Former SS man admits shooting civilians, ‘followed orders’

AACHEN, Germany (WJC)–The former SS hit squad member Heinrich Boere has admitted to killing three civilians in Nazi-occupied Holland. Boere, 88, told the district court in Aachen that he shot the three Dutch men in 1944, but said he had only followed orders by his superiors. Boere said he had learned “as a simple soldier to carry out orders; and I knew that if I did not [do so] I would be breaking my oath, and would be shot myself.” He added that he had been told that the shooting was a revenge for actions taken by the Dutch resistance, including the three civilians. “Today, 65 years later, I see it naturally from another standpoint.”

Prosecutors have charged him with committing murder. Boere, a native of Germany, moved with his family to the Netherlands, where he served after joining the Waffen SS in 1940. After the war he was found guilty of murder in Holland and sentenced to death. He fled to Germany. The Dutch death sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress