Herbert Kappler: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|Only I know how much I suffered from that terrible experience.|Herbert Kappler expressing his regret on the [[Ardeatine massacre]]}} | {{Quote|Only I know how much I suffered from that terrible experience.|Herbert Kappler expressing his regret on the [[Ardeatine massacre]]}} | ||
'''Herbert Kappler''' was the [[Gestapo]] chief SS-Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant colonel) of Rome who committed [[War crimes|war crimes]]. | '''Herbert Kappler''' was the [[Gestapo]] chief [[SS]]-Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant colonel) of Rome who committed [[War crimes|war crimes]]. | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
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=== First tasks as an SS === | === First tasks as an SS === | ||
[[File:Herbert Kappler with the fascists.jpg|left|thumb|260x260px|Herbert Kappler with some officers of the Police of the italian Africa and a Nazi official.]] | [[File:Herbert Kappler with the fascists.jpg|left|thumb|260x260px|Herbert Kappler with some officers of the Police of the italian Africa and a Nazi official.]] | ||
Herbert entered in the SS for his qualification in criminology and he was promoted to captain (Hauptsturmführer) and he was sended to Rome to the embassy of Villa Wolkonsky in 1939 for spying the italian police. | Herbert entered in the [[SS]] for his qualification in criminology and he was promoted to captain (Hauptsturmführer) and he was sended to Rome to the embassy of Villa Wolkonsky in 1939 for spying the italian police. | ||
In 1942, he was promoted to major (Sturmbannführer) and the following year to lieutenant colonell (Obersturmbannführer). In this way, Herbert assumed command of the Sicherheitsdienst in Rome, also taking power over the fascist police. | In 1942, he was promoted to major (Sturmbannführer) and the following year to lieutenant colonell (Obersturmbannführer). In this way, Herbert assumed command of the Sicherheitsdienst in Rome, also taking power over the fascist police. | ||
=== Freeing Mussolini === | === Freeing Mussolini === | ||
Thanks to some italian collaborations, he knew in advance of Mussolini's dismissal on 25 July 1943 and he was able to capture | Thanks to some italian collaborations, he knew in advance of [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]]'s dismissal on 25 July 1943 and he was able to capture [[Galeazzo Ciano]] and Mafalda of Savoy. | ||
[[File:Raid of the Gran Sasso.jpg|left|thumb|Mussolini with Nazi commander after the succesful end of the Operation Oak.]] | [[File:Raid of the Gran Sasso.jpg|left|thumb|Mussolini with Nazi commander after the succesful end of the Operation Oak.]] | ||
Then, Kappler identified the place where Mussolini was held prisoner, in Campo Imperatore, and planned its release by direct order of Heinrich Himmler, even though Kappler defined fascism dead and he didn't wanted to re-establish a puppet fascist government. | Then, Kappler identified the place where [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] was held prisoner, in Campo Imperatore, and planned its release by direct order of [[Heinrich Himmler]], even though Kappler defined [[fascism]] dead and he didn't wanted to re-establish a puppet fascist government. | ||
After the successful release of Mussolini, Kappler ordered the seizure and transport to Germany of the entire gold reserve of Italy kept in the safes of the Roman headquarters of the Bank of Italy. The entire gold reserve was first transferred to Milan in the night between 22nd and 23rd September and from here the gold also passed through the fortress of Fortezza, until it was finally transported to Berlin. | After the successful release of [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]], Kappler ordered the seizure and transport to Germany of the entire gold reserve of Italy kept in the safes of the Roman headquarters of the Bank of Italy. The entire gold reserve was first transferred to Milan in the night between 22nd and 23rd September and from here the gold also passed through the fortress of Fortezza, until it was finally transported to Berlin. | ||
=== The deportation of the Roman Jews === | === The deportation of the Roman Jews === | ||
[[File:Retaliation of Rome.jpg|left|thumb|313x313px|16th October 1943, Nazis deporting jews of Rome.]] | [[File:Retaliation of Rome.jpg|left|thumb|313x313px|16th October 1943, Nazis deporting jews of Rome.]] | ||
On the afternoon of September | On the afternoon of 26th September 1943, he summoned the President of the Jewish community of Rome, Foà, and the president of the Union of Italian Israelite Communities, Dante Almansi, to Villa Wolkonsky, ordering them the delivery of at least 50 kilograms of gold, threatening otherwise the deportation of two hundred Roman Jews to Germany. The gold was collected and delivered by 12,000 people. | ||
The ransom paid by the Roman Jews only assured them a brief pause in the persecution to which they were to be subjected. Two weeks later,on the morning of October 16th 1943, 1259 Jews were rounded up by surprise, being temporarily incarcerated at the military college in via della Lungara. 1,023 deportees were sent to Auschwitz. Only sixteen of them survived the extermination, fifteen men and one woman. | The ransom paid by the Roman Jews only assured them a brief pause in the persecution to which they were to be subjected. Two weeks later,on the morning of October 16th 1943, 1259 Jews were rounded up by surprise, being temporarily incarcerated at the military college in via della Lungara. 1,023 deportees were sent to Auschwitz. Only sixteen of them survived the extermination, fifteen men and one woman. | ||
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By that moment, the attitude of the fascists and Nazis became more violent and various roundups were made. In fact, a building in Tasso street was made in to a prison for torturing and interrogate anti-fascists and partisans. [[File:Massacre of the Ardeatine.jpg|left|thumb|323x323px|24th March 1944, Nazis getting ready to execute 335 people.]] | By that moment, the attitude of the fascists and Nazis became more violent and various roundups were made. In fact, a building in Tasso street was made in to a prison for torturing and interrogate anti-fascists and partisans. [[File:Massacre of the Ardeatine.jpg|left|thumb|323x323px|24th March 1944, Nazis getting ready to execute 335 people.]] | ||
=== [[Ardeatine massacre|The massacre of the Ardeatine]] === | === [[Ardeatine massacre|The massacre of the Ardeatine]] === | ||
After the attack of the 23rd March 1944 at Rasella street, Kappler with the commisioner Pietro Caruso attended for the choice of some of the victims: mostly civilians and Jews were led by Erich Priebke and Karl Hass to the Fosse Ardeatine, shot in groups of five. At the end of the mass execution, the entrance to the quarries was detonated. 335 Italians were murdered. The 5 more were taken by mistake, but murdered all the same because they witnessed the massacre. | After the attack of the 23rd March 1944 at Rasella street, Kappler with the commisioner Pietro Caruso attended for the choice of some of the victims: mostly civilians and Jews were led by [[Erich Priebke]] and [[Karl Hass]] to the Fosse Ardeatine, shot in groups of five. At the end of the mass execution, the entrance to the quarries was detonated. 335 Italians were murdered. The 5 more were taken by mistake, but murdered all the same because they witnessed the massacre. | ||
=== Roundup of the Quadrato district === | === Roundup of the Quadrato district === | ||
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* He weighed less than 105 pounds. | * He weighed less than 105 pounds. | ||
* Before converting to the Catholic Church, he was a devouted atheist. | * Before converting to the Catholic Church, he was a devouted atheist. | ||
[[Category:Mature]] | |||
[[Category:Important]] | [[Category:Important]] | ||
[[Category:Germany]] | [[Category:Germany]] | ||