Johann Rehbogen: Former SS guard on trial admits he was aware of conditions in Nazi concentration camp

94-year-old tells court he did not oppose his posting out of fear of retribution

The 94-year old former SS enlisted man waits for the beginning of the third day of his trial at the regional court in Muenster, western Germany, Tuesday 13 November 2018 (Guido Kirchner/pool photo via (AP))

A 94-year-old former SS guard says he was aware of the terrible conditions endured by prisoners in the Stutthof concentration camp, but did not take part in atrocities against them.

The dpa news agency reported that Johann Rehbogen, who is on trial facing hundreds of counts of accessory to murder, told the Muenster state court he did not oppose his posting to the camp from 1942 to 1944 out of fear for retribution.

More than 60,000 people were killed at the Nazi German camp built east of Danzig, which is today the Polish city of Gdansk.

Prosecutors argue that as a guard there, Rehbogen helped the camp operate.

The statement came in the third day of his trial, which opened last week.

AP