The Verdict Against Demjanjuk: A Late Correction

The following paper discusses the legal and factual considerations that were involved in the investigation conducted against John DemjanjukDemjanjuk, John by Germany’s Central OfficeCentral Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes from the perspective of the former prosecutor in charge. Special attention is paid to various contentious issues that have attracted criticism from both jurists and historians. In addition to legal matters, historical research concerning the so-called TrawnikiTrawniki men, who, in their function as camp guards, formed the backbone of Operation Reinhardt, is also considered. The paper concludes with observations on the 2019 decision by the European Court of Human Rights that DemjanjukDemjanjuk, John’s family would have to bear the cost of the trial in Germany, which finally brought the legal proceedings against DemjanjukDemjanjuk, John to a close.