A German court on Tuesday found a 97-year-old former Nazi concentration camp clerk guilty of aiding in the killing of more than 10,000 people.
Because Furchner was between the ages of 18 and 19 when she served as the SS commander of the camp’s secretary, the trial—which was briefly postponed when she fled in a taxi—was held in juvenile court.
“Systematic Murder”
A spokesman for the court confirmed in an email to NBC News that Furchner was given a two-year suspended sentence by the court in the northern town of Itzehoe early on Tuesday for being an accessory to 10,505 counts of murder and 5 charges of attempted murder.
In addition to claiming that it was not in their best interests for the 97-year-old to spend any time behind bars, death camp survivors and victims’ family members who appeared as joint plaintiffs also requested the same outcome as the prosecution.
According to a press release from the court, her defence attorney had asked for her to be exonerated, arguing that even though it was obvious that thousands of people were killed in Stutthof, the evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Furchner was aware of the deliberate killing at the concentration camp. For criminal responsibility in Germany, proof of intent is necessary.
Image credit- NBC NEWS
She served as the SS commander’s secretary at the Stutthof concentration camp during World War II is accused of being an accessory to murder.
She apologised for what had occurred, expressed sadness that she had been in Stutthof at the time, and claimed she was at a loss for words. Furchner had previously appeared at but kept quiet during 14 months of court hearings.
According to allegations in German media, Furchner had been requested to testify during the trial by Holocaust survivors and their advocates.
“Secretary of Evil”
In reference to “the banality of evil,” which Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt famously coined in 1963 while covering the trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the main architects of the Holocaust, German tabloid Bild dubbed Furchner the “secretary of evil.”
According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website, more than 60,000 individuals perished in the camp near Gdansk in present-day Poland; many of them via lethal injection and in the camp’s gas chamber, while others perished from disease or malnutrition.
They included Jews, political prisoners, alleged criminals, homophobic suspects, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
FAQ’s
1. Who is Furchner?
A. She was worked as a Secretary at Nazi concentration camps.
2.What is the height of Furchner?
A. Unknown
3. What is her Nationality?
A. Germany
4. How old is Furchner?
A. 97 years old
5. What Furchner is accused of?
A. Sha is accused of murder during second World War II
Read Also: Gary Knafelc Dies: The Legend Of Green Bay Packers Died At The Age Of 90
