April Trial Set For ‘Accountant Of Auschwitz’ Who Was Allegedly Involved In 300,000 Murders

FILE - This undated file image shows the main gate of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz I, near Oswiecim , Poland, which was liberated by the Russians in January 1945. Writing at the gate reads: "Arbeit macht ... FILE - This undated file image shows the main gate of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz I, near Oswiecim , Poland, which was liberated by the Russians in January 1945. Writing at the gate reads: "Arbeit macht frei" (Work makes free - or work liberates). German prosecutors say they’ve charged a 93-year-old man with 300,000 counts of accessory to murder for serving as a guard at the Nazis’ Auschwitz death camp. The charges against Oskar Groening come as part of a nationwide push against former Auschwitz guards launched last year. Unlike most of the others, Groening has openly talked about his time as a guard and says while he witnessed horrific atrocities, he did not commit any crimes himself. But Hannover prosecutors said in a statement Monday Sept. 15, 2014 he was a cog in the machinery of destruction during his time at Auschwitz in 1944, noting that he helped collect and tally money stolen from murdered inmates. (AP Photo/File) MORE LESS
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BERLIN (AP) — A German court says a 93-year-old man dubbed the ‘accountant of Auschwitz’ will go on trial in April on allegations he was accessory to 300,000 murders as an SS guard at the Nazis’ death camp.

The Lueneburg state court said Monday Oskar Groening’s trial would open April 21.

Groening has openly talked about his time as a guard and says he witnessed atrocities but didn’t commit any himself.

He’s one of some 30 former Auschwitz guards against whom federal investigators in 2013 recommended that state prosecutors pursue charges.

Groening is accused of helping the Nazis economically, and supporting mass killings by processing the belongings stolen from camp victims.

More than 50 Holocaust survivors or victims’ families have joined the case as co-plaintiffs and many are expected to attend the trial.

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