Berger’s trial discovered he had labored as an armed guard at a Neuengamme sub-camp close to Meppen, Germany, in 1945. Many of the prisoners there have been Russian, Dutch and Polish civilians, however there have been additionally Jews, Danes, Latvians, French, Italians and Nazi “political opponents,” the Justice Division’s assertion mentioned.
The courtroom discovered Berger admitted he guarded the prisoners to forestall their escape and that he did not request a switch from the camp guard service, based on the Justice Division. Moreover, Berger nonetheless will get a pension from Germany for his employment there, together with for his “wartime service.”
An legal professional for Berger declined to touch upon his shopper’s behalf when reached by CNN Saturday.
“After 75 years, that is ridiculous. I can not consider it,” he mentioned. “I can not perceive how this may occur in a rustic like this. You are forcing me out of my residence.”
Appearing Lawyer Basic Monty Wilkinson mentioned in an announcement Berger’s deportation “demonstrates the Division of Justice’s and its regulation enforcement companions’ dedication to making sure that america will not be a protected haven for individuals who have participated in Nazi crimes in opposition to humanity and different human rights abuses.”
At Berger’s two-day trial final February, the decide decided prisoners on the camp have been held in “atrocious” circumstances through the winter of 1945, the Justice Division’s launch mentioned. Prisoners have been pressured to labor open air “to the purpose of exhaustion and dying.”
The Nazis deserted Meppen on the finish of March 1945 as British and Canadian allied forces superior. Berger was discovered to have then helped guard the prisoners as they have been evacuated to the Neuengamme primary camp. The ordeal took practically two weeks, the Justice Division mentioned, and about 70 prisoners died from “inhumane circumstances.”
The Justice Division mentioned Berger was the seventieth Nazi persecutor faraway from america.
Appearing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tae Johnson mentioned in an announcement america was dedicated to making sure the nation will “not function a protected haven for human rights violators and struggle criminals.”
“This case exemplifies the steadfast dedication of each ICE and the Division of Justice to pursue justice and to hunt relentlessly for individuals who participated in certainly one of historical past’s best atrocities, regardless of how lengthy it takes,” Johnson mentioned.
CNN’s Jay Croft and Christina MAxouris contributed to this report.
