Barbie, Klauss fr

Country of proceedings: France
Context of crimes: World War II (France)
Date: 1982 – 1987
Keywords: Crimes against humanity, torture, statute of limitations

Klaus Barbie held the rank of ‘hauptsturmführer’ in the German SS (Schutzstaffel) and became the regional head of the Gestapo (secret police) in Lyon in 1942, in occupied France. He was referred to as the ‘Butcher of Lyon’ on account of notorious interrogating style. After the war, Barbie was recruited and protected by the Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) of the United States, which later helped him emigrate to Bolivia.

Barbie was tried twice in absentia by a French military tribunal (Tribunal permanent des forces armées de Lyon), on 29 April 1952 and 25 November 1954 respectively, and sentenced to death for war crimes (torture, executions, deportations, pillages). In 1982, an arrest warrant was issued after he was discovered in Bolivia where he was living under an alias. Barbie was deported to France on 4 February 1983.

Two years later, on 4 October 1985, the Chambre d’accusation of the Court of Appeal of Lyon declared the charges against Klaus Barbie (unlawful detention, torture, deportation, wilful killing) invalid. On 20 December 1985, the Cour de cassation (the highest court in the French judicial order) annulled this decision, allowing the case to proceed. The subsequent trial began in May 1987. On 4 July 1987, Barbie was sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity. He died in prison on 25 September 1991.

Court documents (in French)

03-06-1988 – Cour de cassation : confirmation de la condamnation
09-03-1988 – Cour de cassation : arrêt
20-12-1985 – Cour de cassation : renvoi devant la cour d’appel de Paris
26-01-1984 – Cour de cassation : arrêt
06-10-1983 – Cour de cassation : arrêt (extradition)