-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack Chazotte
Mrs. Lucarelli
Comparative Civilizations
9 November 2015

Current Event: An SS Officer was Convicted

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________________________________________________________________

The Verdict
______________________________
______

money from prisoners who came

conviction.

through the camp. Although he

The Response

was never directly responsible for

Oskar Groening
______________________________
_____

On July 15, 2015, Oskar

Groening was convicted of the
harsh treatment toward 300,000
Jewish people in the Holocaust
due to his involvement in
Auschwitz from 1942 until 1944.
The now 94 year old trained to be
a bank teller before the war and
was given the position of seizing
thank Germany for eventually

Many Holocaust survivors and

murder of thousands, he was

cultural leaders regarded the event

charged as willingly partaking in

as historic due to the lack of Nazi

the malice action due to his

prosecutions. Additionally, many

occupation (accessory to mass

believe this will be the last Nazi-

murder). Oskar added, I was

era crime to be accepted due to

on the ramp when the selections

the time period lack of survivors.

(for the chambers) took place;"

Although Oskar was not directly

for a BBC documentary in 2005.

responsible for the deaths, many

The aforementioned interview

are proud of the actions taken.

was part of the campaign Oskar

One woman born in Auschwitz

launched in order to combat

commented, I

Holocaust denial and was

ultimately a major piece of
evidence which led to his
those who were affected by the
heinous actions of those camps,

those in the war still matter, and

how the law will make an effort to

putting him on trial, although that

this conviction was a symbol of

find each person guilty if they

should have happened decades

the actions that should have been

deserve.

ago, and although many other

taken as coming to a reality. This

perpetrators never had to stand

conviction was proof that people

trial for their crimes. Overall, the

who were associated with the

outrage for this mans actions

would never be protected or

against humanity are present in

forgiven.

example to view the Nazis

earning their deserved karma,
other convictions have been made

he admits to feeling guilt to his

after the war. The Doctors Trials

statements and openly disclosed

are a prime example as they

he was part of the processes of the

depict multiple medical experts

extermination camp.

part of the Nazi regime as guilty

Why This Is
Important

for the murder they caused. There

were numerous other convictions
Auschwitz

and trial groupings, however the

about the courtroom and was

several newspapers as the verdict
was announced on July 15 for the
terrible crimes committed in the
camp. These camps were the
epitome of cruelty as millions
died and little was done by those
who worked in the facilities. To

Although Oskars conviction

gives people across the globe an

millions who hear the story, but

Justice has been served rang

Other Convictions

Additionally, this conviction

number of those convicted to

acts as a modern face for the

those who took part in the actions

actions committed in the war.

is abysmal, and is the reason

Often times, people hear about

many are ecstatic Oskar was

survivors, or the history of the

convicted.

inhumane treatment, but this

action allows for people to
understand how the actions of