAZI-HUNTER ZUROFF: STEIDTMANN CASE IS YET ANOTHER
PROOF OF THE RELATIVE FAILURE OF GERMANY TO ADEQUATELY PROSECUTE
HOLOCAUST PEPETRATORS |
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, responded today to a decision by a Leipzig
court to allow the publication of a memoir by a Gestapo secretary
in which she mentioned her former lover Erich Steidtmann, whose
service as an officer in a unit which carried out killing operations
in the Warsaw Ghetto was thereby exposed, as another proof
of the relative failure of the German judicial authorities
to bring Holocaust perpetrators to justice in the Federal Republic.
In a statement issued here today, the veteran Nazi-hunter pointed out that in
the wake of Steidtmann’s futile efforts to block the publication
of the book, his lies regarding his service in the Warsaw
Ghetto were exposed, as was the failure of the German judiciary
to adequately investigate his case. “It appears that among
other things, Steidtmann claimed that he had fought against
400 German deserters who joined the ghetto fighters against
the Nazis, a claim that is patently untrue and should immediately
have aroused the suspicions of the German investigators.
Instead, his self-serving false version of the events was
apparently accepted and led to the decision not to prosecute
him,” said Zuroff, who also noted the unusually-extensive
coverage of the case which stemmed in his opinion “from the
prurient interest of the media rather than the failure of
the German judiciary to prosecute Steidtmann.”
For further information:
Call 972-50-721-4156.
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER: MASSAKER VON RECHNITZ NEU AUFROLLEN |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem verlangt eine neue
Untersuchung des Massakers von Rechnitz/Österreich, bei dem im Ende März 1945 etwa 180 Juden erschossen worden sind. Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Leiter des
Centers in Jerusalem: „Der Massenmord ist nie wirklich aufgeklärt, die Ermittlungsverfahren sind unter zum Teil merkwürdigen Umständen eingestellt worden.“ more... |
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NAZI-JÄGER
EFRAIM ZUROFF VOM SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER:
SUCHE NACH „DR . TOD“ (ARIBERT
HEIM) GEHT WEITER -
310.000 EURO BELOHNUNG AUSGESETZT! |
Jerusalem.
Der Nazijäger des Simon Wiesenthal Centers, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Leiter des Büros in Jerusalem, hat heute die Behauptungen des Buchautoren Danny Baz über den angeblichen Tod des KZ-Arzts Aribert Heim („Dr. Tod“) als „pure Fantasie“ bezeichnet. Der ehemalige israelische Offizier Danny Baz hatte behauptet, er
habe Anfang der 1980er Jahre in den USA an der Tötung von Dr. Aribert Heim teilgenommen. Baz stellt seine Behauptungen in einem
Buch auf, das jetzt in Frankreich unter dem Titel „Ni oubli, ni pardon, la traque du dernier Nazi“ erscheinen soll. more... |
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WIESENTHAL
CENTER’S CHIEF NAZI-HUNTER EFRAIM ZUROFF:
“ THE SEARCH FOR ‘DR. DEATH’ (ARIBERT
HEIM) CONTINUES;PRIZE OFFERED STANDS AT 310,000 EUROS” |
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, today dismissed as “pure fantasy” the claims by former Israeli colonel Danny Baz that he had participated in the
early eighties in the execution in the United States of notorious
Nazi war criminal Dr. Aribert Heim (“Dr.Death”), who is wanted for the murder of hundreds of inmates of the infamous Mauthausen
concentration camp in Austria. Baz makes his claims in a book
scheduled for publication in France this week under the title
Ni oubli, ni pardon; la traque du dernier Nazi [Not Forgotten
or Forgiven; On the trail of the last Nazi]. more... |
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| DEUTSCHLAND
ERHÄLT ERSTMALS NOTE MANGELHAFT BEI DER VERFOLGUNG VON NAZI-MÖRDERN IM JAHRESBERICHT DES WIESENTHAL CENTERS ZUR STRAFVERFOLGUNG VON NS-TÄTERN WELTWEIT |
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center Center hat heute seinen sechsten
Jahresbericht über die weltweite Strafverfolgung von Nazi-Verbrechern vorgelegt. Der Bericht
untersucht den Zeitraum vom 1. April 2006 bis 31. März 2007. Er vergibt Noten von A (höchste) bis F für die Bemühungen von mehr als drei dutzend Ländern, in denen entweder NS-Verbrechen passiert sind oder die nach dem II. Weltkrieg
Holocaust Täter aufgenommen haben. more... |
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| For
First Time Ever Germany Gets Failing Grade in Wiesenthal Center
2007 Annual Report on Worldwide Investigation and Prosecution
of Nazi War Criminals |
Jerusalem
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center today released the full text
of its sixth Annual Status Report on the Worldwide Investigation
and Prosecution of Nazi War Criminals, which covers the period
from April 1, 2006 until March 31, 2007 and awarded grades
ranging from A (highest) to F to evaluate the efforts and results
achieved by more than three dozen countries which were either
the site of Nazi crimes or admitted Holocaust perpetrators
after World War II. more... |
