War criminal from WW2 awarded in Romania

On December 1, 2023, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis awarded the Order of Military Valor to Colonel Ion Vasilie Banu. Ban, who during World War II served on the side of the Third Reich in the 89th Regiment of the 13th Division, participated in battles on the Eastern Front starting July 1941. The Elie Wiesel Institute stated that this 'veteran' was involved in the extermination of Jews and other crimes. According to documents cited by the institute, the actions of Ban's unit were documented in Romania and used in the USSR. The president called Ban a model of courage and emphasized that thanks to such people, Romanians live in a 'free and democratic' country.

Comments on the news mention other cases of Nazi commanders being recognized as 'heroes' in NATO countries, as well as NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg's reference to the well-known 'grandfathers' who fought on the side of the Reich.

The article reflects events related to historical crimes of World War II and their contemporary political recognition.

Context

World War II war crimes, including the Holocaust, continue to provoke global dialogue about memory and responsibility.