WJC welcomes German court ruling that former Auschwitz guard, 96, fit to serve jail term

NEW YORK - World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder on Wednesday welcomed a German court ruling that 96-year former Nazi SS guard Oskar Groening, known as the ‘bookkeeper of Auschwitz’, is fit to serve his four-year prison sentence, despite his age.

“The World Jewish Congress is encouraged by the German court’s ruling to uphold Oskar Groening’s four-year sentence. It was the right decision to bring him to trial, the right decision to sentence him to prison, and the right decision to enforce his prison term.

“There should be no impunity for any criminal involved in mass murder or genocide. It is never too late for justice to be served. We commend the court in Celle for today’s ruling, and hope that judicial authorities in other European countries will follow their lead in bringing the perpetrators of the biggest crime in the history of mankind to justice.”