A military court in Italy has ruled that former Nazi Erich Priebke, who took part in the massacre of hundreds of civilians during World War II, may leave house arrest in order to work at his lawyer’s office, where he is a translator. Priebke, who is 93 years old, was extradited to Italy from Argentina in 1994 and convicted of war crimes in 1997.
Priebke has admitted that he rounded up civilians near Rome and took part in shooting them, but has argued that he was following orders and therefore should not be held responsible. Jewish activists and Rome officials expressed anger at the release, with one saying that Priebke’s job was a ploy to get out of his sentence.
Priebke has admitted that he rounded up civilians near Rome and took part in shooting them, but has argued that he was following orders and therefore should not be held responsible. Jewish activists and Rome officials expressed anger at the release, with one saying that Priebke’s job was a ploy to get out of his sentence.