The Eternal Nazi: From Mauthausen to Cairo, the Relentless Pursuit of SS Doctor Aribert Heim

by Kulish, Nicholas

  CHAPTER 31

  1 “had reassured me”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, January 22, 1976.

  2 An upcoming exhibition: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, November 15, 1976.

  3 “Some days I feel terribly miserable”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, January 31, 1977.

  4 Buses were so overcrowded: McLaughlin, “Infitah in Egypt.”

  5 The population of the Cairo: Timothy M. Phelps, “Egypt: The Poverty of One Man’s Family,” New York Times, February 7, 1977.

  6 Some 200,000 newcomers: Raymond, Cairo, p. 343.

  7 For 1,760 deutsche marks: Rechnung, Flug + Touristik Service, March 23, 1977; Reisekostenabrechnung, April 2, 1977.

  CHAPTER 32

  1 Heim was thinner: Fritz Steinacker, interviews with authors.

  2 “already well cultivated”: Aribert Heim, unlabeled document, Briefcase.

  3 Captives were paraded: Schmidt, “Arab Shells Rock City of Jerusalem.”

  4 Within three days: Greenhouse, “Only Man Convicted for My Lai.”

  5 Titled “Counterfeit Semites”: El Dakhakhni, “Counterfeit Semites.”

  6 Although members of his family: Lebrecht, “Tragedy of Koestler.”

  7 “While this book deals”: Koestler, Thirteenth Tribe, pp. 223–26.

  CHAPTER 33

  1 At 6 deutsche marks: Dipl.-Ing. Rambald von Steinbüchel-Rheinwall, Architekt BDA. & Partner, invoice, May 26, 1977.

  2 They all waited: Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg, report, November 25, 1976.

  3 From his vantage point: Alfred Aedtner, investigation report, May 31, 1977.

  4 He was on his way to work: Der Spiegel, “Das Attentat: Mord nach Fahrplan,” April 18, 1977.

  5 The state police asked colleagues: Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg, report, July 26, 1976.

  6 She insisted that she: Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg, report, November 25, 1976.

  7 Aedtner was convinced: Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg, report, July 26, 1976.

  8 Police in Holland: “Das Attentat,” Der Spiegel.

  9 “The news just came on”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, October 18, 1976.

  CHAPTER 34

  1 There was Herta Barth’s address: Wiesenthal, note, Aribert Heim File (1), Wiesenthal Archive.

  2 Aedtner sent Wiesenthal: Aedtner to Wiesenthal, August 4, 1977, Aribert Heim File (1), Wiesenthal Archive.

  3 “one of the most sadistic”: Wiesenthal to Harald Salzmann, May 3, 1977, Aribert Heim File (1), Wiesenthal Archive.

  4 Wiesenthal’s office was: Wiesenthal Archive, http://www.simon-wiesenthal-archiv.at/02_dokuzentrum/01_geschichte/e01_history.html.

  5 “The fugitive SS camp doctor”: Wiesenthal to Galinski, September 25, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  6 Wiesenthal had Galinski forward: Galinski to Jürgen Brinkmeier, October 5, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  7 “We don’t know whether Dr. Heim”: Wiesenthal to Vogel, October 18, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  8 After they talked: Notes on telephone conversation between Wiesenthal and Höhne, November 30, 1978, Aribert Heim File (1), Wiesenthal Archive.

  CHAPTER 35

  1 “I killed you Jews once before”: “Holocaust: Die Vergangenheit kommt zurück,” Der Spiegel, May 1979.

  2 “sterile collection of wooden characters”: O’Connor, “TV Weekend.”

  3 “untrue, offensive, cheap”: Wiesel, “TV View.”

  4 “I say no because ‘Holocaust’ “: Vinocur, “ ‘Holocaust’ TV Series, Criticized, Is Sidelined by West Germans.”

  5 Public critiques of the program’s: Ibid.

  6 “The problem will be”: Vinocur, “Germans Buy TV ‘Holocaust.’ “

  7 One station, Westdeutscher Rundfunk: Dreisbach, “Holocaust in America and West Germany.”

  8 After the program: Vinocur, “Germans Hard Hit by TV ‘Holocaust.’ “

  CHAPTER 36

  1 Tano Pisano never expected: Gaetano Pisano, interviews with authors.

  2 The unassuming little gatekeeper’s: http://www.cottagerne.dk/den-gule-cottage/den-gule-cottage/historien-om-huset.aspx?lang=en.

