Ex-Auschwitz guard, convicted of 170,000 counts, dies without ever serving time

The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Reinhold Hanning, a former SS sergeant convicted of 170,000 counts of accessory to murder last year for serving as an Auschwitz guard, has died. He was 95.

His attorney Andreas Scharmer told the Associated Press Thursday that Hanning died May 30 but gave no further details.

Hanning was convicted last year and sentenced to five years in prison, though never served time behind bars as his case was still being appealed.

Former Auschwitz guard sentenced to 5 years in prison Reinhold Hanning was convicted on 170,000 counts of accessory to murder for his time as a prison guard at Auschwitz.

While there was no evidence he directly participated in killings at Auschwitz, he was convicted as an accessory for helping the death camp function in his capacity as a guard in a verdict hailed as an overdue victory for victims.

He told the court he was “ashamed that I saw injustice and never did anything about it.”