•10111: .111111 By ALFRED WOLFIBANN JTA Bonn • Corresposident (Copyright 1972, JTA, lac.) Too often in the past, German courts have ordered the discon- tinuation of Nazi war crimes trials because the defendants were too old or too sick to stand trial.. or because__thelr,, trials=hiid terrupted for more than seven days, reason enough, according to German federal law to force re- -aliening of the case. Some trials constitute a real ju- dicial scandal. The International Confederation of Camps has re- peatedly intervened, through its secretary-general, Hermann Lang- bein, to demand the retrial or re- newal of certain investigations in which there was a miscarriage of justice. The confederation, an in- ternational. organization represent- ing former concentration camp in- mates from all goer the world, has done important work in classifying and reporting the trials of former Nazis. One such intervention ex- posed the behind-the-scenes details of the trial of an accused mass- murderer, Egon Erzum in Bavaria. The case was typical, and not only in 'Bavaria, which is notorious for THE DETROIT JEWISH HEWS 40—Friday, March 31, 1972 FIRESTONE JEWELRY 111golesale &i•ogonal. & Jewelry Renasanting. Jeareiry & nark Repairing SUITE 364 ADVANCE BLDG. 23077 Greenfield at 9 Mils _ (313) 557-1860 CUSTOM TABLE PADS I v. HAND-CRAFTED • CUSTOM STYUNG • PROMPT DELIVERY ' •PHONE 345-5350 Aube IN MICHIGAN mum tialCIFOO CO. Our 30th Year Baubles & Lace They're Here Now Spring ft. Suinner Stock Come in Now For The Belt Seleition 2743 Coolidge - tween 1 114 & 12 Mile 399-7869 Mon.-Fri. 10:30 to 400 • Pent i '1.2 •S A favorite tactic of ex Nazis who are brought to court for invest:11w tion is to drag out this preliminary stage for as long as possible. This allows many witnesses to "disap- pear" due to old age or illness. In contrast, A. Bossharnmer, another former Nazi, denied bail by a West Berliii court, was tried promptly and found guilty. • • • ,An especially scandalous case was that of the suspended trial of Dr. Johannes Thuemmler. Brought before the Wurttemberg "Supreme Court, -Ituemmler was accused of committing multiple murders in his capacity as SS Obersturmbands- fulmar and Geitapo chief of Kat- towitz. He was part of the Gesta- po's higher-echelon and was re- sponsible for the Gestapo at Ausch- witz, where as commander of the "Poundal Department" he sat in ' FIVE BOXMAN BROTHERS Harty, Den, Oscar, Sam, Frank KOSHER MEATS and POULTRY 13515 West 7 Mile their families and their staff Wa All ee ws its large- number of Nazi sympa- judgment over hundreds of vic- - _ tims: At least 658 persons were thizers. HARRY B. HELMSLEILpromi- In July, 1967, former SS First Lt. condemned to death by Thuemmler Egon Erzum was arrested on- sus- who gave two full, minutes to,each nent real estate broker -and presi- picion of having commanded a case.. before he 'pronounced the dent_d Helmsley-Spear. Inc., New York, will be honored by Brandeis police battalion which participated deatillentences. in mass murders during World War - Dr. Thuemmler's case came be- University and by his friends and In-November 1967, the• former fore...the- court. 34- Ellwan8c4.-and colleagues at a dinner in the Pierre e s reine court in Hotel , NiarYolk,- May 9, at -which e celebrate Ganz also was arrested. He is held Stuttgart. Bo the 15th aniiiverSairSi responsible for similar crimes cora- pursue the case against the ex- ture series established by Helm's- Nazi. The CIC intervened on mined in the death camps of Mau- thausen, Wiener Neustadt and Eb- grounds that the prosecution and ley at Brandeis -in 1958. ensee which be commanded._ In the courts did not carry out their October 1969, the former Chief IL task according to the evidence at MORRIS L. GREEN, honorary Wilhelm Radtke, who was suspect- hand. The CIC secretary was, how- treasurer of the Union of Orthodox ed of committing mass murder in ever, unable to reach the attorney Jewish Congregations of America the Nillopol area of Poland also general who had been transferred and treasurer of the Jewish Center to other duties. Langbein was in- in New York, has been named the was arrested. ,• * formed by his office that the case recipient of the organization's 1972 Not long ago, -Langbein asked could- be re-opened only if new 'Kether Sheaf Tov ("Crown of the the Bavarian authorities what hap- evidence was produced. The courts Good Name") Award, to be pre- pened to the three- investigations. had found that, according to the sented as the annual IJOJCA din- He was informed that Radtke: now testimony, Dr. Thuemmler