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| Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Decision By Austrian Government To Offer 50,000
Euros Reward For Information Leading To Arrest Of Number One
And Number Two Most Wanted Escaped Nazi War Criminals Alois Brunner
and Dr. Aribert Heim |
Jerusalem
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the announcement made public today by the Austrian Justice Ministry on its official website, that
it was offering the sum of 50,000 euros for information which
would lead to the capture of the number one and number two "Most Wanted" escaped Nazi war criminals Alois Brunner and Dr. Aribert Heim. Brunner, who was last seen alive in 2001 in Syria, where he has enjoyed the full protection
of the Syrian government for decades, was responsible for the deportation to death camps of 128,500 Jews
from Austria [47,000], Greece [44,000], France [23,500], and
Slovakia [14,000]. Heim, whose current whereabouts are unknown
but is presumed to be living in Spain or South America, murdered
hundreds of inmates of the Mauthausen concentration camp by
injecting phenol into their hearts. †††† In early 2006, the Center's
chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met
in Vienna with the Austrian ministers of justice and the
interior to ask the Austrian government to match the prize
of 130,000 euros being offered by the German government for
information leading to the capture of Heim which the Wiesenthal
Center had matched. Thus the Austrian prize brings the reward being offered for information
which will facilitate the arrest of Heim to a total of 310,000 euros.
Zuroff noted that in the past financial
rewards offered for assistance in the capture of Nazi war
criminals had proven critical, as in the case of notorious
camp commander Josef Schwammberger whose arrest in Argentina
was facilitated by a similar reward offered by the German
government.
According to Zuroff:
"
We congratulate the Austrian authorities for joining in the
important efforts to bring these leading Nazi war criminals
to justice and hope that the added prize money will help make
the difference in their apprehension. The passage of time in
no way diminishes the crimes committed by Brunner and Heim
and therefore their prosecution remains just as important,
if not even more important, today than it would have been years ago."
For more information please contact:
972-51-214-156 |
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| ON
BIRTHDAY OF AUSTRIAN-BORN NAZI WAR CRIMINAL, WIESENTHAL CENTER
URGES AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN REWARD OFFERED FOR
CAPTURE OF DR. ARIBERT HEIM-„DR. DEATH“ OF MAUTHAUSEN |
|
Jerusalem-The Simon Wiesenthal Center
today reissued its call to the Austrian government to join
with the German authorities and the Wiesenthal Center in the
financial reward currently being offered to solicit information
which would lead to the capture and trial of escaped Nazi war
criminal Dr. Aribert Heim, who murdered hundreds of inmates
with lethal injections of phenol to the heart in the Mauthausen
concentration camp in Austria in1941.
In a statement issued today in Jerusalem,
the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr.Efraim Zuroff
noted that almost a year and a half had passed since his meetings
in Vienna with the Austrian ministers of justice and the interior,
both of whom stated that the government’s participation in
such a reward was legally possible, yet despite the passage
of so much time on a matter of such urgency, no answer had
yet been received.
According to Zuroff:
„Today, probably somewhere in South America, Dr. Aribert Heim will be
celebrating his birthday, very-satisfied with the fact that he has
already eluded justice for 45 years. (He was about to be prosecuted
in West Germany in 1962, when he disappeared.) In meetings this week
with the special German police task force to capture Heim, we were
reinforced in our belief that he is still alive and under these circumstances,
the enlargement by the Austrian government of the reward for his capture
can be of considerable help in bringing him to justice. I therefore
urge the Austrian authorities to join in this initiative as quickly
as possible and thereby considerably increase the chances that this
arch murderer will finally be held accountable for his crimes.“
For more information please
contact: 972-51-214-156 |
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| Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Decision to Deny Nazi War Criminal Priebke the
Right to Work; Urges His Incarceration in Jail Rather than House
Arrest |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the decision yesterday
by military judge Isacco Giorgio Guistiniani suspending the
permission granted last week to convicted Nazi war criminal
Erich Priebke to go to work in his lawyer’s office in Rome. †††† In a statement issued in Jerusalem,
the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim
Zuroff reiterated the Center’s ironclad opposition to the
granting of any privileges to convicted Nazi war criminals.
