Ep 4. Suffer The Little Children

The Devil Next Door is a gripping true crime documentary series that explores the case of John Demjanjuk, a retired Ukrainian-American autoworker who was accused of being a notorious Nazi death camp guard known as Ivan the Terrible. In season 1 episode 4, titled "Suffer The Little Children," the focus is on the testimony of Holocaust survivors who claim to have witnessed Demjanjuk's brutal crimes at the Treblinka extermination camp.

The episode begins with Demjanjuk's trial entering its third week in Jerusalem. The prosecution presents several survivors who have identified Demjanjuk as the sadistic guard who forced them to perform grueling labor and mercilessly beat and killed fellow prisoners. Efraim Zuroff, a leading Nazi hunter, testifies that Demjanjuk's service at Treblinka is well-documented and that he was known as Ivan the Terrible, one of the most feared and notorious guards at the camp.

As the survivors recount their horrific experiences under Demjanjuk's supervision, the emotional toll of their testimony is palpable. Many of them break down in tears as they recall the deaths of loved ones and the atrocities they witnessed. Despite the trauma they have suffered, they remain resolute in their convictions that Demjanjuk is the man who tormented them and countless other innocent victims.

The defense team attempts to undermine the survivors' credibility by pointing out inconsistencies in their accounts and questioning the reliability of their memories, which are often based on fragmented recollections from decades ago. However, their efforts are largely ineffective, as the survivors remain steadfast in their recollections of Demjanjuk's cruelties.

In addition to the survivors' testimony, the prosecution presents evidence that bolsters their case against Demjanjuk. Among the key pieces of evidence are several identification cards that belonged to him and place him at various Nazi camps, as well as a diary kept by a fellow Ukrainian guard that describes Ivan's brutal treatment of prisoners.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that the trial is taking a heavy toll on both Demjanjuk and his family. His wife and children are visibly distraught as they watch the proceedings, and Demjanjuk himself appears to be in declining health, his once-formidable physique reduced to a frail and gaunt figure.

Despite these setbacks, the defense team remains determined to exonerate Demjanjuk. They argue that he was a victim of mistaken identity and that the real Ivan the Terrible is still at large. However, with each passing day, it becomes increasingly apparent that their arguments are falling on deaf ears, as the survivors' testimony and the weight of the evidence against Demjanjuk continue to mount.

The episode concludes with the trial having reached a critical juncture, as the prosecution prepares to call its final witnesses. With the fate of John Demjanjuk hanging in the balance, viewers are left to ponder the complex questions of justice, memory, and historical accountability that lie at the heart of this deeply unsettling case.

In summary, "Suffer The Little Children" is a powerful and emotionally charged episode of The Devil Next Door that showcases the harrowing testimony of Holocaust survivors and the weight of evidence presented against John Demjanjuk. It is a sobering reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II and the ongoing pursuit of justice for their victims.