could ner, May 7, at the New- Yost 56, was freed. because he was able be charged only with manslaughter Hilton. to show 'medical certificates prov- because he condemned to death LATEST IN NEW HAI CUTS ing that he suffered from a seri- only "Resistance men and sabo- • By FRANCYNE S MARCELLA _ ous lung disease. Erzum, 65, also teurs." His crimes were consid- Deaf 'to Learn of Judaism l• AND ANN brought a medical certificate to ered in the category of "duties ROCHESTER, N.Y. (JTA) — A Hillel rabbi here .has described court witch freed him from con- fulfilled under emergency condi- SIR ALBERT tinuing to stand trial. Ganz solved tions." •Langbein, on the other as "fantastic" the "tremendously BEAUTY LOUNGE- his problem by undergoing surgery hand, produced testimony which eager desire to learn about- Juda- -W:10 Mile Road ' 17445 for a prostate condition shortly showed that -many of the victims ism" indicated by Jewish college Near Somaltfield Read were condemned to death 'for mi- deaf students taking part in a pro- before his trial began. 557-5856 Who were these Nazis? Erzum nor - infringements of -t he camp gram sponsored by the Bnai Brith was, for a time, a deputy at the rules and that the condemnations Foundation at the University of were, technically, murder. Rochester. Bavarian Landstag (Parliament). • * • He was a member of the"Hreistag" of Ansbach and later became, as Also brought to light during CIC a member of the Christian Socialist investigations was the fact that Union of Franz Joseph Strauss, Thuemmler stood by at the plat- mayor of Leutershausen. Radtke forms where deportation trains wore the elegant uniform of a were to arrive, taking part per- German border guard — and re- sonally in the selection of victims portedly was fit for military serv- for the gas chambers. He ice till the very day of his arrest. plainly recognizable by former Immediately after this arrest, he Auschwitz-Birkenau ' inmates who FASHION'S BEST was able to produce a series of noted his presence thanks to - his . 6 medical certificates proving he was black SS officer's uniform. D Le R,,& 1 6 seriously ill. The CIC Secretary demanded FINE JEWELERS Had the three accused been kept that the attorney general's office Ono of Michigan's Largest Selections of Pierced Earrings. under lock and key and denied renew its investigation. He stressed bail, it is likely that they would that .3t was inexcusable that high- IIIIIITS ARE III SPECIALTY • WATC11- AID JEWELRY WAR not have been able to prolong olaced Nazi leaders should escape .... • Mow's Maps • Como • Dissowrin !Anne In or Cog the initial inquiry -which allowed judgment while the small fry were • a.m.. • Nods • Watkins • renfonts w CAM tans • -aaatta them to escape trial through their brought to trial. He also appealed • Omni Maps • Iowans • Elegovrweal Rings 968-0303 "medical" safety exits. to the special adviser of the Baden- THE • CO esedomera and ..grsendl -4 Very -nappy Pal‘orier Wuerttenberg Ministry of Justice. But the matter is still pending and there is nothing to indicate that a decision to prosecute will be taken. Ina similar case in Bavaria, the CIC secretary's pressure forced the renewal of an-investigation of the fornier concentration camp guards of Rehm Most of them, and their superiors, had been in- vestigated by Bavarian courts which decided, some seven years no. to drols an legal Proceedings against them. After Langbein's intervention, a decision was taken to reopen the investigation of one guard, Werner Dubois. His was the only case in which the Bavarian attorney gen- eral's office could find "new ma- terial" to Justify reopening pro- ceedings. By chance, -Dubois was already in jail, serving a sentence for 'other crimes. He died in jail not long ago, so that the investiga- tion was wound up. All Langbein could do was prci-. test to the Bavarian Ministry . of Jurtice and demand, in the name of the' CIC, the reopening of a general investigation against all the guards and officers of the Belzec camp. It is- doubtful at this writing if anything will be P a33over done. Elderly Housing Opened ST. 'LOUIS (./TA) .,— Dedication ceremonies were held' recently -for the Farlrview - Towers .Apart= meats, a Jewish community cen- ters housing project for older adialts, at the anartmeirt site in University City. William S. Satter, president of the- Farkview Hous- ing Corp. which administers the Project for the • JCCAi • said the. high rise focal ,ProViclea,adeq_ u- aterheusing-latis reallenahle.costan • Ideesant.- atnlosPber040T.4der adults." - ...-