“Unrepentant Nazi murderers do not deserve any privileges,
consideration or sympathy, regardless of their age. People
who executed civilians and had no mercy on their innocent
victims do not deserve to be treated with kindness,” said
Zuroff.
According to Zuroff:
“Yesterday’s photo of Priebke on the
back of a scooter on the streets of Rome on his way to work
was a shocking reminder of the practical implications of
last week’s decision. If anything, it shows that Priebke
is healthy enough to be incarcerated in jail (rather than
under his current house arrest) and we strongly
urge the Italian authorities to consider such a step.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
www.operationlastchance.org www.wiesenthal.com |
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| Wiesenthal
Center on Decision to Allow Convicted Nazi War Criminal Erich
Priebke to Work: "Outrageous, Senseless and Insensitive"
|
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center today harshly criticized the
decision taken yesterday by an Italian military judge to allow
convicted Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke to work despite his
being under house arrest for his role in the murder of three
hundred and thirty-five Italian civilians in the Ardeatine
caves outside Rome in March 1944. †††† In a statement issued in Jerusalem
by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
the Center categorizd the decision as ”outrageous, senseless,
and insensitive.”
According to Zuroff:
”Any decision which grants privileges
to a convicted and unrepentant Nazi war criminal like Priebke
is outragous because it is based on a totally false assumption
that as an elderly person Priebke deserves a measure of sympathy
and even privileges. But the passage of time in no way diminishes
the guilt of Holocaust perpetrators and people like him,
who had no mercy for their victims, do not deserve any sympathy
themselves. The decision is senseless since there is no basis
to grant Priebke privileges and the fact that he has reached
an elderly age does not turn a murderer into Righteous Gentile.
It is insensitive since it insults the family and friends
of those murdered by Priebke and his cohorts.”
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER KRITISIERT VERBOT EINER GEDENKVERANSTALTUNG FÜR NS-OPFER
DURCH LANDRATSAMT GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN
|
Jerusalem.
Das Simon Wiesenthal Center hat heute die Entscheidung des
Landratsamtes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen kritisiert, das eine
Gedenkveranstaltung für Opfer des Nationalsozialismus am Pfingstwochenende
am Hohen Brendten in Mittenwald verboten hat. Die Arbeitskreise
„Distomo“ und „Angreifbare Traditionspflege“ hatten dort eine
Kundgebung angemeldet, um der Opfer deutscher Gebirgstruppen
des Zweiten Weltkrieges zu gedenken. Gleichzeitig findet dort
eine Versammlung des „Kameradenkreises der Gebirgstruppe“ statt. †††† „Es ist nicht fair, eine Gedenkveranstaltung
zugunsten der Opfer zu verbieten, während Angehörige von
Nazi-Truppenverbänden, die schwere Verbrechen begangen haben,
wie ehrbare Bürger behandelt werden“, kritisiert der Leiter
des Wiesenthal Centers in Jerusalem, Dr. Efraim Zuroff. Veteranen
der belasteten Gebirgstruppen müssten die Konfrontation mit
ihren Gegnern aushalten, zumal sie sich nie für ihre Untaten
entschuldigt hätten, so Zuroff.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff: „Das Landratsamt
misst mit zweierlei Maß. Die Veteranen von NS-Gebirgstruppen
werden über Gebühr geschützt, während das Gedenken der Opfer
am Hohen Brendten verboten wird. Die bayerische Behörde verhält
sich gefühllos gegenüber den Opfern. Das Gedenken für die
Opfer muss stattfinden.“
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER RENEWS CALL FOR RESIGNATION OF BADEN-WŰRTTEMBURG GOVERNOR
OETTINGER IN WAKE OF NEW REVELATIONS OF HIS EXTREMIST VIEWS
|
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today renewed its call for the resignation
of Baden-Wűrttemburg governor Gűnther Oettinger in the wake
of new revelations concerning his extremist right-wing sympathies.
The Center had originally called for his resignation earlier
this month, in the wake of his eulogy for his predecessor Hans
Filbinger, whose Nazi past and war crimes as a Nazi judge who
sentenced numerous innocent people to death, Oettinger chose
to ignore. †††† According to the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter,
Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Oettinger’s apology for
whitewashing Filbinger’s Nazi past rings extremely hollow
given his continued membership in the “Studienzentrum Weikersheim,”
a right-wing academic center founded by Filbinger which regularly
invites speakers with extremist, and in certain cases anti-Semitic,
views to deliver public lectures. Thus one of those scheduled
to speak there is Martin Hohmann, who was expelled from the
CDU for anti-Semitic statements. In addition, according to
press reports, Oettinger regularly sings the currently-illegal
first stanza of the Nazi-era national anthem “Deutschland
Deutschland über alles,” which speaks of a territorially
much-expanded Germany, a clear reflection of his ultra-nationalist
sympathies.
