Hammer Must Leave
Nazi guard fads in appeal bid
to the U.S. Supreme Court.
HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer
battalion as a corporal at the German ,
death camps at Auschwitz (Poland),
Sachsenhausen and Flossenburg, both
in" Germany. Prosecutors also showed
how Hammer, a Romanian native,
had obtained an entry visa to the
United States and eventual citizenship
by supplying erroneous information
about his wartime activities.
Since 1978, the OSI has stripped
62 Nazis of American citizenship, and
54 have been deported.
hen a federal immigra-
tion judge ordered him
deported in April 1997,
the ex-Nazi guard
appealed the ruling.
Now Ferdinand Hammer, 78, of
Sterling Heights has reached the end
of the line, as the U.S. Supreme Court
refused on Monday to hear an appeal
to a deportation hearing. He
has 30 days to leave the coun-
try.
"I'm pleased that the
A ccording to the Department of Justice,
Supreme Court has disposed
OM' Ferdinand Hammer was a guard at the
of the case and I will be more
Sachsenhausen, Auschwitz and Flossenburg
pleased when we remove him
prison/death camps.
from the United States," said
• Auschwitz, located at the southern border'
Eli Rosenbaum, the U.S.
of Poland near Czechoslovakia, was estab-
Department of Justice Office
lished by order of Heinrich Hirnmler. The
of Special Investigations
Nazis' largest death camp, it comprised four
director, whose office
camps, including the most infamous,
launched the initial complaint
Auschwitz II, also known as Birkenau.
against Hammer in 1994.
Between 1 million and 2.5 million prisoners,
"I hope it will happen
almost all of them Jewish, died at Auschwitz.
much sooner than 30 days.
It was liberated in 1945 by the Soviet army.
We are awaiting formal word
The Department of Justice alleges that
from Austria that the govern-
Hammer was a guard there from December
ment is prepared to accept
1944 to mid January 1945.
him onto its territory."
• Sachsenhausen was located just north of
In this instance, it has-to
Berlin. Established in 1936, it was a con-
accept, Rosenbaum said.
centration camp for Jews and political pris-
"This case shows that
oners (mostly Soviets) upon whom medical
defendants in such matters can
experiments were routinely conducted.
exploit the legal system to
Virtually all Jewish prisoners interred there
delay their removal from the
eventually were sent to Auschwitz. Hammer
United States," he said. "We
allegedly was there from mid-January 1945
continue to tenaciously pursue
until mid February 1945.
their removal, and we general-
• Flossenharg, in Bavaria, was a slave labor
ly accomplish it. Justice has
camp established in 1938. The average life
been delayed, but it has not
span of a prisoner there was nine months.
completely been denied."
Hammer allegedly worked at Flossenburg
William Bufalino II,
from mid-February 1945 until May 1945. I
Hammer's Clinton Township-
based attorney, could not be
reached for comment.
George Vine, 72, of West Bloomfield,
Hammer, a retired foundry supervi-
who was sent to Auschwitz in 1942 and
sor who became a naturalized citizen
lost his entire family through Nazi atroci-
in 1963, has maintained he was a sol-
ties, said, "I can maybe partially forget,
dier on the Russian front, not a death
but absolutely will not forgive these mur-
camp guard.
derers who have killed innocent human
In prosecuting the case, the OSI
beings. I believe that no matter how old
successfully proved that Hammer
they are and how long it takes, these
served in the Nazi SS Death's Head
criminals — these murderers — should
be legally prosecuted and they definitely
can
be
reached
at
Harry Kirsbaum
(248) 354-6060, ext. 244, or by e-mail should pay for the horrible things they
have done to humanity." 0
at hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com
A Nazi's 'Resume'
NEED HELP WITH YOUR
PHONE SERVICE?
WOULD. YOU LIKE TO SAVE MONEY
ON YOUR PHONE BILL-S?
Call:
URI SEGAL
annomnot
@
Arnow
---
minommina .1.11•11111111
Amminols
IWO 1111110111
.111111•••••• AIM
rm. sows
WIMP 11111111
■
COMMUNICATIONS,
INC
(SINCE 1982)
for FREE Consultation
1
8
0
0
3
0
OR
8
1
9
9
6
emailmaajusegal@aol.com
Our Exclusive Service Offers:
Home
Space Planning • Packing •
•
• Unpacking •
• Deluxe Move Packages •
"Everything In Place
The Day You Move"
Makes Your Life Easy.
Ruth Schwartz
ASID - IFDA
(248) 352-2264
*TN
3/3
2000
nous, To House
EZ Move
Space & Home Planner
Professional Interior Designer,
30 years' experience
Call for a detailed brochure!