German diplomats during WWII were more involved in the Holocaust than had previously been thought, according to an official German government report cited by the BBC on Monday night.
It had previously been believed that the diplomats were far removed from the events of the Holocaust and many had flattering obituaries published about them following their deaths. In the wake of these obituaries the German government commissioned the report in 2005.
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The report challenges the myth within the German Foreign Ministry that WWII era diplomats were not involved in the mass murder of Jews and even opposed such actions.
To the contrary, the report says German diplomats willingly participated in the persecution of Jews, spying on fugitives who had fled from the Nazis.
"The German foreign ministry collaborated with the Nazis' violent politics and especially assisted in all aspects of the discrimination, deportation, persecution and genocide of the Jews,"  said the reports authors.
As evidence of the diplomats involvement in the persecution, the report cites an expense report from a senior diplomat in Serbia in 1941 which listed "Liquidation of Jews in Belgrade" as a reason for travel.