Who Is Klaus Barbie? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Klaus Barbie was born on October 25, 1913, in Germany and served as an infamous leader of the Gestapo during World War II. He is often referred to as the "Butcher of Lyon" due to his brutal tactics and relentless pursuit of resistance fighters. After the war, Barbie fled to South America, where he lived under a false identity until his capture and subsequent extradition to France in the 1980s. His trials drew global attention to war crimes and legacy issues from the Holocaust.
In 2025, Klaus Barbie would have been 111 years old, but he passed away on September 25, 1991. His complex life continues to spark discussions around morality, justice, and the consequences of extreme ideologies.
| Occupation | Service |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 25, 1913 |
| Age | 77 Years |
| Birth Place | Godesberg, German Empire |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | France |
| Date of death | 25 September, 1991 |
| Died Place | Lyon, France |
Popularity
Klaus Barbie's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Klaus Barbie's height and weight are not widely documented, as a male figure of his era, he likely fell within the average height parameters of the time and maintained a typical physique for a Nazi officer. These specifics remain largely irrelevant given his controversial legacy.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Klaus Barbie's personal life was marked by his tumultuous relationships, predominantly affected by his notorious reputation. He was married to a woman named Georgette, and together they had children. However, the details of his intimate relationships are overshadowed by his war crimes, making it difficult to discern his true relationship status amidst the chaos of his actions.
The Barbie family came from Merzig, in the Saar near the border with France. In 1914, his father, also named Nikolaus, was conscripted to fight in the First World War. He was wounded in the neck at Verdun and captured by the French, and he never recovered his health.
Until 1923, when he was 10, Klaus Barbie attended the local school where his father taught. Afterwards, he attended a boarding school in Trier, and was relieved to be away from his father, who abused him. In 1925, the entire Barbie family moved to Trier.
Net Worth and Salary
Klaus Barbie amassed wealth through various means, including his involvement in post-war logistics and other business ventures in South America. While exact figures remain speculative, estimates suggest his net worth could have been substantial given his clandestine operations. However, it is essential to recognize that such wealth was tainted with the blood of his victims and the legacy of his actions.
In 1965, Barbie was recruited by the West German foreign intelligence agency Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), under the codename and the registration number V-43118. His initial monthly salary of 500 Deutsche Marks was transferred in May 1966 to an account of the Chartered Bank of London in San Francisco.
During his time with the BND, Barbie made at least 35 reports to the BND headquarters in Pullach.
Career, Business, and Investments
Barbie's career as a Gestapo officer facilitated his severe rise to notoriety. After the war, he became involved in several businesses, reportedly connected to arms dealing and drug trafficking, which allowed him to maintain a low profile. Despite his criminal background, Barbie capitalized on the chaotic post-war infrastructure in South America.
Nikolaus Barbie (25 October 1913 – 25 September 1991) was a German officer of the Schutzstaffel and Sicherheitsdienst who worked in Vichy France during World War II. He became known as the "Butcher of Lyon" for having personally tortured prisoners—primarily Jews and members of the French Resistance—as the head of the Gestapo in Lyon.
After the war, United States intelligence services employed him for his anti-communist efforts and aided his escape to Bolivia, where he advised the dictatorial regime on how to repress opposition through torture. In 1983, the United States apologised to France for the U.S.
Counterintelligence Corps helping him escape to Bolivia, aiding Barbie's escape from an outstanding arrest warrant.
Social Network
With a history of evasion and secrecy, Klaus Barbie’s social connections primarily consisted of wartime comrades and individuals involved in organized crime. His life was tightly circumscribed by the need for security and anonymity, deeply isolating him from the outside world as he tried to escape his past.
* The British–French documentary film My Enemy's Enemy is the story of Klaus Barbie, following him through World War II and post-war hiding journey in Bolivia. It depicts his involvement in the assassination of Che Guevara. It also discusses his French trial for war crimes committed in Lyon, such as the torture of Jean Moulin.
Education
Details regarding Klaus Barbie's formal education are sparse. He was a product of the institutional framework of Nazi Germany, which focused on loyalty to the party and militaristic education rather than conventional academia. His training as a Gestapo officer would have sufficed for his role during the war, though it came at a grave moral cost.
It has been estimated that Barbie was directly responsible for the deportation of up to 14,000 Jews and resistance fighters, personally participating in roundups such as the Rue Sainte-Catherine Roundup which saw 84 people arrested in a single day.
He arrested Jean Moulin, a high-ranking member of the French Resistance and his most prominent captive. In 1943, he was awarded the Iron Cross (First Class) by Adolf Hitler for his campaign against the French Resistance and the capture of Moulin.
