A 100-year-old former Nazi, dubbed “cruel and treacherous” for his role in the Holocaust, will stand trial for his crimes after a German judge overturned a previous ruling that declared him unfit to stand trial.
Gregor Formanek allegedly oversaw the killings of over 3,300 people at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany during World War II. His lawyers had argued that he was permanently incapacitated and unable to stand trial due to his age.
However, the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court overturned the decision, allowing the case to move forward. The court rejected a bid by prosecutors and plaintiffs to try the case at the Hanau Regional Court, where it was originally heard.
Formanek, who was born in Romania to a German-speaking family, joined the SS in 1943 and was stationed at Sachsenhausen, a notorious concentration camp where prisoners were subjected to gas chambers and medical experiments. More than 200,000 prisoners passed through the camp during its operation.
Formanek was captured by the Soviet Red Army at the end of the war and spent 10 years in prison before being released. He went on to live a comfortable life in a £400,000 apartment near Frankfurt with his wife.
The decision to overturn the previous ruling has been met with disappointment by some, including Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff, who stated that it is “a very sad day” for those who prioritize the prosecution of Holocaust perpetrators.
Carmen Whitmore, whose uncle was a pilot who was held at Sachsenhausen, said that “Nazis need to be held accountable” and that the decision is a setback for justice.
The case is set to continue, with the prosecution and defense teams preparing for trial.