  3 His idea was to move: Rüdiger Heim, interviews with authors.

  4 “people from every corner”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, September 4–10, 1978.

  5 “Here and there I had small romances”: Ibid.

  6 “I’m afraid this is not a long letter”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, Copenhagen, January 22–25, 1979.

  7 He did not know that packages: Leitender Oberstaatsanwalt investigative file, undated.

  8 “When Gretl awoke one morning”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, February 27, 1979, March 3 and 5, 1979.

  CHAPTER 37

  1 One week after the national: “Hinten raus,” Der Spiegel.

  2 “Soon bombs are going”: Dr. Klaus Frobel to Oberstaatsanwalt Dr. Haehling von Lanzenauer, March 13, 1979.

  3 Steinacker personally visited: Fritz Steinacker, interviews with authors.

  4 Rüdiger drove down: Rüdiger Heim, interviews with authors.

  CHAPTER 38

  1 “I can’t believe that”: “Flüchtiger KZ-Arzt bezieht Einkünfte aus Mietshaus,” Der Tagesspiegel.

  2 “We want to speak with an attorney”: “Riesenaufregung um ein Haus in Tiergarten,” B.Z., Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  3 “a new owner”: “Eine Hausgemeinschaft kämpft gegen unselige faschistische Vergangenheit,” Wahrheit.

  4 The vandal left a note: Berlin police report, February 27, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  5 Even state television: Message, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  6 “the house be placed immediately”: “Offener Brief an die Parteien und Verbände,” Die Mieter des Hauses Tile-Wardenberg-Str. 28, February 27, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  7 “Countless Jewish fellow citizens”: Wurche to Senator Ulrich, March 6, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  8 “The authorities have been aware”: Siegried Thiemert (Beauftragter der Mietergemeinschaft, Tile-Wardenberg-Str. 28) to Innensenator, March, 14, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  9 The former minister: http://www.berlin.de/sen/inneres/innensenatoren/lipschitz.html.

  10 Under it, the independent panel: E.U., SenInn (could be Brinkmeier, Wiesenthal writes back to Brinkmeier), to Wiesenthal, November 2, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  11 The head of Berlin’s Jewish: Heinz Galinski to Brinkmeier, October 5, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  12 “He immediately smelled”: Ernst R. Zivier, interview with authors.

  13 He learned that Heim: I B 2—0258 23754/78 Vermerk: Betr.: Dr. med. Aribert Heim, geb. 28.6.1914, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  14 Magen’s first instinct: Konzentrationslager Mauthausen Kommandatur to Frau Dorothea Schifftan, November 10, 1941, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  15 “the results of their investigation”: Magen to the Staatsanwaltschaft Baden-Baden, November 1, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  16 “I regret once again”: Oberstaatsanwalt Wieser to Senator für Inneres Berlin, November 30, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  17 “I am under the impression”: Wiesenthal to Brinkmeier, November 21, 1978, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  18 Then the Heim case broke: “Flüchtiger KZ-Arzt soll nicht mehr von Mieteinnahmen leben,” Frankfurter Rundschau.

  CHAPTER 39

  1 “goal of the procedure”: E.U. to the Landgericht Linz, February 13, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  2 It came to the
conclusion: Office of the Senator für Finanzen to the Senator für Inneres, May 4, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  3 It sent inspectors: Scherf, from Der Senator für Bau- und Wohnungswesen, “V bA 6—6537/02.97/4,” March 16, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 6.

  4 He assessed the value: Ibid.

  5 “They fear that evidence”: “Hinten raus,” Der Spiegel.

  6 The Berlin authorities appealed: E.U. to Dr. Heinz Eyrich (Justizminister des Landes Württemberg), February 9, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  7 “reason to believe”: “Simon Wiesenthal jagt SS-Arzt aus der Tile-Wardenbergstrasse 28,” Berliner Morgenpost.

  8 “I hope as soon as possible”: Brinkmeier to Wiesenthal, February 16, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  9 City authorities filed: Antrag auf Eröffnung eines Sühneverfahrens, March 29, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  10 “The personal appearance”: Spruchkammer Berlin I B—0258 (Dr. Heim) SprKa 124/79, April 27, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  11 “definitely still alive”: Aedtner to Busek, April 12, 1979, LKA Kapitel 14, p. 9.