“If we add his most recent statement
to his old student association in which he praised the advantages
of going to war and bemoaned the lack of any imminent conflict,
it becomes crystal-clear that Mr. Oettinger is clearly unsuited
for the responsibility of leading Baden-Wűrttemburg,” said
Zuroff.
For more information call 00-972-2-563-1273 or 972-50-7214156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER FORDERT BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERGS MINISTERPRÄSIDENT GÜNTHER OETTINGER
ZUM RÜCKTRITT AUF
|
Jerusalem.
„Die aktuellen Äußerungen des baden-württembergischen Ministerpräsidenten
Günther Oettinger, der die NS-Vergangenheit seines Vorgängers
Hans Filbinger rechtfertigte, sind absolut unfassbar.“ Das
Simon Wiesenthal Center schließt sich den Rücktrittsforderungen
an. „Ein Ministerpräsident, der die Nazi-Vergangenheit des
ehemaligen Ministerpräsidenten und NS-Marinerichters Hans Filbinger
leugnet und reinwäscht, ist untragbar“, sagte der Direktor
des Centers in Jerusalem, Dr. Efraim Zuroff. †††† Efraim Zuroff: „Es ist erwiesen, dass
Filbinger an Todesurteilen während des Zweiten Weltkriegs
beteiligt war. Es ist erwiesen, dass Filbinger Mitglied der
NSDAP war. Es ist erwiesen, dass er noch im Juni 1945 einen
Soldaten wegen Entfernens von der Truppe verurteilt hat.
Es ist erwiesen, dass er das Nazi-Unrecht nach 1945 ganz
allgemein gerechtfertigt hat. Vor allem aber hat Filbinger
als Gründer, Präsident und Ehrenmitglied des „Studienzentrums
Weikersheim“ Neonazis und Rechtsextremen eine Plattform bei
der selbsternannten „geistigen Leistungselite Deutschland“
gegeben. Zudem bestehen Verbindungen zwischen dem „Studienzentrum
Weikersheim“ und der so genannten „Gesellschaft für freie
Publizistik“ (GfP), deren Protagonisten den Holocaust leugnen
und antisemitische Propaganda verbreiten. Die GfP wird deswegen
vom Verfassungsschutz beobachtet. Sie wurde 1960 von ehemaligen
SS- und NSDAP-Mitgliedern gegründet.“
Laut Efraim Zuroff ist es an der Zeit,
einen deutlichen Trennstrich gegenüber nationalsozialistischen
Kriegsverbrechen zu ziehen.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 507 – 214 - 156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com
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|
| Wiesenthal
Center Urges Denmark to Prosecute Soeren Kam for Role in Facilitating
Deportation of Hundreds of Danish Jews to Nazi Concentration
Camps
|
In
the wake of the refusal earlier this week by a Munich court
to approve the extradition to Denmark of Danish Nazi war criminal
Soeren Kam for the murder of a Danish anti-Nazi newspaper editor,
the Simon Wiesenthal Center today urged the Danish Justice
Ministry to attempt to achieve Kam’s extradition to stand trial
in Copenhagen on the basis of his role in facilitating the
deportation of hundreds of Danish Jews to Nazi concentration
camps in the fall of 1943. †††† In a letter sent today to Danish Justice
Minister Lene Espersen, the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel
director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, praised Danish efforts to bring
Kam to justice and urged the Danish authorities to seek his
extradition on the basis of different crimes than those which
were the basis for the original Danish extradition request.
In his letter to the minister, Zuroff noted that it Soeren
Kam who, together with two accomplices, stole the registry
of the Danish Jewish community in late summer 1943 in order
to facilitate the roundup and deportation to concentration
camps of all its members which took place in October of the
same year. Thanks to the efforts of the Danish underground,
most of the Jewish community escaped to Sweden, but 472,
mostly elderly, Jews were arrested and deported to Nazi concentration
camps, where dozens were murdered or died due to the inhuman
conditions.
According to Zuroff:
“Soeren Kam was one of the persons who stole the registry of the names
and addresses of the members of the Jewish community of Denmark shortly
before the roundup of the Jews to deport them to Nazi concentration
camps was to begin. This criminal act, which under the historical circumstances
of World War II clearly constituted accessory to murder, should serve
as the basis for a renewed attempt to bring Kam to justice in Copenhagen.
