NEWS > BUSINESS > NAZI HUNTERS FEAR DEMJANJUK CASE COULD MARK END OF THE LINE

NAZI HUNTERS FEAR DEMJANJUK CASE COULD MARK END OF THE LINE

May 20 2009

Cleveland, OH – For decades now the pursuit for those involved in the Nazi death camps has been an undertaking of almost religious obsession. Names like Simon Wiesenthal, Efraim Zuroff, and Tuviah Friedman have sent shivers down the spines of those involved in the greatest attempt at mass genocide that world have ever seen.
Across the world Nazi hunters have tracked their prey through any means necessary, bringing some to justice, bringing others the fate they delivered upon those being avenged. Now though, Nazi hunting is meeting its demise.

The case of John Demjanjuk is one that has focussed attention on the business of Nazi hunting. The retired autoworker and American citizen has been through multiple trials and extradition attempts and though none of the charges have stuck, his recent deportation to Germany may finally put the
89-year old in prison for crimes committed over 60 years ago. With the potential end of the Demjanjuk case many in the Nazi hunting field are seeing the end of their livelihood, their life’s work, and the end of their legacy to their children as the pool of Nazi’s evaporates.

“For most people who dedicate their lives to a particular practice, whether a job or a passion, the hope is that it will live on without them. Obviously nothing can go on forever. Businesses fail, technology changes, and appetites alter. Even the greatest of creations eventually fall to ash in the fire of history,” said Scrape TV Mass Murder analyst Drake Webber. “The game of Nazi hunting of course was doomed to a quick end though. Aside from the nature of the practice being self defeating unto itself, eventually they were going to run out of content. There were only so many Nazis and they are only going to live so long. The whole thing was really a non-starter when you think about it.”

Many point to the satisfaction of eradicating the stain of Nazism and the Holocaust from the planet but traditionally concepts such as satisfaction and vengeance haven’t been high money earners, something especially important as the world continues to struggle through the global recession.

“Nazi hunters live quite the life. Travelling around the world, living like spies, they really have the fantasy life that most people can only imagine. It’s an exclusive group too which only adds to the mystique and glamour but unfortunately future generations won’t be able to experience the joy of tracking down historical mass murderers,” continued Webber. “Even spies don’t live
that kind of life anymore. Most of them spend all their time in offices crunching data and have no opportunity to get out there and live the life. As popular as things like James Bond and the Bourne series have been the reality is far from that but Nazi Hunters have been out there, living the life.”

Genocides have routinely occurred throughout the world but very few have had the cache that has accompanied the Jewish Holocaust or had the kind of identifiable enemies such as the Nazis.

“Some in the industry have suggested reigniting the holocaust to give a whole new generation of Nazi’s the chills and a future for the
industry. The global Jewish has recovered significantly in the intervening years and they could lose a couple million and still survive. Things got a little close the last time around and we don’t want to cut it that close again. Learn from history and that kind of thing,” continued Webber. “If anyone can do it it’s Nazi Hunters. Their persistence is unmatched. I mean look at the Demjanjuk case. Accusation after accusation, failed trial after failed trial and yet they go on and eventually get their man. Granted he’s likely going to die soon, but they got him. That kind of persistence could keep Nazi Hunting alive and well for years to come.”     

Many are also hoping for an acquittal in the Demjanjuk case, hoping his hunt will continue to fuel the industry.

William Ashford, Business Correspondent

NEWS > BUSINESS > NAZI HUNTERS FEAR DEMJANJUK CASE COULD MARK END OF THE LINE