Post-War Justice: The Hidden Truth Behind the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Guards

The question has been raised about why fewer than 15 former Auschwitz concentration camp staff faced trial after the war. This is not due to any successful hiding by the guards but rather a combination of factors including lack of interest and political priorities during the Cold War era.

Was There Any Hiding by the Guards?

Some have speculated that the former guards at Auschwitz managed to hide themselves, but this is far from the truth. The Allies, including the United States, Britain, and others, also refrained from prosecuting them once their attention shifted to the Cold War. It is not just a matter of lack of interest; it is much more complex.

The Role of the German Authorities

Following the end of World War II, many Nazi supporters, especially within the legal community, played a significant role in shielding their former colleagues from prosecution. The newly established Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) released the vast majority of convicted Nazi mass murderers. Those who were not immediately released were typically out within 18 months.

The Nokmim: A Blood-Soaked Retaliation

In the early 1940s, survivors from Bucharest, Romania, formed an organization called the Nokmim. Named after the Hebrew word for 'retaliate' or ‘venge’ (literally 'avengers'), this secret group took matters into their own hands after the establishment of the state of Israel. Operating before the Mossad, the Nokmim targeted SS members, those who had sealed the victims in gas chambers, and others responsible for mass murder. They used brutal and swift methods to exact revenge, often resulting in the execution of the captured individuals.

Abba Kovner and the Nokmim’s Successes

Abba Kovner, the founder of the Nokmim, had a long and turbulent life. He lived until 2006, long after the devastating events of the Holocaust. Kovner believed it was moral to take justice into one's own hands when the official legal systems failed to provide it. His organization’s most ambitious operation involved poisoning a bakery serving prisoners at Nuremberg, with the aim of grappling with the mass murderers still at large.

The Immediate Post-War Period

The immediate post-war period saw a drastic shift in focus. West Germany immediately released over 90% of the convicted Nazi mass murderers and other war criminals. Those who could not be immediately released were often paroled within 18 months. Funding for ongoing prosecutions of war criminals disappeared, and extradition requests from countries like France, Greece, and others were ignored. Not a single Nazi war criminal was extradited from Germany, despite numerous witness testimonies from those who witnessed the horrors.

The Resumption of Prosecutions

Prosecutions of Nazi war criminals only resumed in 1975 when a Hollywood produced film about the Holocaust brought renewed attention to the issue. Prior to 1975, Germany was in a state of collective amnesia. The lack of action regarding war criminals was not just a failure of the legal system but a reflection of the growing political priorities of the new Germany, focused on reunification and rebuilding rather than holding individuals accountable for past atrocities.

The story of the Nokmim and the broader picture of post-war justice in Germany is a grim reminder of the complex interplay of legal, political, and social factors in the aftermath of one of the darkest periods in human history.