93-Year-Old Man Standing Trial For Murder In Germany For Time As Nazi Camp Guard In World War II

A 93-year-old former Nazi camp guard went on trial for murder Thursday in Hamburg, Germany, for the "cruel killing" of prisoners held at the Stutthof concentration camp in Poland.

The former guard, identified only as “Bruno D,” was a teenager when he served as part of the garrison manning the camp’s watchtowers August 1944 to April 1945.

The official indictment accuses hin of actively supported the “cruel killing” of prisoners.

Stutthof housed around 115,000 POWs and Jews during World War II. It is estimated 63,000 to 65,000 people were killed while the camp was active, with around 28,000 believed to be Jews. Guards denied prisoners necessary food and medicine, shot them in the neck, or poisoned them with Zyklon B gas.

Court documents indicate “Bruno D” was present for 5,230 of those deaths. The indictment accuses him of complicity for preventing escapes, revolts and rescues of prisoners.

Because of his age at the time, “Bruno D’s” trial was inyouth court. He will only stand trial for only two hours a day because of his current age and health. Reuters reported survivors and their descendants were to be in the court gallery.