  12 The moment Fritz Steinacker submitted: Letter from Referat 906, Gutzsche, May 7, 1979.

  13 There was no evidence: Untersuchungsbericht, LKA Baden-Württemberg, May 17, 1979.

  14 As if to prove: “15 000 Mark Belohnung,” B.Z.

  15 Although there had been: Landgericht Baden-Baden Strafkammer III, Beschluss, June 13, 1979.

  16 Then, under severe political pressure: Klemp, KZ-Arzt Aribert Heim, p. 169.

  17 “A trip to Berlin is impossible”: Rieger to the Senator für Inneres, March 10, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  18 “I would like to answer”: Payerl to the Senator für Inneres, March 15, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  19 “judge what decision”: Magen to Payerl, March 20, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 4.

  20 “Imagine for a moment”: Payerl to the Senator für Inneres, March 23, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  21 “As a witness in the criminal matter”: Lotter to the Senator für Inneres, April 24, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  CHAPTER 40

  1 The large room on the eleventh floor: Spruchkammer Berlin, Ladung, May 3, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  2 “No,” the defense attorney answered: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  3 Although lawyers from: Ernst R. Zivier, interview with authors.

  4 “part of the enforcement clique”: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  5 The witness statements: “Teil der Vollstreckungsclique um Hitler,” Der Tagesspiegel.

  6 “deadly silent”: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  7 “26 to 30 prisoners incapable”: Karl Kaufmann, testimony, Bezirksgericht, Linz, Austria, May 18, 1949.

  8 “Countless Jews were liquidated”: Ibid.

  9 Only then would he give: Josef Kohl, testimony, October 28, 1949.

  10 “a markedly perverse mass murderer”: Karl Lotter, testimony, July 6, 1949.

  11 “taking the air away”: “Alles ‘Latrinengerüchte,’ ” Die Tageszeitung.

  12 A former member of the SS: Vernehmungsniederschrift, Otto Kleingünther, April 12, 1962.

  13 Lotter and Kaufmann both remembered: Antrag auf Eröffnung eines Sühneverfahrens, March 29, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  14 “All testified in agreement”: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  15 Steinacker did not answer: “Teil der Vollstreckungsclique um Hitler,” Der Tagesspiegel.

  16 “Dr. Heim rejects all”: “KZ-Arzt verurteilt!,” Bild.

  17 “Based on the information”: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  18 Heim’s name appeared: Kranebitter, “Aribert Heim, Lagerarzt im KZ Mauthausen,” pp. 87–88.

  19 Referring to a handwritten letter: “NS-Verb Rechen,” Der Spiegel.

  20 “a medium was speaking”: Ibid.

  21 Considering that several: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  22 “polemical and not precise”: “Teil der Vollstreckungsclique um Hitler,” Der Tagesspiegel.

  23 Many witnesses described events: Ibid.

  24 “picked apart” the statements: “Alles ‘Latrinengerüchte,’ ” Die Tageszeitung.

  25 Legally, his client’s fortune: “NS-Verb Rechen,” Der Spiegel.

  26 By the time the decision: Voss-Dietrich, “Untergetauchter SS-Arzt Verliert Sein Miethaus in Moabit.”

  27 “The crimes we heard”: “Ex-SS Doctor Is Fined $255,000 in Germany for the Killing of Jews,” New York Times.

  28 “because it was no movie”: “Geldstrafe im Verfahren gegen Heim,” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

  29 It levied a fine: “Ex-SS Doctor Is Fined $255,000 in Germany for the Killing of Jews,” New York Times.

  30 “The Spruchkammer announces the verdict”: “Alles ‘Latrinengerüchte,’ ” Die Tageszeitung.

  CHAPTER 41

  1 Rifai hoped that after: Abdelmoneim el Rifai, interviews with authors.

  2 Buediger had sent his report: Report on Anti-Semitism, distribution list, December 1977–April 1978.

  3 “Till now, the mass”: Report on Anti-Semitism, English version, p. 12. 172 “the accurate and true justice”: Ibid., p. 13.

  4 “It was understood”: Tarek Abdelmoneim el Rifai, interview with authors.

