German prosecutors investigate British pensioner over alleged involvement in Holocaust

Stanislaw Chrzanowski, who died at the age of 96 in October, lived in Shropshire and was unaware he was under investigation.

Prosecutors in Germany have confirmed they are looking for possible new suspects in Britain.

Mr Chrzanowski is thought to have murdered civilians whilst an auxiliary with the Germans in his hometown of Slonim in Belarus.

Lawyers have said they can now prosecute anyone who served in a German unit, regardless of nationality or where the alleged crimes were committed. They only require an accusation of murder.

Mr Chrzanowski, who lived in Hadley, Telford, settled in Britain after being captured as a prisoner of war.

His case came to the attention of the police after his stepson, John Kingston, sent a dossier to the Metropolitan Police’s war crimes unit.

No action was taken as the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence.

However, the case was reopened last year by prosecutors in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Mr Kingston, who died last week, told the BBC: “I think it’s good that Germany should actually do something to try to put the past right.

“My stepfather is just one individual, and there were thousands like him, so it’s more important that he’s an example or a case in particular.”

About 40,000 people are thought to have died in Slonim.