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German authorities raid homes in Nazi investigation

January 29, 2016

Police in Germany have searched three homes belonging to former members of the SS. The men are believed to have taken part in a massacre in northern France during the Second World War.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Hlmo
SS soldiers in France
Image: picture alliance / KEYSTONE

According to German Prosecutor Andreas Brendel, police searched the three homes earlier this week. Two of the homes were in Saxony, whilst a third was in neighboring Lower Saxony. Authorities confiscated documents, photos and other possible evidence during the raids.

Authorities believe that the three men, who are reportedly around the age of 90, were members of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth," which was responsible for the murders of 86 men in the northeastern French village of Ascq on April 1, 1944.

All three men admitted that they were members of the unit, but denied that they were present at the massacre.

The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.

ksb/msh (AFP, AP, dpa)

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