Germany's Federal Court of Justice has upheld the conviction of 99-year-old Irmgard F., a former secretary at the Stutthof concentration camp, for her role in the mass murder of over 10,000 individuals.

Initially sentenced in 2022 to two years of probation for aiding and abetting murder in 10,505 cases and attempted murder in five cases, Furchner's conviction has now been confirmed.

Furchner worked at the Stutthof camp from June 1943 to April 1945, beginning her role at just 18 years old.

Despite her appeal against the conviction, the Federal Court examined the legality of the lower court's ruling without reassessing the established facts.

Critics have pointed out that while many high-ranking perpetrators have evaded justice, individuals like Furchner, who played minor roles, are being prosecuted.

This ruling serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance against future atrocities and the complicity of individuals in such crimes.

The court's decision builds on a precedent established in 2016 with the case of Oskar Gröning, reinforcing that even those in lower-level positions contributed significantly to the genocide.

The court rejected Furchner's defense claims, asserting that her administrative role provided psychological support to the murder operations.

Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, welcomed the verdict but expressed concern over Furchner's lack of remorse.

The court emphasized that Furchner's awareness of the crimes committed at the camp meant her actions were not exempt from prosecution.

This case marks a significant moment as it is the first conviction of a civilian for participation in the Holocaust, highlighting the ongoing legal and moral responsibilities.

Thomas Will, director of the Central Office for the Clarification of National Socialist Crimes, noted that no similar judgments had been made in over two decades.