Nazi “Traitors” and Deserters Finally Get Justice
Imagine that you are a young man in your late teens. Now imagine that a vile dictator rises in your country and calls you to duty. Imagine that this mans evil interpretation of duty is the mass slaughter of innocent women and children. What do you do? Do you follow orders and takue up such a horrible calling? Do you fight the system and refuse to commit such atrocities?
I believe many people today would easily see the right action here, however during the war, things were not so clear cut. A large number of people did see the correct way and stood on their beliefs. In return for such defiance in the face of the Dictator, they were punished severely. Many German citizens were imprisoned and executed for treason for not following orders. Some were spared to live out the war in prison. When these people were freed after the war they were still labeled as prisoners and traitors to the country. They found it hard to get jobs or live normal lives due to the harmful label applied to them by the Reich.
It would seem obvious that after the war these people should have been absolved of the crime of treason against Hitler. It did not happen then. The few that lived did not see justice for taking the higher ground. Seventy years have passed and though most never had a chance to see justice for themselves, the German governement has finally taken action.
The German Parliament voted on a law to lift Nazi convictions on former “traitors”. The bill recieved much support and passed in the lower house. The action comes a mere week after the 70th anniversary of the Invasion of Poland, marking the official beginning of World War 2.
