Klaus Barbie
Nikolaus Barbie or better known as Klaus Barbie (25 October 1913 – 25 September 1991) was an German SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Officer and a Gestapo Officer from 1935-1945 in Germany.[1] He is known as the "Butcher of Lyon" because of the war crimes he committed in Vichy France during World War II in Europe. He lived in Bolivia in South America from 1951 until he was extradited (moved by government order) back to France in 1983 to stand trial in Europe. From 1984-1987, he was tried and convicted of, and sentenced to life imprisonment for, crimes against humanity. He remained in prison until he died of leukemia in Lyon. He joined the The Nazis in 1935 as a SS soldier later became a Junior SS Officer with the Junior Officer rank of Haupsturmfuhrer (Captain) in 1940 after rising from a Untersturmfuhrer/Obersturmfuhrer (Lieutenant) from 1937 . From 1942 he was promoted to be Junior Head of the Gestapo in Lyon,Vichy France where until 1944 he fled back to Germany. From 1947-1951 he worked for the American Army as an intelligence spy for the American Military. He later became a military advisor to Bolivia from 1966-1971/1983.
Klaus Barbie | |
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Born | |
Died | September 25, 1991 | (aged 77)
Cause of death | Leukemia |
Nationality | German |
Other names | Butcher of Lyon |
Occupation(s) | German SS-Gestapo Officer and mercenary |
Political party | NSDAP |
Criminal charges | Crimes against humanity |
Criminal penalty | Death in 1954 (while not present) Life Imprisonment (1987-1991) |
Criminal status | Dead |
Family | Barbie Family |
References
change- ↑ The German Occupation of Europe http://www.HolocaustResearchProject.org: Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyon! - The German Occupation of Europe http://www.HolocaustResearchProject.org, accessdate: February 13, 2016