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- WORLD, Page 43World NotesGERMANYFrom Heroes To Infamy
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- For the 1989 shooting of Chris Gueffroy, believed to be the
- last person killed while trying to flee East Germany, the border
- guards responsible were decorated, given bonuses, extra
- vacation days and a celebratory meal. Last week the four were
- put on trial in Berlin, charged with manslaughter. The
- proceedings are the first of their kind, and getting convictions
- will be no small task. The accused, say their attorneys, citing
- the Nuremberg defense, were just following orders.
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- The trial has come under fire for focusing on the small
- fry while those responsible for the shoot-to-kill command have
- escaped justice. Former East German leader Erich Honecker
- remains in the Soviet Union, and though Bonn has demanded his
- extradition, he is not expected to appear in court anytime soon.
- One man who may show up to face possible prosecution, however,
- is Markus Wolf, the legendary spymaster of former East Germany,
- who fled before the Germanys united last October and who is now
- rumored to be planning a return from Moscow.
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