en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Priebke
3 corrections found
From 1936, he worked for the Waffen-SS
This misstates Priebke’s early service. He entered the Gestapo in December 1936 and joined the SS in 1937; the source biography identifies his formation as the Gestapo/Sicherheitsdienst, not the Waffen-SS.
Full reasoning
The wording is inaccurate in two ways. First, the biographical record on the NS-Täter in Italien project states that on 1 December 1936 Priebke entered the service of the Secret State Police (Gestapo) and that he had already joined the SS in 1937. That directly contradicts the claim that he was working for the Waffen-SS from 1936.
Second, the same source classifies his formation and unit as Gestapo and Sicherheitspolizei und SD, and describes him as a member of Kappler’s Security Police/SD apparatus in Rome. In other words, his career path in the cited period was in the Nazi security-police structure, not as Waffen-SS personnel from 1936.
So the article should not say that Priebke "worked for the Waffen-SS" from 1936.
1 source
- Erich Priebke | NS-Täter in Italien
On 1 December 1936, Priebke entered the service of the Secret State Police (Gestapo). ... He had already joined the SS in 1937. ... Formation Gestapo ... Unit Sicherheitspolizei und SD.
for commanding the unit which was responsible for the Ardeatine massacre
Priebke played a central role in the massacre, but he did not command the responsible unit. Multiple historical sources identify Herbert Kappler as the commander and Priebke as his deputy or subordinate.
Full reasoning
This phrase overstates Priebke’s position. Reliable historical accounts agree that Herbert Kappler commanded the Security Police/SD apparatus in Rome and organized the Ardeatine massacre. Priebke was a key perpetrator—he compiled victim lists, oversaw parts of the operation, and personally shot prisoners—but he was not the commander of the unit.
The NS-Täter in Italien biography describes Priebke as "a close associate of Herbert Kappler" and explicitly says that in Rome "Its core comprised Herbert Kappler, his deputy Erich Priebke". The same source adds that "Under Kappler's direction, Priebke ... took part in the shooting of 335 civilians."
The International Crimes Database likewise states that the massacre "was arranged and perpetrated by Herbert Kappler" and that Priebke and Karl Hass "played a key role" in leading victims to the execution site and overseeing the shooting. That supports describing Priebke as an important participant, but not as the commander of the responsible unit.
2 sources
- Erich Priebke | NS-Täter in Italien
Erich Priebke, an SS-Hauptsturmführer in Rome, was a close associate of Herbert Kappler ... Its core comprised Herbert Kappler, his deputy Erich Priebke ... Under Kappler's direction, Priebke participated ... in the murder of 335 civilians.
- Public Prosecutor v. Karl Hass and Erich Priebke | International Crimes Database
Although the reprisal was ordered by Hitler, the massacre was arranged and perpetrated by Herbert Kappler ... Captain Erich Priebke and Major Karl Hass both played a key role in the massacre leading the condemned to the place of execution and overseeing their shooting.
the Argentinian supreme court decided that Priebke was to be extradited to Italy in 1996
The extradition decision was not made in 1996. Argentina’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of extradition in November 1995, and Priebke was flown to Italy later that same month.
Full reasoning
This date is incorrect. Multiple historical/legal sources place both the Argentine Supreme Court ruling and the extradition in 1995, not 1996.
The NS-Täter in Italien biography states that on 2 November 1995, Argentina's Supreme Court ruled in favour of Italy, and that in 1995 Priebke was extradited to Italy. The International Crimes Database is even more specific, stating that Priebke remained in Argentina until 21 November 1995, when he was extradited to Italy.
So the article's statement that the Argentine Supreme Court decided on extradition "in 1996" is off by about a year.
2 sources
- Erich Priebke | NS-Täter in Italien
On 2 November 1995, Argentina's Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favour of Italy. ... In 1995, after decades in Argentina, Priebke was extradited to Italy.
- Public Prosecutor v. Karl Hass and Erich Priebke | International Crimes Database
After World War II, Priebke escaped from Europe and took refuge in Argentina until 21 November 1995, when he was extradited to Italy.