105-year-old investigated for alleged crimes at Nazi PoW camp in Germany

German prosecutors are investigating a 105-year-old man on suspicion of being an accessory to multiple murders at a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. The individual is believed to have served as a guard at Stalag 326 VI K, located in the Senne region of western Germany. This investigation, handled by the public prosecutor's office in Dortmund, was reported on Thursday.

Stalag 326 VI K held between 180,000 and 200,000 Soviet prisoners of war from 1941 until its liberation by American troops in April 1945. Historical accounts indicate that Soviet prisoners in German captivity faced severe conditions including malnutrition, inadequate medical care, and forced labor, with millions perishing.

This case reflects the ongoing efforts by the German judiciary to prosecute individuals for their alleged involvement in Nazi-era crimes, even decades after the war's end. This pursuit of justice is partly influenced by judicial precedents, such as the 2011 conviction of John Demjanjuk, a former camp guard. Similar investigations involving other elderly former camp personnel have also been initiated in recent years.