[pluma]

"Ich habe es nicht gewusst".

Also, I fully agree. There is well-known historic precedent for "I just followed orders" not to be a valid excuse. Plus, the consequences would likely not have been even remotely close to that for a soldier in WW2 (i.e. unlikely to be shot for treason).

OTOH using the programmers as scapegoats is wrong. Yes, those who carry out the orders are guilty. But the entire chain of command that led to it is even more guilty. And thanks to corruption, they'll likely only feel a fraction of the punishment the scapegoats will face.