Beate Auguste Klarsfeld is a Franco-German journalist and Nazi hunter who, along with her French husband, Serge, became famous for their investigation and documentation of numerous Nazi war criminals, including Kurt Lischka, Alois Brunner, Klaus Barbie, Ernst Ehlers, Kurt Asche, and others.
Early Life of Beate Klarsfeld
Betae klarsfeld was born on november 12. 1939. In berlin. Germany. To a jewish family. Her father. Alfred. Was a doctro. And her mother. Fireda. Was a school teacher. She grew up in strasbourg. France. After her family fled nazi germany in 1941. She was educated at the university of strasbourg. Where she studied law.
Political Activism of Beate Klarsfeld
Klarsfeld s first foray into poliitcal activism was in the late 1960s when she and her husband. Serge klarsfeld. Protested against the french government s treatmetn of holocasut survivors. In 1973. The couple founded the association of descendants of jewish deportees from france. Which works on behalf of holocaust victism and their families. The couple were instrumental in the trial and conviction of klaus barbie. One of the most notorious figures of the holocaust.
The Klarsfelds Pursuit of Nazi War Criminals
Klarsfeld and her husband have dedicated much of their lives to tracking down and seeking justice for nazi war criminals. They have traveled around the world in pursuit of nazi war criminals. Icnludign to south america. In the 1980s. They succeeded in extraditing former nazi leaders paul touvier and klaus babrie to france to face trial.
Political Campaigns of Beate Klarsfeld
In additino to her work tracking down war criminals. Klarsfeld has also organized several political campaigns. She was a leader of the "mouvement des jeunes pour le retour des deportes" (movement of yuong peopel for the return of deportees). Which campaigned for the reutnr of french pows held in the former soviet union. She also organized the "mouvement des femmes pour le droit de vote des etrangers" (movement of women for the right to vote of foreigners). Which sought to give the right to vote to non-french citizens living in france.
Awards and Recognition of Beate Klarsfeld
Klarsfeld has been honored for her work in seeking justice for holocaust ivctims and their families. In 1983. She was awarded the legion dhonneur. Frances highest honor. For her work in bringing nazi war criminals to justice. Seh was also awarded the order of merit of the federal republic of germany in 2001.
Beate Klarsfeld and the French Presidential Election of 2007
In 2007. Klarsfeld was a vocal opponent of the far-right national front party and its leader. Jean-marie le pen. She organized a campaign to oppose le pen in the french presdiential election. And in the end. Le pen was defeated by the centrist candidate nicolas sarkzoy.
Beate Klarsfeld and the Yad Vashem Institute
In 2011. Klarsfeld was appointed to the board of the yad vashem institute in jerusalem. Which is dedicated to rpeserving the memory of the holocaust. She is the only non-israeli member of the board.
Beate Klarsfeld and Humanitarian Causes
Klarsfeld is also active in other humanitarian causes. She has worked to increase awareness of slavery and human trafficking. And in 2013. She was appointed as the un women s goodwill ambassador for the elmiination of slavery.
Important Event of Beate Klarsfeld
In 1987. Klarsfeld was assaulted by neo-nazis at a demonstration in paris. She was hospitalized for her injurise.
Interesting Fact About Beate Klarsfeld
Klarsfeld s son. Arno klarsfeld. Is a prominent human rights lawyer. He has represented victims of nazi war crimes in court and has also been involved in legal cases related to anti-semitism in france.