What do you think of John Demjanjuk?

Question

First, I have had friends that were Holocaust survivors.  I never had the chance to ask them what they thought of this man.

I dunno.  He's 89 years old and a frail old man.  The biggest question I have is what do they "say" he did in those concentration camps?  I know that some have given him the nickname "Ivan the Terrible", but it seems that what he really did was "simply follow orders".  I know that some will say that's no excuse, but if you are in the military, you know that failure to follow orders can get you in hot water (dishonorable discharge or face a firing squad).  It seems that even if the evidence is correct, the worst he did was "process" the unfortunate souls that were interred in those camps.

As far as Nazis are concerned.  I am a fan of Wernher Von Braun; the father of the American space program.  But, he too worked for the Nazis and designed the V2 rockets that were used against allied civilians during WWII.  How is it that Dr. Von Braun is a hero and Mr. Demjanjuk is avillainn?  They both contributed what they could to the Nazi war effort.

Again, if the Israelis had him for 7 years and their highest courtacquittedd him, I just don't know why anyone wanted to hassle this old man.

Opinions?

Krunchee · Accepted Answer

I'm only slightly conflicted by Demjanjuk's plight.  As a Ukranian captive enlisted in the German cause, there was no question of him disobeying orders and being court martialed.  He'd probably just be summarily shot.  On the other hand, millions of other Soviet POW's refused to comply or switch sides and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their honor.  What we see now with this frail 89 year old man, is the echo of that awful time.  He saved his own life by contributing to the evil of the Holocaust.  He's not a Mengele, somebody who enthusiastically enlisted in the cause of wiping out the Jewish race, but he did participate directly in evil.  Acquitted, convicted, punished or not, I don't think his actions should be ignored, that we should just let it slide because it was a "long time ago".

Michael H · Answer

Most Holocaust survivors that I have ever known want justice. Justice is not served by convicting innocent people. 

Israel courts originally convicted him, the Israel Supreme Court overturned it based on written statements that the surname of Ivan the Terrible was different than that of Mr. Demjanjuk. The laws are different, and even though he was convicted by the courts, the overturning by the Supreme court meant that he could not in essence be tried again for the same crime (double jeopardy). The prosecuting attorney decided against trying him again for other crimes.

If in fact he committed the crimes, then he needs to be punished, his age and health are irrelevant.

"Never Again"

veryverified · Answer

Is the point here to blame some Slavic (or at least non-German) man, even if he is guilty, so that the German nation appears innocent? Where are the trials of Germans? "Nazi" is what German nationalists called themselves, right? They all have been dealt with? Maybe Jews are starting to not want to believe that the Germans could have done it either.

Charlie S · Answer

Well,if they can do this to him. why are they not as quick to get all the illegals is what I think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What do you think of John Demjanjuk?

4 Answers