German SS Guard, Possibly Prosecuted at 100 Years Old

germany - A 100-year-old former German SS guard might face prosecution for his alleged atrocities committed during the World War II.

The court will have to determine in an appeal whether the man is mentally fit enough to stand trial, as reported by Bild. If convicted, he is likely to be the last Nazi to be held accountable.

SS officer Formanek served as a guard at Sachsenhausen camp from July 1943 to February 1945. He is accused of brutal behavior, including allegedly beating severely weakened prisoners to death.

Initially established by the SS in 1936, Sachsenhausen was first used as a political prison but later housed Jews, Roma, Sinti, and homosexuals. The camp was infamous for its gas chambers and horrific medical experiments inflicting large wounds on inmates intentionally.

Formanek was captured by the Russians in 1945. A Soviet court sentenced him to 25 years in prison, but he was released back to West Germany after ten years. He then worked as a baker and later as a doorman near Frankfurt, even marrying for the second time.

Ironically, it was an English newspaper that exposed him from obscurity. The Sun revealed that the former camp guard had been leading a discreet life for decades without ever disclosing his gruesome past.

A court declared Formanek partially accountable a year ago. Now, a final appeal is pending against this ruling.