It was this theft which directly facilitated the deportation of 472
Jews from Denmark to Nazi concentration camps, where 55 of them were
murdered or died of the inhuman conditions.
“I urge you to carefully consider
this serious crime, which ultimately led to the murder of
dozens of innocent Danish citizens, as a basis for a renewed
effort by Denmark to seek the extradition of Soeren Kam,
whose success hereto in eluding punishment is a travesty
of justice.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
www.operationlastchance.org
www.wiesenthal.com
|
|
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER PROTESTS REFUSAL OF GERMAN COURT TO EXTRADITE NAZI MURDERER
SOEREN KAM TO STAND TRIAL IN DENMARK |
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today protested the decision of a Munich
court to refuse a long-standing Danish request for the extradition
of Danish Nazi collaborator Soeren Kam who is wanted in Denmark
for the murder in Copenhagen 1943 of Carl Henrik Clemmensen,
a Danish anti-Nazi newspaper editor. †††† In a statement issued today in Jerusalem,
the Center's chief Nazi-hunter, Israel Director Dr. Efraim
Zuroff, called the decision "yet another case of misplaced German judicial sympathy for a despicable Nazi
collaborator who faithfully served the Third Reich."
The Center urged the Danish authorities to appeal the verdict and renew
the efforts to bring Kam to justice in the country in which he committed
his crimes.
According to Zuroff:
"As problematic as this decision is, it might have been
understandable, if the Germans were willing to prosecute Kam in Germany for his
crime, but the exact opposite has been the case. For years, the German judicial
authorities have refused to press charges against him and have done everything
in their power to help this murderer elude justice.
Under these circumstances, we must reiterate the important principles
that dictate:
1. The passage of time in no way diminishes
the guilt of Nazi war criminals.
2. The fact that a Nazi war criminal
reaches an elderly age does not turn him or her into a Righteous
Gentile.
We hope therefore that a way can be
found to hold Soeren Kam accountable for his crimes."
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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|
|
| מרכז
ויזנטל מוחה נגד סרוב בית משפט גרמני להסגיר את הרוצח הנאצי סורן
קאם לדנמרק למשפט |
ירושלים
– מרכז שמעון ויזנטל מחה היום על החלטת בית משפט במינכן שלא להיענות
לבקשת דנמרק, שהוגשה זה מכבר, להסגרת פושע המלחמה הדני, משתף הפעולה
סורן קאם (Soeren Kam )
אשר מבוקש בדנמרק בשל מעורבותו ברצח קארל הנריק קלמנסן, עורך עיתון
דני אנטי-נאצי, בקופנהגן בשנת 1943ל.
דר' אפרים זורוף, מנהל מרכז ויזנטל בירושלים וצייד הנאצים הראשי של
המרכז גינה היום את ההחלטה באומרו "הנה
עוד מקרה של החלטה גרמנית שלא במקומה המגלה אמפתיה למשתף פעולה נאצי
נורא ששירת באמונה את הרייך השלישי." המרכז
קרא לשלטונות הדנים לערער על פסק הדין ולחדש את המאמצים להעמיד את קאם
למשפט במדינה בה ביצע את פשעיו
לדברי זורוף:
"ככל שהחלטה זו בעייתית, עוד ניתן היה להבינה אילו הגרמנים היו מסכימים להעמיד
את קאם לדין בגרמניה, אך במקרה זה המצב הפוך לחלוטין. במשך שנים רבות סרבו גורמי
החוק בגרמניה לתבוע אותו ועשו ככל שביכולתם כדי לסייע לרוצח לחמוק מדין צדק. בנסיבות
אלה, עלינו לחזור ולהזכיר את העקרונות החשובים שלהלן:
הזמן החולף אינו ממעיט כהוא זה מאשמתם של פושעי המלחמה הנאצים.
פושע נאצי שהגיע לגיל מופלג אינו הופך להיות חסיד אומות העולם.
לכן אנו מקווים שתימצא הדרך בה ישא סורן קאם באחריות על פשעיו."
למידע נוסף נא
להתקשר לטל. 7214156-050
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Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Decision By Günter Grass To Grant Access to
Wartime Documents; Urges Author To Provide Full Details Regarding World
War II Service |
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed
the decision of Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass to grant access
to all documents related to his wartime service in the Waffen-SS
in response to a request to that effect made last week by the
Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff.
At the same time, the Center reiterated
its original request to Grass that he personally provide complete
details on his World War II service in the wake of the growing
confusion generated by recent conflicting revelations in the
German media.
