That is Reinhold Hanning, who was just convicted of being an accessory to the murder of 170,000 people (who were presumably mostly or entirely Jewish people) at Auschwitz. 

 The judge in the case said that "Hanning was aware that every day innocent people were murdered in gas chambers at Auschwitz."

 Hanning was completely undefiant and contrite. He made this statement:

 "It disturbs me deeply that I was part of such a criminal organization," he told the court in April. "I am ashamed that I saw injustice and never did anything about it and I apologize for my actions."

But, what exactly is he talking about? Exactly what "injustice" did he see? Because if he saw people being taken to gas chambers for extermination, that goes light years beyond "injustice." To refer to that as "injustice" is to make a mockery of it, in my opinion. 

 Hanning was convicted in accordance with German law despite the fact that there were no witnesses specifically against him.

 "Irene Weiss, who traveled from Virginia, doesn’t remember Hanning personally. None of the camp survivors who have testified at the trial do."

But, this is the state of German law: 


"In recent years, the legal opinion has prevailed that the proven presence at Auschwitz is sufficient for a conviction. The idea is that each present member of the SS had to make a contribution to the maintenance of the killing machinery is no longer required. Evidence of individual crime, such as participation in executions, is therefore no longer necessary."

 So, there you have it. That's how it is in Germany. But, the most valuable thing that could come from this trial is not throwing this old guy in prison for 5 years but rather to get him to reveal exactly what he knew, what he was aware of at the time. At the time, at the time, at the time. At the time, was he, or was he not, aware that people were being led to gas chambers for execution? I heard the judge say that he was aware of it, but I didn't hear Hanning say it. 

 “Hanning, at no time, had people killed, beaten, or helped [to do it],” said his lawyer John Salmen.

 Let's put aside the issue of beatings, and not because I want to trivialize them, but because killing people in gas chambers is a whole different order and magnitude of evil. 

 So, did Hanning admit to knowing, at the time, that people were being gassed to death?

 If this is going to end without getting a clear answer to that question, it will be a real pity.