German Nazi Nikolaus “Klaus” Barbie (Oct. 23, 1913 – Sept. 25, 1991) was known as the “Butcher of Lyon” for having personally tortured prisoners of the Gestapo — primarily Jews and members of the French Resistance — while stationed in Lyon under the collaborationist Vichy regime. In 1983, he was extradited from Bolivia to France, where he was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison. (France had done away with the death penalty by that time.) Barbie died of cancer while incarcerated.
Quote: “Afraid that local authorities might hinder the removal of these [Jewish child] refugees, Barbie arranged for their immediate transportation to the transit camp at Drancy. The Izieu children shared the fate of more than 70,000 who entered and departed this camp in a northeastern suburb of Paris. In three different transports that left Drancy in April, May, and June 1944, they were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Following a terrible journey in cattle cars, these children met an abhorrent end. The SS marched them into the gas chambers immediately after their arrival.”
Sources: Wikipedia (introduction), The National World War II Museum (quotation)
Learn more about Klaus Barbie from Wikipedia. ►
Watch “The Hunt For The Butcher Of Lyon | Nazi Hunters | Timeline” [41:57].” ►
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