http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:06 +0200 Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:06 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/law-experts-criticize-german-authorities-for-late-push-on-nazi-crimes-a-899445.html#ref=rss Last week's arrest of a 93-year-old on suspicion of abetting murder as a guard at Auschwitz is part of a late push by German authorities to bring lower-ranking Nazi helpers to justice. Legal experts say they should have -- and could have -- done so decades ago. Mon, 13 May 2013 11:25:48 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/law-experts-criticize-german-authorities-for-late-push-on-nazi-crimes-a-899445.html Last week's arrest of a 93-year-old on suspicion of abetting murder as a guard at Auschwitz is part of a late push by German authorities to bring lower-ranking Nazi helpers to justice. Legal experts say they should have -- and could have -- done so decades ago. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-arrests-alleged-former-auschwitz-guard-a-898490.html#ref=rss Hans Lipschis, a 93-year-old thought to have been a guard at Auschwitz, was arrested in Germany on Monday. The Lithuanian-born man, who was added to the Simon Wiesenthal Center's most wanted list last month, says he was only a cook. But prosecutors believe he supported the killing in his role as a guard. Tue, 07 May 2013 11:31:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-arrests-alleged-former-auschwitz-guard-a-898490.html Hans Lipschis, a 93-year-old thought to have been a guard at Auschwitz, was arrested in Germany on Monday. The Lithuanian-born man, who was added to the Simon Wiesenthal Center's most wanted list last month, says he was only a cook. But prosecutors believe he supported the killing in his role as a guard. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/historian-goetz-aly-on-nazi-euthanasia-program-and-inclusion-debate-a-896209.html#ref=rss German historian Götz Aly is an expert on euthanasia during the Nazi era. In a SPIEGEL interview, he discusses why many accepted the murder of the handicapped and mentally ill, and how his own daughter has shaped his views on how the disabled should be treated today. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:57:50 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/historian-goetz-aly-on-nazi-euthanasia-program-and-inclusion-debate-a-896209.html German historian Götz Aly is an expert on euthanasia during the Nazi era. In a SPIEGEL interview, he discusses why many accepted the murder of the handicapped and mentally ill, and how his own daughter has shaped his views on how the disabled should be treated today.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/poland-commemorates-70th-anniversary-of-warsaw-ghetto-uprising-a-895375.html#ref=rss Poland commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising on Friday, marking the day by bestowing honors on survivors and opening a new Jewish history museum. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:46:23 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/poland-commemorates-70th-anniversary-of-warsaw-ghetto-uprising-a-895375.html Poland commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising on Friday, marking the day by bestowing honors on survivors and opening a new Jewish history museum. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/nazi-book-burning-anniversary-erich-kaestner-and-the-nazis-a-894845.html#ref=rss Nearly 80 years ago, Nazi supporters burned German author Erich Kästner's work as smut. Unlike other condemned writers, he showed up to watch, and refused to leave the country during WWII. But he paid a price for this, ultimately giving in to self-censorship from which he never truly recovered. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:13:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/nazi-book-burning-anniversary-erich-kaestner-and-the-nazis-a-894845.html Nearly 80 years ago, Nazi supporters burned German author Erich Kästner's work as smut. Unlike other condemned writers, he showed up to watch, and refused to leave the country during WWII. But he paid a price for this, ultimately giving in to self-censorship from which he never truly recovered.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/marianne-wellershoff-traces-complicated-world-war-ii-family-history-a-894667.html#ref=rss Her aunt was executed by the Nazis, her uncle was a far-right political leader and her father told her stories of nighttime battles on the Eastern Front. SPIEGEL's Marianne Wellershoff traces her family's complicated place in World War II history. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:01:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/marianne-wellershoff-traces-complicated-world-war-ii-family-history-a-894667.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/industrial-ruins-forgotten-factories-of-former-east-germany-a-894061.html#ref=rss After Germany's reunification, factories across former East Germany shut down, fracturing communities and falling into disrepair. A new photo book details the abandoned workshops of a planned economy cut loose. