Bookkeeper Dead

From the DW:

"Bookkeeper of Auschwitz' Oskar Groening dies before starting prison sentence "

Oskar Groening, 96, was sentenced to prison for his role in the murder of 300,000 people at Auschwitz death camp. He was likely the last surviving Nazi war criminal to face trial. The former SS guard at Auschwitz death camp, Groening, died before serving his four-year sentence for aiding and abetting the murder of 300,000 people during the Holocaust. The so-called "bookkeeper of Auschwitz" passed away on March 9 at the age of 96, according to Germany's Spiegel magazine. His death was first reported on Monday. Groening voluntarily joined the SS, the armed wing of Nazi party, at the age of 21. His task in Auschwitz was to sort and assess money and valuables taken from prisoners before sending it on to Berlin. During the 2015 trial, Groening told the court he felt a "moral guilt" for his service in Auschwitz, but denied personal involvement in mass murder.  He was declared guilty and sentenced to four years. However, his lawyers asked for the sentence to be suspended on  the basis of the defendant's advanced age. Germany's top court denied the request in December 2017. He was declared fit to serve his sentence, but not yet jailed. With most Nazi war criminals long dead, Groening was likely the last Holocaust perpetrator to face justice. Less than 50 out of 6,500 SS troopers who served in the Auschwitz concentration camp were ever convicted, according to information published by Der Spiegel. Groening's death was not immediately confirmed by the justice ministry of the German state of Lower Saxony, where the Groening trial took place. However, officials told the AFP news agency that they had received a letter from Groening lawyer on Monday. According to the letter, "Mr. Groening allegedly died last Friday," they said. In 2005, Groening told Der Spiegel that he did not believe he was "legally" guilty for the crimes committed by the Nazi death machine. "I do feel guilty before the Jewish people, because I was part of a troop that committed these crimes, even though I was not a perpetrator. I ask the Jewish people for forgiveness," he said.

^ He may not have lived to serve his sentence in prison, but at least the world learned of his help in the murders of innocent men, women and children. Also the fact that he lived the last of his days not knowing when he would go to prison instead of being at peace is also a good punishment. ^

http://www.dw.com/en/bookkeeper-of-auschwitz-oskar-gröning-dies-before-starting-prison-sentence/a-42947566