In 2000, following a ruling by the "Áreios Págos" (Supreme Court of Greece), Paech said that Germany had to compensate the victims of Nazi war crimes in Greece. One event noted at the time, for which German president Johannes Rau laid a memorial wreath, was the Massacre of Kalavryta. Paech had also represented survivors and relatives of the Distomo massacre, saying in 2000, "It is not only the money that the victims are concerned about, but also the German side's acknowledgement of its responsibility for the crimes committed. The SS executioners, who executed 218 villagers (of Distomo) in retaliation against an attack by Greek guerrillas, still celebrate each year in Marktheinfeld (a town in Bavaria) their adventures in Greece and have still not given account for their deeds..."