Should we Continue to Prosecute Nazi War Criminals?

[Llamalandia]

I think there may be some amount of compromise to be had here. Perhaps, identifying them and subjecting them to civil penalties to at least in part compensate victims or families monetarily (and yeah i'm guessing it wouldnt go very far but still) would be an acceptable middle ground here. Old men don't die in prison but they do die penniless

[Scomagia]

I think that not prosecuting these war criminals could set a bad precedent. With the rapid development of technology and life extending therapies, 90 years old won't be considered all that long lived within a few decades time. Consider someone taking part in a genocide right now to be in his/her forties. In fifty years they will be the same age as this man, but may well have several decades of life left in them. By not prosecuting this man because of his advanced age, we'll have to concede that anyone that is a centenarian or nearly so can't be prosecuted. With that in mind, I don't think this man should be put into prison. Instead he should receive house arrest at a care facility for the remainder of his days and be forced to pay restitution.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I think that not prosecuting these war criminals could set a bad precedent. With the rapid development of technology and life extending therapies, 90 years old won't be considered all that long lived within a few decades time. Consider someone taking part in a genocide right now to be in his/her forties. In fifty years they will be the same age as this man, but may well have several decades of life left in them. By not prosecuting this man because of his advanced age, we'll have to concede that anyone that is a centenarian or nearly so can't be prosecuted. With that in mind, I don't think this man should be put into prison. Instead he should receive house arrest at a care facility for the remainder of his days and be forced to pay restitution.

That's not how the law works. Cases that don't go to court have no impact on legal precedent for future cases. If Nazis aren't prosecuted now, it will have absolutely zero effect on what we can do 50 years from now.

There was someone (IIRC it was Krupp, but I am too lazy to fact check) who got dropped from the list of defendants at the major war figures trial in Nuremberg because he was old and his health was bad. Yet that isn't stopping people from saying we ought to prosecute people now who are the same age or older.

[Strider Hiryu]

I think that not prosecuting these war criminals could set a bad precedent. With the rapid development of technology and life extending therapies, 90 years old won't be considered all that long lived within a few decades time. Consider someone taking part in a genocide right now to be in his/her forties. In fifty years they will be the same age as this man, but may well have several decades of life left in them. By not prosecuting this man because of his advanced age, we'll have to concede that anyone that is a centenarian or nearly so can't be prosecuted. With that in mind, I don't think this man should be put into prison. Instead he should receive house arrest at a care facility for the remainder of his days and be forced to pay restitution.

That's not how the law works. Cases that don't go to court have no impact on legal precedent for future cases. If Nazis aren't prosecuted now, it will have absolutely zero effect on what we can do 50 years from now.

There was someone (IIRC it was Krupp, but I am too lazy to fact check) who got dropped from the list of defendants at the major war figures trial in Nuremberg because he was old and his health was bad. Yet that isn't stopping people from saying we ought to prosecute people now who are the same age or older.

I think that exception should be plenty as a precendent to be honest.

If they are old and of frail health he's already going to die, so it's like putting up a mock trial anyways. We know the guy will die anyways, all it does is give people the fuzzy comfort that they are right; which is a no-brainer.

[Greed and Death]

It just no longer seems practical, too much time has passed and people who could make an affirmative defense 50 years ago no longer have the witnesses and documentation available to do that.

[Imperializt Russia]

There are a lot of people in the world. I'm sure a few can work on the war criminals while the rest of us do the more important stuff.

Or we can leave Hitlers butler alone and focus 100% on things like cancer. The Emerald Legion is right, the actual ones have been dealt with.

You're implying that War Crimes Tribunal staff like the Hague are suppressed from participating in cancer research (or literally anything else) by their duties with the Hague.

What?

Like average Nazi troops right?

Like the regular Wehrmacht?

Well, the SS wasn't "average".

[Ainin]

There are a lot of people in the world. I'm sure a few can work on the war criminals while the rest of us do the more important stuff.

