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Munich, Germany - Statements from Former Nazi Guard to Haunt Demjanjuk in His Trial |
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John Demjanjuk file photo
Danilchenko's decades-old statements to Soviet investigators provide what are considered the most detailed -- and controversial -- allegations of Demjanjuk's work as a guard at the Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.
German prosecutors this month listed Danilchenko as a witness at Demjanjuk's war-crimes trial in Munich, which could begin in October. The listing was an error, as Danilchenko died in 1985, but his statements are expected to play a key role in the case.
Demjanjuk was born as Ivan Demjanjuk in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. He was drafted into the Soviet army during the war and captured by the Germans after they invaded in 1942.
Demjanjuk says he remained a prisoner of the Germans throughout the war, but prosecutors have argued -- and judges ruled -- that Demjanjuk agreed to work as a guard for the Nazis in exchange for favorable treatment.
His name was first linked to the Germans in 1949 when Danilchenko told the KGB that he "met and first got to know Ivan Demjanjuk in March 1943 at the Sobibor death camp."
In 1977, Demjanjuk was accused of being "Ivan the Terrible," a sadistic guard at the Treblinka death camp, and was deported to Israel. Two years later, the KGB interviewed Danilchenko again, and he provided them a much more detailed version of Demjanjuk's duties as a guard, including herding Jews into the gas chamber.
The 1949 statement was used against Demjanjuk during his trial in Israel, linking him to Nazi camps in Sobibor and Flossenburg, but not Treblinka. The second statement was not turned over to defense attorneys, and Demjanjuk's lawyers argued the document and others that were withheld could have helped him prove his innocence.
The retired autoworker was convicted in 1988 and sentenced to hang for his role at Treblinka.
In 1993, the Israeli Supreme Court overturned the conviction, based on new, conflicting evidence that pointed to another man as being Ivan the Terrible.
The Israeli Supreme Court said there was evidence that Demjanjuk served at Sobibor and other camps, but Demjanjuk was charged only with being the guard from Treblinka. He was released and returned home to Seven Hills.
Ten years ago, federal prosecutors in Cleveland accused Demjanjuk of serving at Nazi camps in Sobibor, Majdanek and Flossenburg, the allegations that led to his deportation. Again, the Danilchenko statements were brought up, offering that Demjanjuk carried a rifle and patrolled several parts of the camp.
"Demjanjuk, like all guards in the camp, participated in the mass killing of Jews," Danilchenko's statement said. ". . . Demjanjuk was considered to be an experienced and efficient guard. For example, he was repeatedly assigned by the Germans to get Jews in surrounding ghettos and deliver them in trucks to the camp to be killed."
Defense attorney Busch said the statements are important, but he said that, unlike witnesses, they cannot be cross-examined, and Danilchenko can't be questioned. He stressed that he does not trust the KGB, which he said tortured former Nazi guards and made them lie to get others. For years, Demjanjuk's family claimed his guard pass was a Soviet forgery.
It is unclear how German prosecutors will use the statements or how a Munich court will allow them to be entered into evidence. What is clear is that Demjanjuk will have to face the allegations, again.
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Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 26, 2009 at 09:57 PM nosson- montreal Says:
On the eve of Tisha B'av we are yet again reminded that bechol dor vodor, omdim oleinu lechaloseinu....We should keep in mind that not only are the leaders of Nazi Germany , yemach shemam, responsible for the mass murder of millions of our people, but in fact, EVERY SINGLE soldier or civilian who participated is equally responsible. They should ALL be brought to justice regardless of their age.
There is no statute of limitations on mass murder, nor do we have the right to show compassion to those who brutally and sadistically murdered our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, to those who brutally took pleasure in the death of SIX MILLION innocent Jews.
2
Jul 26, 2009 at 09:32 PM Anonymous Says:
Why did it take them up to now to go with this evidence?
