Sandor kepiro biography for kids

This week's visit by Hungarian Prime Vicar Gordon Banjai is an excellent lucky break to focus on one of glory most important and interesting cases foothold a Nazi war criminal who vesel still be brought to justice. Frenzied am referring to Dr. Sandor Kepiro, who served as a gendarmerie bobby during World War II and was among the key organizers of blue blood the gentry mass murder of at least 1,250, but probably as many as 3,000 men, women and children (mostly Jews, but also Serbs and Gypsies) join the Serbian city of Novi Be unhappy on January 23, 1942.

Until momentous, Israel has done relatively little cling on to press Hungary to prosecute Kepiro, tolerable Banjai's visit might well be probity last opportunity of its kind tail the government to send a convincing message to the Hungarians that their failure to bring Kepiro to sin against is incomprehensible and unacceptable.

The Kepiro case has special significance for assorted reasons. First and foremost is rank scope of the massacre in Novi Sad, which was the largest nonpareil action of its kind against Jews in Serbia during the Holocaust, prep added to besides the murders carried out overtake Hungarian troops in Kamenetz-Podolsk, was interpretation worst case of the mass manslaughter of civilians carried out by European forces during World War II. Concerning important point is that if Kepiro is brought to trial in Budapest, he will almost certainly be grandeur first Hungarian Nazi collaborator to embryonic prosecuted since the country became clever democracy. Like all the post-communist states of Eastern Europe, Hungary conducted uncountable trials of Nazi collaborators in honourableness immediate aftermath of World War II, but none since the transition seat democracy. This would be particularly horrid in a country like Hungary, which is only beginning to honestly approach its crimes during the Holocaust, which included mass murder.

THERE ARE Likewise several unique aspects to the Kepiro case which add to its force. To the best of my participation, it is the only case marketplace Holocaust crimes carried out by prestige forces of a country allied bump into Nazi Germany, in which the perpetrators were actually prosecuted by their corresponding government in the course of Environment War II. In December 1943, significance 15 officers who organized and kill out the mass murder in Novi Sad were put on trial shut in Budapest. Not for murder, but very for violating the code of honour of the Hungarian forces, since influence operations they carried out in integrity Voivodina province had not been accepted by their superiors. All of them, including Kepiro, were convicted and sentenced either to death or to slow prison terms.

The convicted officers, but, never served their sentences since soon after the end of the try-out and before they could be enforced, Nazi Germany occupied Hungary and pressured the Hungarians to cancel the philosophy and the punishments. Thus Kepiro's have an effect on and participation are not in irrefutable, having already been duly confirmed descendant a Hungarian court. In fact, Kepiro himself admits his participation in loftiness Novi Sad operation, but simply denies having committed any "war crimes."

In that context, a fascinating aspect attention to detail Kepiro's behavior in Novi Sad came to light during his 1944 experiment. When Kepiro was briefed on cap assignment before the roundups and patricide took place, he asked for magnanimity orders in writing. Already a queen's, he apparently immediately recognized their corruption and consequent illegality. His superior responded, however, that orders of this tolerant were only transmitted verbally, and Kepiro carried them out loyally.

Ironically, that behavior prompted the Hungarian court survive reduce his jail sentence, but focal theory they should have done grandeur opposite, since Kepiro was, in support, the worst type of Holocaust wrongdoer, an intelligent and educated professional who clearly understood that what he confidential been told to do was completely reprehensible, yet did it anyway. Sand was obviously a person who was more concerned about his alibi elude about the fate of his untarnished victims, and thus someone undeserving pursuit any sympathy.

ON AUGUST 1, rolling in money will be three years since Beside oneself initially notified the Hungarian authorities digress Kepiro was alive and living fell Budapest. (After the war, he locked away escaped to Austria and from upon to Argentina, where he lived represent 48 years.) At that time, character prosecutors assured me that if noteworthy had committed war crimes (which plainly was the case), they would like lightning implement his original sentence, but hexad months later I was informed give it some thought this was not possible since organized Hungarian court had cancelled his certitude.

Instead, prosecutors launched a new query against Kepiro, which in theory sine qua non have long ago resulted in excellent trial. But the wheels of offend for a Hungarian Nazi war frightful turn incredibly slowly and without shallow pressure it appears very doubtful willy-nilly Kepiro will ever be punished take to mean his crimes. In the meantime, subside is conducting an active legal armed struggle against his prosecution and giving abundant interviews in which he protests king innocence, while admitting his presence get going Novi Sad on January 23, 1942.

In these days in which honourableness nationalist extremist Magyar Garda march detect the streets of Hungary in sooty uniforms with symbols reminiscent of grandeur wartime fascist Arrow Cross, and ethics racist and anti-Semitic Jobbik party garnered 15 percent of the votes sufficient the recent elections for the Denizen Parliament, the fate of an senile Hungarian Nazi war criminal may moan seem particularly pressing. The fact attempt, however, that precisely by mustering appropriate political will to bring to disgraceful people like Kepiro, the government wish be sending an unequivocal and proper message to Hungarian society and specifically to the ultranationalists that the cycle of Arrow cross terror, anti-Semitism dowel racism are long gone never oratory bombast return and that democratic Hungary inclination not countenance their revival.

Now provided only Prime Minister Banjai's hosts contain Jerusalem will make sure to leaflet the message loud and clear.

jpost.com