According to Zuroff:
“While access to German archives will
certainly facilitate the research we intend to carry out, historical
documents often cannot provide a complete picture of an individual’s
World War II service. We therefore urge Mr. Grass to provide
as many details as possible on the unit or units he served
in, their activities during the war and his own role during
this period. Only by doing so will he finally be able to provide
the clarity necessary to fully assess his World War II service
in the Waffen-SS.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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Wiesenthal Center Calls Upon Günter Grass For Full Disclosure of Nazi Past
and Access to Wartime Documents |
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center today called
upon German author Günter Grass to make public all the pertinent
details regarding his service in the Waffen-SS and grant researchers
from the Center access to all documents concerning his World
War II past.
In a letter sent from Jerusalem by the
Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
to the Nobel Prize winning author, Zuroff asked Grass to clarify
contradicting details which have appeared in the media following
his revelation earlier this month that he had served in the
Waffen-SS during the last year of World War II. He also requested
that Grass allow Wiesenthal Center researchers to examine his
personal documents in various German archives to which access
is not granted without the subject’s permission.
According to Zuroff:
“Given Grass’ moral stature in Germany
and throughout the world as a symbol of those calling for an
honest confrontation with his country’s Nazi past, it is imperative
that he tell the whole truth about his service in the Waffen-SS
and allow access to his wartime documents. To do otherwise,
would be precisely the kind of dishonest behavior which Grass
himself has criticized for decades.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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Wiesenthal Center Matches German
Reward for Escaped Nazi Doctor; Urges Austrian Government To Do Likewise |
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced
that it would match the reward of 130,000 euros (approximately
$156,000) currently being offered by the German government
for information which will lead to the arrest of escaped Nazi
war criminal Dr. Aribert Heim. Heim, who is wanted for the
murder by lethal injection of hundreds of inmates of the Mauthausen
(Austria) concentration camp, is the number one target of the
Center's “Operation: Last Chance” which offers financial rewards
for information which facilitates the prosecution and punishment
of Nazi war criminals. (Heim disappeared in 1962 just as the
German government was about to prosecute him for his crimes.)
In meetings last week in Vienna , the
Center's chief Nazi-hunter , Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
urged Austrian Justice Minister Karin Gastinger and Interior
Minister Liese Prokop to have the Austrian government announce
a similar reward, which would bring the amount offered for
Heim's capture alive to 400,000 euros or approximately $480,000.
[130,000 euros from the German government; 130,000 euros from
the Wiesenthal Center ; 130,000 from the Austrian government;
and 10,000 from “Operation: Last Chance.”]
According to Zuroff, Minister Prokop indicated
to him that the government could in theory announce such a
reward and that she would present the proposal for consideration.
Zuroff emphasized the urgency of the matter and the significance
of the prosecution of Heim who “represented the Nazis' misuse
and perversion of medicine.”
Zuroff added that a special task force
for the capture of Dr. Heim, which had been established by
the German police, was currently conducting an intensive manhunt
in Spain and in South America, based on information received
from informants to various sources, including the Wiesenthal
Center .
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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י' שבט תשס"ו
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8
בפברואר 2006 |
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מרכז ויזנטל
משווה את הפרס המוצע בעבור לכידת רופא נאצי נמלט לפרס שהוצע על
ידי ממשלת גרמניה; מבקש מממשלת אוסטריה לפעול בדומה לכך |
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מרכז שמעון
ויזנטל הודיע שהוא מציע פרס בסך 130,000 יורו (בערך 156,000$),
בנוסף לפרס בסכום זהה שהוצע על ידי ממשלת גרמניה, בעבור קבלת
מידע שיוביל ללכידתו של הפושע הנאצי הנמלט דר' אריברט היים Aribert
Heim . היים, אשר מבוקש בגין הזרקת רעל לליבם של מאות אסירים
במחנה הריכוז מאוטהאוזן, הוא היעד מספר אחד של פרוייקט "מבצע: הזדמנות אחרונה" שמציע פרסים כספיים למוסרי מידע שיסייע בהעמדה לדין וענישה של פושעי מלחמה נאצים.
(היים נעלם בשנת 1962 כאשר ממשלת גרמניה התכוננה להעמיד אותו
לדין על פשעיו.)