Or we can leave Hitlers butler alone and focus 100% on things like cancer. The Emerald Legion is right, the actual ones have been dealt with.

What can the International Criminal Court do about cancer? Sue it?

[The balkens]

Or we can leave Hitlers butler alone and focus 100% on things like cancer. The Emerald Legion is right, the actual ones have been dealt with.

You're implying that War Crimes Tribunal staff like the Hague are suppressed from participating in cancer research (or literally anything else) by their duties with the Hague.

What?

Like the regular Wehrmacht?

Well, the SS wasn't "average".

By any since of the word, of course.

[Charomia]

the SS had a large amount of foreign troops in its ranks, quite sure there were some french, middle easterners too...

[Ifreann]

Aren't they like... All going to die pretty god damn soon anyway due to old age? Isn't the point of life to be better than your foe?

why even bother? They know what they did, and I'm sure a lot of them have had time to reflect on it and regret what they did. Now of course there's very likely plenty who don't.

Even still, what's the point?

The point is that we are a civilisation that values the rule of law, and abhors war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Declining to prosecute Nazi war criminals solely because their crimes happened a long time ago kinda shits all over those principles. And they're pretty important principles.

---

Two wrongs don't make a right.

History is written by the victor.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

---

I wouldn't be surprised if people who were put into internment camps remain upset about that to this day.

I actually agree with Ifreann on something?

Huh. Who'd have thought.

You should try it more often. I tend to be right, after all.

[United Marxist Nations]

the SS had a large amount of foreign troops in its ranks, quite sure there were some french, middle easterners too...

Why does that matter?

[Untaroicht]

But yea, even if they are in their 80's and 90's they definitely should receive some form of legal punishment. I mean, it's hard to come up of a worse thing to do then be a holocaust collaborator.

[The Fascist American Empire]

(Image)

But yea, even if they are in their 80's and 90's they definitely should receive some form of legal punishment. I mean, it's hard to come up of a worse thing to do then be a holocaust collaborator.

Except start the Holocaust, or call for a second one. But I do agree with you.

[God Kefka]

My response is basically...

King Robert: ''LET EM GO! ... LET EM GO!''

Elderly servicemen should be allowed to rest in peace. Especially since the war's over for 69 years now I think...

if anything you should go after the much younger American and British war criminals from later wars first... bit hypocritical to discriminate against the losing side from a pre-Cold War conflict in the 21st century when there are more recent cases that have gone un-prosecuted.

[The Republic of Mattlandia]

My response is basically...

King Robert: ''LET EM GO! ... LET EM GO!''

Elderly servicemen should be allowed to rest in peace. Especially since the war's over for 69 years now I think... if anything you should go after the much younger American and British war criminals from later wars...

haha 69...

[Divair]

the SS had a large amount of foreign troops in its ranks, quite sure there were some french, middle easterners too...

And?

[God Kefka]

My response is basically...

King Robert: ''LET EM GO! ... LET EM GO!''

Elderly servicemen should be allowed to rest in peace. Especially since the war's over for 69 years now I think... if anything you should go after the much younger American and British war criminals from later wars...

haha 69...

I'm not very good at math...

[Len Hyet]

haha 69...

I'm not very good at math...

I believe he was going for the sex pun

[God Kefka]

I'm not very good at math...

I believe he was going for the sex pun

what...

[Divair]

I believe he was going for the sex pun

what...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/69_(sex_position)

[God Kefka]

what...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/69_(sex_position)

holy hell how do you people know of such things... 0_0

[Divair]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/69_(sex_position)

holy hell how do you people know of such things... 0_0

Porn.

[The Republic of Mattlandia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/69_(sex_position)

holy hell how do you people know of such things... 0_0

The internet.
Urban Dictionary is basically that now, a bunch of totally innocent words that deviate into some depraved sexual practice.

[Desmendura]

Yes, there must be justice for the deaths of many Jews regardless of condition.
Ah, I finally was able to post after a crappy internet.

[Len Hyet]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/69_(sex_position)

holy hell how do you people know of such things... 0_0

How do you not