Erich Priebke, convicted in Nazi massacre, dies aged 100

Former SS captain was sentenced to life for taking part in one of worst atrocities in Italy during WWII

By AP and JTA 11 October 2013, 5:05 pm
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A 1996 file photo, showing former Nazi officer, Erich Priebke, attending an hearing of his trial at the tribunal in Rome. Erich Priebke, an ex SS captain sentenced to life for the 1944's Ardeatine caves massacre in Italy, died at 100. (Photo credit: AP /Giulio Broglio, File)
A 1996 file photo, showing former Nazi officer, Erich Priebke, attending an hearing of his trial at the tribunal in Rome. Erich Priebke, an ex SS captain sentenced to life for the 1944's Ardeatine caves massacre in Italy, died at 100. (Photo credit: AP /Giulio Broglio, File)

ROME — News reports say Erich Priebke, a former Nazi SS captain sentenced to life in prison for his role in one of the worst atrocities by German occupiers in Italy during World War II, has died.

The LaPresse news agency quoted Priebke’s lawyer Paolo Giachini as saying Priebke died Friday at age 100. Because of his age, Priebke had served his term under house arrest at Giachini’s home.

In 1994, Priebke was extradited to Italy from Argentina and put on trial for his role in the 1944 massacre outside Rome. Nazi forces killed 335 civilians to avenge an attack by resistance fighters that killed 33 members of a Nazi military police unit a day earlier.

Priebke admitted shooting two people and rounding up victims, but insisted he was only following orders.

In July, Priebke celebrated his 100th birthday as protesters scuffled outside his residence with a young man described as his relative.

Scores of protesters gathered outside his building for a sit-in organized by Project Dreyfus, a Facebook group that fights anti-Semitism. Police intervened when some of the protesters started to brawl with the supposed relative, who appeared with a bottle of champagne to toast the former SS captain.

The protesters affixed a banner outside Priebke’s building listing the names of the 335 people killed in the caves.

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