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 10:03:13 +0200 Fri, 24 May 2013 10:03:13 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-prosecutors-reject-case-of-ss-massacre-in-italy-a-901225.html#ref=rss The massacre at Sant'Anna was one of the most barbarous German crimes committed in Italy during World War II. Five suspected perpetrators are still alive today, but the top public prosecutor in Stuttgart has rejected reopening the case. Wed, 22 May 2013 17:01:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-prosecutors-reject-case-of-ss-massacre-in-italy-a-901225.html The massacre at Sant'Anna was one of the most barbarous German crimes committed in Italy during World War II. Five suspected perpetrators are still alive today, but the top public prosecutor in Stuttgart has rejected reopening the case. ]]> 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/europe/critical-report-could-reopen-case-of-1944-ss-massacre-in-italy-a-894027.html#ref=rss Last October, German prosecutors shelved an investigation of former SS soldiers suspected of participating in a 1944 massacre in Italy. A new report blasts investigators for ignoring potentially important clues -- and might prompt authorities to reopen the case. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:58:37 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/critical-report-could-reopen-case-of-1944-ss-massacre-in-italy-a-894027.html Last October, German prosecutors shelved an investigation of former SS soldiers suspected of participating in a 1944 massacre in Italy. A new report blasts investigators for ignoring potentially important clues -- and might prompt authorities to reopen the case.]]> 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/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/world/the-act-of-killing-reenacting-war-crimes-with-indonesian-gangsters-a-882970.html#ref=rss A documentary at the Berlinale that portrays aging Indonesian war criminals reenacting their crimes is being praised as surreal and frightening. Director Joshua Oppenheimer says the film may also answer questions about how war criminals excuse their actions. Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:23:34 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-act-of-killing-reenacting-war-crimes-with-indonesian-gangsters-a-882970.html A documentary at the Berlinale that portrays aging Indonesian war criminals reenacting their crimes is being praised as surreal and frightening. Director Joshua Oppenheimer says the film may also answer questions about how war criminals excuse their actions. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/war-crimes-report-explores-world-war-ii-nazi-brutality-in-italy-a-874024.html#ref=rss Some 165 murders a day. That is the horrifying conclusion reached by an historical commission assigned the task of exploring the full extent of Nazi war crimes committed in Italy in World War II. The identity of many of the murderers has long been known, but to this day little has been done to bring them to justice. Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:08:10 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/war-crimes-report-explores-world-war-ii-nazi-brutality-in-italy-a-874024.html Some 165 murders a day. That is the horrifying conclusion reached by an historical commission assigned the task of exploring the full extent of Nazi war crimes committed in Italy in World War II. The identity of many of the murderers has long been known, but to this day little has been done to bring them to justice.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-yugoslav-war-crimes-tribunal-overturns-gotovina-conviction-a-867689.html#ref=rss The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Friday overturned the convictions of two Croatian generals for committing war crimes during the 1990s break-up of Yugoslavia. While Croatia has hailed the decision, Serbia is calling the decision "scandalous." Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:45:21 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-yugoslav-war-crimes-tribunal-overturns-gotovina-conviction-a-867689.html The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Friday overturned the convictions of two Croatian generals for committing war crimes during the 1990s break-up of Yugoslavia. While Croatia has hailed the decision, Serbia is calling the decision "scandalous."]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/filmmaker-confronts-leaders-over-forgotten-holocaust-in-romania-a-867058.html#ref=rss In a new documentary film, director Florin Iepan confronts Romania's leaders over their ongoing silence about the country's role in the Holocaust. But in a place where war criminals are still lauded as national heroes, his aim of getting them to acknowledge the past remains a daunting task. Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:21:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/filmmaker-confronts-leaders-over-forgotten-holocaust-in-romania-a-867058.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/veteran-insider-provides-grim-account-of-eulex-efforts-in-kosovo-a-865650.html#ref=rss Since 2008, the EU has had thousands of soldiers, judges and prosecutors in Kosovo to help it become a Western-style constitutional democracy. But a German police officer with years of experience there says it is still dominated by corruption, clan loyalties and drugs -- with officials just waiting for the high-minded reformers to leave. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:31:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/veteran-insider-provides-grim-account-of-eulex-efforts-in-kosovo-a-865650.html Since 2008, the EU has had thousands of soldiers, judges and prosecutors in Kosovo to help it become a Western-style constitutional democracy. But a German police officer with years of experience there says it is still dominated by corruption, clan loyalties and drugs -- with officials just waiting for the high-minded reformers to leave.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kandahar-murder-trial-to-shine-light-on-inhumanity-of-afghanistan-war-a-865310.html#ref=rss Robert Bales stands accused of having murdered 16 people in cold blood last spring in Afghanistan. But his defense attorney plans to put the entire war in the dock with him. Mohammed Wazir, who lost six children in the massacre, wants to see Bales hang. Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:33:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kandahar-murder-trial-to-shine-light-on-inhumanity-of-afghanistan-war-a-865310.html Robert Bales stands accused of having murdered 16 people in cold blood last spring in Afghanistan. But his defense attorney plans to put the entire war in the dock with him. Mohammed Wazir, who lost six children in the massacre, wants to see Bales hang.