KARL SILBERBAUER
Karl Josef Silberbauer (21 June 1911 – 2 September 1972) was an Austrian police officer, SS-Oberscharführer (staff sergeant), and undercover investigator for the West German Federal Intelligence Service. Silberbauer is best known, however, for his activities in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War II. During his time in Amsterdam, he got promoted to the rank of Hauptscharführer (master sergeant).In 1963, Silberbauer, by then an Inspector in the Vienna police, was exposed as the commander of the 1944 Gestapo raid on the Secret Annex and the arrests of Anne Frank, her fellow fugitives, and their Gentile protectors.On 4 August 1944, Silberbauer was ordered by his superior, SS-Obersturmführer (lieutenant) Julius Dettmann, to investigate a tip-off that Jews were being hidden in the upstairs rooms at Prinsengracht 263. He took a few Dutch policemen with him and interrogated Victor Kugler about the entrance to the hiding place. Miep Gies and Johannes Kleiman were also questioned, and while Kugler and Kleimann were arrested, Gies was allowed to stay on the premises. Both Otto Frank and Karl Silberbauer were interviewed after the war about the circumstances of the raid, with both describing Silberbauer's surprise that those in hiding had been there more than two years. Frank recalled Silberbauer confiscating their valuables and money, taking these spoils away in Otto Frank's briefcase, which he had emptied onto the floor scattering out the papers and notebooks which made up the diary of Anne Frank.Diary of Annie frank was hot published by Annie franks father after the war and became instant hit and it was translated into many languages. Silber Bauer was pursued by Nazi hunters after the war. however anniefranks father was not much keen to pursue the matter and preferred forgive and forget. Not much could be done to bring the Nazi to justice. Although the members of Jewish community who were hiding in the house for nearly two years were sent to camps where all except three survived nothing ok'd be done.Silber lived free life and the Vienna police even reinstated him with all pay and perks and he passed away on course of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment