Nazi Hunters: The Struggle for the Punishment of Nazi Crimes

The successor states to the Third Reich had to integrate millions of former Nazis into their societies. Those who were implicated in the genocide of European Jewry were rarely held responsible for crimes which had cost the lives of millions. A small group challenged this cross-societal trend. Private 'Nazi hunters' working outside the states' authority made it their mission to obtain justice. They investigated the crimes committed in the name of National Socialism against Jews, minorities and political opponents, tracked down those responsible and campaigned for their prosecution. Nazi hunters also insisted that the courts and police live up to their duties and co-operated with these agencies on various levels during the investigation of the crimes in question. Furthermore, they organized media campaigns to educate and sensitize the public to their cause.