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:13:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/industrial-ruins-forgotten-factories-of-former-east-germany-a-894061.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-prosecutors-to-investigate-50-former-auschwitz-guards-a-893123.html#ref=rss Prosecutors have obtained a list of 50 former Auschwitz guards still alive in Germany and will investigate whether they can stand trial. Guards at other death camps and members of the feared Einsatzgruppen death squads are also being traced in a late push to bring the surviving perpetrators of the Holocaust to justice. Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:08:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-prosecutors-to-investigate-50-former-auschwitz-guards-a-893123.html Prosecutors have obtained a list of 50 former Auschwitz guards still alive in Germany and will investigate whether they can stand trial. Guards at other death camps and members of the feared Einsatzgruppen death squads are also being traced in a late push to bring the surviving perpetrators of the Holocaust to justice.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hitler-food-taster-margot-woelk-speaks-about-her-memories-a-892097.html#ref=rss Each meal could have been her last, but Adolf Hitler's food taster Margot Wölk lived to tell her story. Forced to test the Nazi leader's meals for more than two years, the 95-year-old tells SPIEGEL ONLINE that she lived in constant fear. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:03:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hitler-food-taster-margot-woelk-speaks-about-her-memories-a-892097.html Each meal could have been her last, but Adolf Hitler's food taster Margot Wölk lived to tell her story. Forced to test the Nazi leader's meals for more than two years, the 95-year-old tells SPIEGEL ONLINE that she lived in constant fear. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/zdf-tv-miniseries-reopens-german-wounds-of-wwii-past-a-891332.html#ref=rss A miniseries that aired in Germany this month has enthralled viewers with its emotional portrayal of the role that average people played in WWII. Stripped of moral pretension, it also establishes a new, multigenerational milestone in the country's culture of remembrance. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:39:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/zdf-tv-miniseries-reopens-german-wounds-of-wwii-past-a-891332.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/survivor-and-psychoanalyst-reflects-on-german-wwii-trauma-a-891349.html#ref=rss The miniseries "Our Mothers, Our Fathers" has sparked widespread discussion in Germany about memories of WWII, both first-hand and inherited. In a SPIEGEL interview, war survivor and psychoanalyst Hartmut Radebold talks about guilt, war trauma and his own fraught memories of growing up in the Third Reich. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:19:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/survivor-and-psychoanalyst-reflects-on-german-wwii-trauma-a-891349.html The miniseries "Our Mothers, Our Fathers" has sparked widespread discussion in Germany about memories of WWII, both first-hand and inherited. In a SPIEGEL interview, war survivor and psychoanalyst Hartmut Radebold talks about guilt, war trauma and his own fraught memories of growing up in the Third Reich.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/developer-resumes-removal-of-berlin-wall-section-for-luxury-housing-a-891223.html#ref=rss The project was put on hold after thousands showed up in protest, but early Wednesday morning developers resumed their removal of a section of the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall to make way for luxury housing. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/developer-resumes-removal-of-berlin-wall-section-for-luxury-housing-a-891223.html The project was put on hold after thousands showed up in protest, but early Wednesday morning developers resumed their removal of a section of the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall to make way for luxury housing.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/a-profile-of-the-saint-who-inspired-pope-francis-a-889156.html#ref=rss At a time when the Catholic Church was sinking into opulence and pomposity, a powerful religious countercurrent formed in the High Middle Ages: beggar-monks like Francis of Assisi, who preached abstinence and humility. A profile of the religious leader who has become the new pope's namesake. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:22:59 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/a-profile-of-the-saint-who-inspired-pope-francis-a-889156.html At a time when the Catholic Church was sinking into opulence and pomposity, a powerful religious countercurrent formed in the High Middle Ages: beggar-monks like Francis of Assisi, who preached abstinence and humility. A profile of the religious leader who has become the new pope's namesake.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/israel-weighs-whether-to-honor-brother-of-leading-nazi-hermann-goering-a-887032.html#ref=rss Leading Nazi Hermann Göring was instrumental to Hitler's reign of terror, but research suggests his brother Albert saved the lives of dozens of Jews. Israel must now decide whether he deserves to be honored as one of the "Righteous Among the Nations." Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:27:56 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/israel-weighs-whether-to-honor-brother-of-leading-nazi-hermann-goering-a-887032.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/sixty-years-after-death-josef-stalin-still-revered-by-some-russians-a-886933.html#ref=rss Josef Stalin ruled the early years of the Soviet Union with torture, show trials and vast numbers of executions. Yet today, many Russians are willing to forgive this brutality. They see him as a hero for consolidating power and modernizing the country. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:29:18 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/sixty-years-after-death-josef-stalin-still-revered-by-some-russians-a-886933.html Josef Stalin ruled the early years of the Soviet Union with torture, show trials and vast numbers of executions. Yet today, many Russians are willing to forgive this brutality. They see him as a hero for consolidating power and modernizing the country.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/investor-seeks-compromise-in-controversial-berlin-wall-a-886714.html#ref=rss The investor behind a controversial luxury housing complex in the German capital has suspended construction after thousands protested plans to remove a section of the Berlin Wall to accomodate the building. He will try to find a compromise at a meeting with officials later this month. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:03:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/investor-seeks-compromise-in-controversial-berlin-wall-a-886714.html The investor behind a controversial luxury housing complex in the German capital has suspended construction after thousands protested plans to remove a section of the Berlin Wall to accomodate the building. He will try to find a compromise at a meeting with officials later this month.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/diary-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand-details-1892-journey-around-world-a-886196.html#ref=rss Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian archduke whose assassination triggered World War I, started a trip across the world in 1892. His newly published diary from the journey reveals a world of extremes, from island cannibals to skyscrapers. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:17:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/diary-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand-details-1892-journey-around-world-a-886196.html Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian archduke whose assassination triggered World War I, started a trip across the world in 1892. His newly published diary from the journey reveals a world of extremes, from island cannibals to skyscrapers. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/castel-gandolfo-history-of-the-summer-residence-of-the-pope-a-886181.html#ref=rss Pope Benedict has withdrawn to Castel Gandolfo while his successor is chosen. But few know that the papal summer residence of almost 400 years has a curious history, serving as a hideout for Jews, delivery ward and target for paparazzi. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:42:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/castel-gandolfo-history-of-the-summer-residence-of-the-pope-a-886181.html Pope Benedict has withdrawn to Castel Gandolfo while his successor is chosen. But few know that the papal summer residence of almost 400 years has a curious history, serving as a hideout for Jews, delivery ward and target for paparazzi.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/new-book-traces-the-rise-to-power-of-adolf-hitler-a-884568.html#ref=rss Historian Othmar Plöckinger argues that Adolf Hilter's time in the military facilitated his transformation into a murderous dictator. His new book traces how in the army Hilter acquired skills and an education that he would put to use during his later rise to power. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:17:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/new-book-traces-the-rise-to-power-of-adolf-hitler-a-884568.html Historian Othmar Plöckinger argues that Adolf Hilter's time in the military facilitated his transformation into a murderous dictator. His new book traces how in the army Hilter acquired skills and an education that he would put to use during his later rise to power. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/demonstrators-in-dresden-block-neo-nazi-march-with-human-chain-a-883326.html#ref=rss In the past, right-wing extremists have sought to dominate Dresden efforts to remember the World War II bombing of the city on Feb. 13, 1945. But on Wednesday night, a vast human chain blocked a planned neo-Nazi march while peacefully marking the tension-filled anniversary. Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:29:20 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/demonstrators-in-dresden-block-neo-nazi-march-with-human-chain-a-883326.html