3
Jul 27, 2009 at 07:02 AM Common Sense Says:
“
On the eve of Tisha B'av we are yet again reminded that bechol dor vodor, omdim oleinu lechaloseinu....We should keep in mind that not only are the leaders of Nazi Germany , yemach shemam, responsible for the mass murder of millions of our people, but in fact, EVERY SINGLE soldier or civilian who participated is equally responsible. They should ALL be brought to justice regardless of their age.
There is no statute of limitations on mass murder, nor do we have the right to show compassion to those who brutally and sadistically murdered our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, to those who brutally took pleasure in the death of SIX MILLION innocent Jews.
”
Nebech, keeping the embers of hate burning so hotly in our Yiddishe neshomos does terrible harm to us and to our children. All Nazi murderers should be brought to justice--no argument about that. But how can one make such a hateful statement condemning every single German when in fact a number are honored as Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem, including two SS officers who saved Yidden? Where is our Jewish sense of fairness and justice? Such sweeping condemnations are simply a reflection of blinding anger that not every German deserves, and harms our precious Jewish neshomos.
4
Jul 27, 2009 at 05:23 AM Anonymous Says:
This case sounds so confusing from a legal standpoint. On the one hand you want justice to be served, but on the other hand you wonder if there is a chance that he is innocent because Israel's Supreme Court released him because of untrustworthy evidence. Most of the case is built on hearsay and evidence from witness testimony and interviews collected ages ago by KGB.
5
Jul 27, 2009 at 01:24 PM Satmer 101 Says:
“ This case sounds so confusing from a legal standpoint. On the one hand you want justice to be served, but on the other hand you wonder if there is a chance that he is innocent because Israel's Supreme Court released him because of untrustworthy evidence. Most of the case is built on hearsay and evidence from witness testimony and interviews collected ages ago by KGB. ”
Israel's Supreme Court did not "release him because of untrustworty evidence." Israel released him because he was not at Treblinka as charged. " Israel's supreme Court in fact found him to be in Sobibor. Read the article, dude!
6
Jul 27, 2009 at 06:50 PM Nosson Montreal Says:
“ Nebech, keeping the embers of hate burning so hotly in our Yiddishe neshomos does terrible harm to us and to our children. All Nazi murderers should be brought to justice--no argument about that. But how can one make such a hateful statement condemning every single German when in fact a number are honored as Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem, including two SS officers who saved Yidden? Where is our Jewish sense of fairness and justice? Such sweeping condemnations are simply a reflection of blinding anger that not every German deserves, and harms our precious Jewish neshomos. ”
Not sure where you get the impression that I am condemning every single German.
Of course there were righteous gentiles....In fact, according to Yad Vashem, over twenty thousand of them (not as you say, "a number of them"). However, this does not in any way lessen the horrible crimes commited by the Nazis and their accomplices.
I clearly said that the responsibility for the mass murders rests with every single soldier or civilian who participated in the process of murder. Any legal system will hold accountable those who are accesories to murder.
I stand by my comments.
7
Jul 27, 2009 at 06:51 PM Nosson Montreal Says:
“ Nebech, keeping the embers of hate burning so hotly in our Yiddishe neshomos does terrible harm to us and to our children. All Nazi murderers should be brought to justice--no argument about that. But how can one make such a hateful statement condemning every single German when in fact a number are honored as Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem, including two SS officers who saved Yidden? Where is our Jewish sense of fairness and justice? Such sweeping condemnations are simply a reflection of blinding anger that not every German deserves, and harms our precious Jewish neshomos. ”
Not sure where you get the impression that I am condemning every single German.
Of course there were righteous gentiles....In fact, according to Yad Vashem, over twenty thousand of them (not as you say, "a number of them"). However, this does not in any way lessen the horrible crimes commited by the Nazis and their accomplices.
I clearly said that the responsibility for the mass murders rests with every single soldier or civilian who participated in the process of murder. Any legal system will hold accountable those who are accesories to murder.
I stand by my comments.