Beate Klarsfeld honoured: Germany's top Nazi hunter awarded Federal Cross of Merit for bringing war criminals to justice
In 1968, she struck West German President Georg Kiesinger across the ear in protest against his work for Adolf Hitler's propaganda machine
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is probably the most famous “ear boxing” bout in post-war European history. In 1968, Beate Klarsfeld shocked West Germany by walking into a Christian Democrat Party conference and belting the country’s conservative president across the ear. Now, 47 years on she is to be awarded the nation’s highest accolade.
Berlin’s presidential office announced that German-born Nazi hunter, 76, and her French husband Serge Klarsfeld, 79, are to be presented with Germany’s “Federal Cross of Merit” in belated recognition of their efforts in bringing Nazi war criminals to justice.
The award is an attempt to end years of controversy surrounding Mrs Klarsfeld. Shouting “Nazi, Nazi, Nazi” she struck President Georg Kiesinger across the ear in 1968, in protest against his former Nazi party membership and his work for Adolf Hitler’s propaganda machine. She was arrested and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment, but it was reduced to a four months suspended sentence on appeal. Despite being honoured abroad, she remained ostracised in Germany.
The Klarsfelds are among the world’s most famous Nazi hunters. Their biggest success was the unmasking of the former SS officer Klaus Barbie, the infamous “Butcher of Lyon”.
Germany’s formerly communist Left Party nominated Mrs Klarsfeld for the “Federal Cross of Merit” in 2009 but it was blocked. Germany’s current President, Joachim Gauck then said after his election in 2012 that he would make his own decision.