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nazi-hunter-efraim-zuroff-reacts-to-discovery-of-laszlo-csatary-a-844725.html#ref=rss The Simon Wiesenthal Center is delighted that its most wanted suspect, former police chief Laszlo Csatary, accused of involvement in the murder of 15,700 Jews, has been found in Budapest. But its chief Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff, is worried the 97 year old might flee and won't be prosecuted quickly enough. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:51:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nazi-hunter-efraim-zuroff-reacts-to-discovery-of-laszlo-csatary-a-844725.html The Simon Wiesenthal Center is delighted that its most wanted suspect, former police chief Laszlo Csatary, accused of involvement in the murder of 15,700 Jews, has been found in Budapest. But its chief Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff, is worried the 97 year old might flee and won't be prosecuted quickly enough. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/former-liberian-president-found-guilty-of-war-crimes-a-829999.html#ref=rss Former Liberian President Charles Taylor was found guilty of war crimes on Thursday for the role he played in Sierra Leone's bloody civil war. The verdict was welcomed by human rights groups and crowds in Freetown. The UN-backed special court is expected to sentence him late next month. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:39:35 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/former-liberian-president-found-guilty-of-war-crimes-a-829999.html Former Liberian President Charles Taylor was found guilty of war crimes on Thursday for the role he played in Sierra Leone's bloody civil war. The verdict was welcomed by human rights groups and crowds in Freetown. The UN-backed special court is expected to sentence him late next month.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/war-crimes-ruling-human-rights-take-a-back-seat-to-sovereignty-a-813226.html#ref=rss An international court ruled on Friday that Germany cannot be held liable for paying reparations to the descendents of victims of a massacre perpetrated during World War II in Italy. The verdict has implications far beyond Nazi-era war crimes, and was welcomed by countries far and wide. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:42:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/war-crimes-ruling-human-rights-take-a-back-seat-to-sovereignty-a-813226.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/uganda-s-gruesome-general-of-god-us-advisers-raise-hopes-in-hunt-for-rebel-warlord-a-808793.html#ref=rss His troops murder, rape and force children to become killers. For decades, rebel leader Joseph Kony has savagely terrorized the jungles of Central Africa and evaded all his would-be captors. Many are hoping that bringing 100 US military advisers into the fight will finally end it. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:37:58 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/uganda-s-gruesome-general-of-god-us-advisers-raise-hopes-in-hunt-for-rebel-warlord-a-808793.html His troops murder, rape and force children to become killers. For decades, rebel leader Joseph Kony has savagely terrorized the jungles of Central Africa and evaded all his would-be captors. Many are hoping that bringing 100 US military advisers into the fight will finally end it. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/1944-massacre-in-france-german-police-raid-homes-of-six-former-ss-soldiers-a-802019.html#ref=rss German officials have raided the homes of six former SS soldiers suspected of taking part in the massacre of 642 French civilians in 1944, prosecutors said this week. But the investigation may not get far. Little evidence was found, and the suspects were either unfit for interrogation or denied the allegations. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:59:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/1944-massacre-in-france-german-police-raid-homes-of-six-former-ss-soldiers-a-802019.html German officials have raided the homes of six former SS soldiers suspected of taking part in the massacre of 642 French civilians in 1944, prosecutors said this week. But the investigation may not get far. Little evidence was found, and the suspects were either unfit for interrogation or denied the allegations.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kill-team-trial-alleged-ringleader-admits-to-severing-fingers-a-795194.html#ref=rss Called "evil incarnate" by one of his former comrades, the alleged ringleader of the US Army "kill team" went on trial for war crimes this week. Calvin Gibbs stands accused of brutally murdering and maiming civilians while serving in Afghanistan. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:30:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kill-team-trial-alleged-ringleader-admits-to-severing-fingers-a-795194.html Called "evil incarnate" by one of his former comrades, the alleged ringleader of the US Army "kill team" went on trial for war crimes this week. Calvin Gibbs stands accused of brutally murdering and maiming civilians while serving in Afghanistan. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/portrait-of-a-man-possessed-a-search-for-the-real-ratko-mladic-a-784851.html#ref=rss He stands accused of some of the worst crimes known to criminal law. But former Bosnian-Serb military leader Ratko Mladic doesn't think he has to answer for anything -- not even for the wartime suicide of his daughter. There are many in Serbia who would agree. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/portrait-of-a-man-possessed-a-search-for-the-real-ratko-mladic-a-784851.html He stands accused of some of the worst crimes known to criminal law. But former Bosnian-Serb military leader Ratko Mladic doesn't think he has to answer for anything -- not even for the wartime suicide of his daughter. There are many in Serbia who would agree.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/wwii-reparations-case-germany-doesn-t-feel-obliged-to-pay-more-a-786216.html#ref=rss This week The Hague addresses a dispute over whether Italian courts can skirt German sovereignty in demanding reparations for Nazi war crimes. In an interview with SPIEGEL Online, victims' lawyer Martin Klingner discusses the implications of the case for his clients and future international war reparations. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:20:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/wwii-reparations-case-germany-doesn-t-feel-obliged-to-pay-more-a-786216.html This week The Hague addresses a dispute over whether Italian courts can skirt German sovereignty in demanding reparations for Nazi war crimes. In an interview with SPIEGEL Online, victims' lawyer Martin Klingner discusses the implications of the case for his clients and future international war reparations.]]>