  5 “I remember that when Egypt”: Mrs. Abdelmoneim el Rifai, interview with authors.

  6 “absolute dominator of all German agencies”: Aribert Heim, Response, March 19, 1979.

  7 “my school-age children”: Aribert Heim to Lothar Späth, unsent letter, July 26, 1979.

  8 “Greuelpropaganda”: Ibid.

  9 “the only one constantly informed”: Ibid.

  10 “into contact with athletes”: Ibid.

  11 Heim also highlighted: Pauline Kuchelbacher, Erklärung an Eides-Statt, n.d.

  12 “Only through athletic occupation”: Heim to Späth, unsent letter, July 26, 1979.

  13 “I lost eight years to war”: Ibid.

  14 “try to accomplish a dissection”: Ibid.

  15 “No one can deny”: Ibid.

  16 “The little man alone”: Ibid.

  17 “the citizen must be prepared”: Aribert Heim, unlabeled document page.

  CHAPTER 42

  1 The postcards were sent to Chancellor: Segev, Simon Wiesenthal, p. 352.

  2 The head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center: Ibid., p. 354.

  3 “There should be absolutely”: Walters, Hunting Evil, p. 513.

  4 On July 3, the Bundestag: Vinocur, “Bonn Parliament Vote Abolishes Time Limit on War-Crime Cases.”

  5 “During the debate”: Aribert Heim, unlabeled document page.

  6 The family could feel cold stares: Friedl Heim and Rüdiger Heim, interviews with authors.

  7 “In my letter from March 12”: Magen to Bechtold, September 11, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  8 “completely taken aback”: Dr. Klaus Froebel and Dr. Uta Schueler, Rechtsanwälte, to the Senator für Inneres Berlin, September 14, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 1.

  9 “Don’t worry about”: Rüdiger Heim to Aribert Heim, October 28–30, 1979.

  CHAPTER 43

  1 The rules had changed: Fritz Steinacker, filing to the Berufungsspruchkammer, “Aufhebung des Urteils der Spruchkammer Berlin vom 13. 6. 1979
,” December 3, 1979, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 2.

  2 Steinacker then asked: “Anwalt forderte ‘faires Verfahren’ gegen untergetauchten KZ-Arzt,” Tagesspiegel.

  3 “At least three cases”: Protokoll, Öffentliche Sitzung der Berufungsspruchkammer Berlin, Az.: BerKa 157/79, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 2.

  4 The penalty of 510,000: “KZ-Arzt erneut verurteilt,” Frankfurter Rundschau.

  5 On March 7, 1980: Office of the Senator für Inneres to Steinacker, March 7, 1980; Finanzamt für Erbschaft- und Verkehrsteuern, May 13, 1988, Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 031-02-01, Nr. 12713, Band 8.

  6 “in the territory of the Federal Republic”: Landgericht Baden-Baden Strafkammer III, Beschluss, June 13, 1979.

  7 “twitching and convulsing”: Hans Wolter to Oberstaatsanwalt von Lanzenauer, July 4, 1979.

  8 At the Lübeck South police precinct: Vernehmungsniederschrift, Erwin Balczuhn, August 24, 1979, Steinacker file.

  9 The doctor had probably: Vernehmung in der Ermittlungssache gegen Dr. Heim, December 19, 1979, Steinacker file.

  10 “countless pictures of the accused”: Ibid.

  11 His Austrian colleagues sent: Bundesministerium für Inneres, April 8, 1980, Aribert Heim File (2), Wiesenthal Archive.

  CHAPTER 44

  1 Aedtner’s hopes for: Aedtner to Busek, April 12, 1979, Aribert Heim File (1), Wiesenthal Archive.

  2 Five men in five cities: Simon Wiesenthal to Aedtner, September 6, 1979, Aribert Heim File (1), Wiesenthal Archive.

  3 “A picture of Heim appeared”: “KZ-Arzt Heim offenbar in Caracas,” Der Tagesspiegel.

  4 “Since it would be”: Wiesenthal to Aedtner, November 11, 1979, Aribert Heim File (2), Wiesenthal Archive.

  5 “We would be very grateful”: Wiesenthal to Mound, June 18, 1980, and Mound to Wiesenthal, June 23, 1980, Aribert Heim File (2), Wiesenthal Archive.