Gerechtigkeit für Humanitätsverbrechen?

The punishment of crimes of state brings up fundamental questions regarding the relationship between the law and ethics which are closely linked to the prohibition of retroactive punishment. In this work, Hans Vest reassesses the prosecution and punishment of the former East German border guards and their superiors with regard to the so-called wall shootings from a methodological point of view. He refers to the famous debate which H.L.A. Hart launched on Gustav Radbruch's approach to evil laws and conducts an inquiry into legal positivism and the separation of law and ethics, focusing in particular on retroactive criminal justice and/or legislation.