My neighbor is a German-born American. He's a good man, and we've always been very close friends. Recently, I found out that he was a Nazi war criminal during WWII, and now I don't know what to do: Fulfill my patriotic duty and report him, thus losing someone close to me, or do I keep silent and take comfort in my knowledge that he's not the man he was back then?
2007-01-22 14:50:45 · 11 answers · asked by ? 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
For those of you who wish to know how I know, he confided in me. He actually showed me the Iron Cross medal awarded to him by Adolf Hitler himself. He told me, "I keep as a reminder of all the evil things I've done, so I can't ever let go the guilt I feel."
2007-01-22 15:20:46 · update #1
First, be ceratin of the "facts". how do you know he's a former nazi ? Who would you report him to ? how do you know he's not the man he was back then ?
If it was me, I'd gently ask him to at least begin undoing some of the harm that he did then.
I say this for two reasons: one, personal experience/beliefs: a friend I've known for 16 years recently confided to ne that the reason she isn't politically active in the pro-life movement is that she was forced to have an abortion at the age of 16, and she still feels sad about it. She's still a friend, & I hope that by maintaining our friendship I can encourage her to eventually help other women that have the same sad feelings. (the similarity here is that it was a legal abortion, just a Nazi activities were very legal in Germany then.) the second reason is, if he is ever discovered, it will go better for him if he has been trying to actually UNdo some of the harm he helped cause...instead of just hiding in anonymity. I think it would be good for him, too, to try to repair some of the damage; even if he doesn't actually say "I was a Nazi", he needs to do some deliberate good.
I can appreciate your wish to respect his trust in you. He must've felt very secure in your friendship to say such a thing. But it's possible he didn't think what a position it'd put you in. Maybe he has a need to be freed from his sad memories & guilty conscience, & thought by confessing he'd be free. What he needs, though, is forgiveness from those he has wronged. It does happen; it is possible; but it can't if he keeps hiding.
2007-01-22 15:06:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should ask yourself this though: If you didn't know he was a nazi war criminal in WWII, what else don't you know about him?
He may be a nice guy, but from what records tell us, Charles Mengele (or whatever his first name was) was a really great family man, loving and caring, yet when he wasn't home, he performed the most horrific experiments on children in the name of science and arian superiority. For all you know, your good neighbour may be responsible for thousands of deaths...
If I were you, I'd confront him with your newfound knowledge and see how much he'll tell you. If he can convince you of his good intentions, choose to remain silent, otherwise, go to the cops I'd say. There are some crimes that cannot and should not ever be forgotten.
Good luck.
Oh by the way, some of you may be sceptical about the idea of confronting this man (who must be elderly by now anyway) with what you (think you) know about him, but if he really is a nazi war criminal, he must have carried that knowledge with him for the past 60 years now. If confronted about it, he most likely will be honest about his involvement in the war, because nazi or not, all people basically share the same moral fibre and we all have a certain awareness of what is wrong or right, or at least how society perceives that. If he's carried that secret with him for so long, he won't mind getting rid of it, I'm sure.
2007-01-22 23:02:52 · answer #2 · answered by xane76 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I despise, " I don't know" answers. But on this question, I have sat and thought about it and I don't know what I would do. Sometimes there are things that know one can really give you the answer. You have to do, what you feel comfortable with and how you feel about this man. He would have been very young and was probally in a situation where he was trying to save his own life. Does that make it right....no. But when a older person looks back on their life, I don't believe there is anyone that can say if they could go back in time....they would change something they had done that they were very sorry for...but, we can't go back.
So, the decision on what to do, has to be what you feel comfortable with. For him to confide in you, he must think an awful lot of you.
2007-01-22 23:49:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you knew he was a child molester would you report him? He's a war CRIMINAL, no better than any other criminal, just because it was years ago, doesn't excuse what he did!! If he is found out by others, you could be accused and tried for harboring him. What about all those who he may have injured, don't they deserve justice? Take the moral high ground and report him, so that he can either be exonerated or held accountable.
2007-01-22 23:04:12 · answer #4 · answered by Back Porch Willy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do you think the families of the 6 million people he contributed in slaughtering like animals would think you should do? This is much more than a patriotic duty, this is a moral duty. You are living next door to someone who contributed to the largest mass murder in the history of our planet. Furthermore, because he has not turned himself in, he remains a criminal. At least he would get a trial which is more than 6 million people got under his compliance and, possibly, his contribution in Germany received.
2007-01-22 23:00:33 · answer #5 · answered by angihorn2006 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do what feels right in your heart. Remember, whatever you do you will have to live with it for the rest of your life. Not all Germans were criminal, I would say the majority were people like you and I, just trying to survive a leader that was ambitious and greedy, heck, that sounds like americans today.
2007-01-22 22:57:30 · answer #6 · answered by P.A.M. 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
in a heartbeat I would turn that mofo in
considering what the Germans did, any nice dog and pony show that they might play up, is just that.. deep rooted and given the chance, they would gladly resume their Nazi life
2007-01-22 23:06:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't say anything. He only did what he was told to do. If he's not commiting any crimes or problems now then let the past be the past.
2007-01-22 23:18:18 · answer #8 · answered by brewer82 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
you starred your own question? sad, he's an illegal immigrant too, or he would have been caught long ago, sounds like a S. King story
2007-01-22 23:00:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
quite a quandry. Think of it this way he would be out of prison by now anyways.
2007-01-22 22:56:40 · answer #10 · answered by GloryDays49ers 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