בפגישות שקיים
בשבוע שעבר בוינה צייד הנאצים דר' אפרים זורוף, מנהל מרכז ויזנטל
בישראל, הוא ביקש משרת המשפטים האוסטרית קארין גאסטינגר ומשרת
הפנים ליסה פרוקופ לפעול כדי שממשלת אוסטריה תציע פרס בסכום דומה,
כך שסך סכום הפרס המוצע למטרת תפיסת היים יגיע ל-400,000 יורו
שהם בערך 480,000$. [130,000 יורו מממשלת גרמניה; 130,000 יורו
ממרכז ויזנטל; 130,000 מממשלת אוסטריה; 10,000 יורו מ"מבצע: הזדמנות אחרונה."]
לדברי זורוף
אמרה שרת הפנים פרוקופ שבאופן תיאורטי יכולה הממשלה להכריז על
פרס כזה והיא תציג את ההצעה בפניה לשיקול דעת. זורוף הדגיש שהזמן
דוחק ושיש משמעות סמלית להעמדת היים לדין כ"דוגמה לנאצי שניצל לרעה באופן חולני את הרפואה."
זורוף הוסיף
שממשלת גרמניה הקימה כוח משימה מיוחד למטרת לכידת דר' היים וכעת
מבצע כוח זה חיפוש אינטנסיבי בספרד ודרום אמריקה, בהתבססו על
מידע שהתקבל ממקורות שונים, כולל מרכז שמעון ויזנטל.
למידע
נוסף נא להתקשר לטל. 7214156-050
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Wiesenthal
Center Submits Names of Four German “Operation: Last Chance” Suspects to Central German Investigative Agency
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Ludwigsburg – The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced today that it had
submitted the names of four suspected German Nazi war criminals, which
it had received in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project,
to the central German agency which investigates such cases. The material
was submitted yesterday by the Center's chief Nazi-hunter – Israel
director Dr. Efraim Zuroff and its chief researcher in Germany Dr.
Stefan Klemp to Kurt Schrimm, the director of the “Zentrale Stelle”
in Ludwigsburg , Germany , who promised to carry out a comprehensive
examination of the four cases.
According to Zuroff, the Center had received
the names of approximately 50 German suspects since “Operation:
Last Chance” was launched in Germany on January 26, 2005 at
a press conference held at the Bundestag. An examination of
the information submitted to the Center, yielded four cases
with serious potential for prosecution, in two of which the
initial information was submitted by female family members.
Of the four suspects in question, two allegedly served in concentration
camps and two allegedly participated in the mass murder of
civilians in Eastern Europe.
“The fact that four cases are being submitted to the Zentrale Stelle
is an important indication of the success of “Operation: Last Chance”
in Germany and, we hope, only the beginning of the achievement of significant
results. The information received from family members is precisely what
we hoped for when the project was launched,” said Zuroff.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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Wiesenthal Center
Urges Austrian Government to Match Reward Offered by Germany
for Capture of Escaped Nazi War Criminal Dr. Aribert Heim of
Mauthausen |
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Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon the Austrian government
to match a reward of 130,000 euros currently being offered by
the German government for information which will facilitate the
capture of escaped Nazi war criminal Dr. Aribert Heim who murdered
hundreds of inmates at the Mauthausen ( Austria ) concentration
camp.
In a letter sent today to Austrian Justice Minister Karin Gastinger, the Center's
chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff urged
the Austrian government to do its share in the renewed efforts
currently being made by the German authorities to track down
Heim, who is listed by the Wiesenthal Center as the second
most wanted unprosecuted Nazi war criminal alive today (after
Eichmann's top assistant Alois Brunner).
In Zuroff's words:
"Given that Heim was born
in Austria, studied medicine at the University of Vienna,
and committed his crimes in Mauthausen, I believe that the
active involvement of your government in the efforts to bring
this Nazi war criminal to justice would be entirely justified
and I therefore respectfully suggest that the Austrian authorities
match the reward being offered by the German government for
information leading to his capture.
"Even at this late
date, it is still possible to bring Nazi war criminals
to justice and we therefore urge your active involvement
in the efforts to do so."
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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| Wiesenthal
Center Urges Austrian Health Minister To Cancel Medical Degree
Of Escaped Nazi War Criminal Dr. Aribert Heim |
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Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon Austrian Minister of
Health Maria Rauch-Kallat to cancel the medical degree of escaped
Nazi war criminal Dr. Aribert Heim who is wanted for the murder
of hundreds of inmates of the Mauthausen concentration camp whom
he killed by lethal injection. Heim is the number 2 criminal
on the Wiesenthal Center's “Most Wanted” list of Nazi war criminals
and is the primary target of the Center's “Operation: Last Chance”
project which was launched in Germany on January 26,2005 at a
press conference held in the Bundestag.
Aribert Heim served as a doctor at Buchenwald , Sachsenhausen, and Mauthausen
concentration camps and is wanted for his role in the murder
of numerous camp inmates. After World War II, he worked as
a doctor in Baden-Baden, Germany and escaped in 1962, after
an indictment was filed against him and he was about to be
arrested. At the current time, both Germany and Austria have
warrants outstanding for his arrest and there is a prize
of 140,000 euros for information which will lead to his capture.
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center's chief
Nazi-hunter, noted that there is strong evidence that Heim
is still alive and called for a maximum effort to bring him
to justice. “While it is true that canceling his medical
degree is primarily a symbolic step, it hopefully will help
focus public attention on his case and increase the chances
of his apprehension while he can still be brought to justice.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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Wiesenthal
Center and Targum Shlishi Foundation Launch „Operation:Last Chance“ in Germany
at Press Conference at German Bundestag (Parliament) in Berlin
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center today officially launched its “Operation
Last Chance” project in Germany at a press conference held at the Bundestag(German parliament)
in Berlin. †††† The press conference was hosted by
German MP Prof. Dr. Gert Weisskirchen, spokesperson for foreign
affairs for the ruling Social Democratic Party, and featured
speeches by the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff and Targum Shlishi Foundation
founder and president Aryeh Rubin, as well as by Prof. Weisskirchen
and German activist against anti-Semitism Jörg Rensmann.
In his remarks, Dr. Zuroff highlighted
the importance of bringing those guilty of the crimes of
the Holocaust to justice and stressed that it was still possible
to do so today despite the passage of many years since the
crimes were committed. ”The fact that a Nazi war criminal eluded justice for 40 or 50 years does not
turn that person into a Righteous Gentile”, said Zuroff.
Aryeh Rubin noted the responsibility
of Germany to bring the killers to justice. ”This is not about guilt”, he noted, ”but rather about accountability.”
Prof. Weisskirchen and Jörg
Rensmann also called upon Germans to own up to their responsibility
and to help achieve justice and thereby honor memory and
assist in the fight against contemporary anti-Semitism.
The project is assisted in Germany
by “Honestly-Concerned”, an NGO active in the struggle against anti-Semitism in the German-speaking
world.
The hotline number in Germany is (030)695
695 54.
The launch is also marked by the appearance of a website dedicated to
the project: www.operationlastchance.org
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“Operation:
Last Chance” to be Launched in Germany
on January 26, 2005 at German Bundestag
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“Operation:
Last Chance” will be officially launched in Germany on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at a press
conference to be held at 14:00 in the Bundestag (German parliament).
Germany is the ninth country in which the project is being
launched. It has already been initiated in Lithuania, Estonia,
Latvia, Poland, Romania Austria, Croatia and Hungary. †††† Participating in the press conference
will be
| Dr.
Efraim Zuroff |
Chief
Nazi-Hunter, Simon Wiesenthal Center |
| Mr.
Aryeh Rubin |
Founder,
Targum Shlishi Foundation |
| Dr.
Stefan Klemp |
Chief
researcher in Germany, Simon Wiesenthal Center |
| MP
Gerd Weisskirchen (SPD) |
Spokesperson
on foreign affairs |
| Joerg
Rentsmann |
Activist
against anti-Semitism |
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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WIESENTHAL
CENTER: START DER OPERATION LAST CHANCE IN DEUTSCHLAND VERSCHOBEN
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Wie
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Leiter des Simon Wiesenthal Centers in Jerusalem,
heute mitgeteilt hat, muss der Beginn der „Operation Last Chance“ in Deutschland verschoben werden. Bei der Kampagne, die bereits in zahlreichen
europäischen Ländern, unter anderem im Baltikum, Österreich und Polen läuft, wird eine Belohnung von 10.000 Euro für Hinweise ausgesetzt, die zu einer Anklageerhebung oder Verurteilung von bisher
unbehelligten NS-Tätern führen. †††† Ursprünglich sollte
die Operation Last Chance mit einer Pressekonferenz, Anzeigenkampagne
und Telefonhotline im September anlaufen. Wegen Terminschwierigkeiten
wird der offizielle Start der Aktion in Deutschland auf November
verschoben.
Ungeachtet dessen gehen nach den vorangegangenen
Medienberichten bereits laufend Hinweise beim Wiesenthal
Center ein. Das Center hat heute seinen neuesten Bericht
zur Verfolgung von Nazi-Kriegsverbrechern vorgelegt.
Rückfragen unter: 00972 – 2563 – 1273/74.
Mobil: 00972 – 51 – 214 - 156
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