Simon Wiesenthal was an Austrian human rights activist who dedicated his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice after being imprisoned in several Nazi concentration camps during World War II Wiesenthal is most famous for his hunt to capture and prosecute notorious war criminal Adolf Eichmann. He was also instrumental in identifying countless other war criminals and bringing them to justice.
1. The Eichmann Capture: Wiesenthal’s hunt for Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann began in 1945, when Eichmann had escaped to Argentina. By 1960, Wiesenthal had gathered more than 170 testimonies and presented them to both Israel and West Germany. He then provided evidence that allowed the Israelis to track down Eichmann and bring him to justice in 1961.
2. Legal Advising: After the Eichmann capture, Wiesenthal continued his search for Nazi war criminals. His efforts to identify these criminals and bring them to justice extended further than just legal cases. Wiesenthal also operated a center for Holocaust survivors, where he provided legal advice and helped survivors receive compensation and restitution.
3. Educating the Public: Wiesenthal also devoted much of his time to educating the public about the Holocaust and the need to prosecute Nazi war criminals. He authored several books and films on the subject and toured the world lecturing on his experiences. He also tirelessly advocated for Holocaust education in schools.
4. Museum of Tolerance: Wiesenthal was instrumental in the founding of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish Human Rights NGO that also operates the Museum of Tolerance, which focuses on educating visitors about the Holocaust and other genocides. Wiesenthal also opened a number of other Holocaust centers throughout the world, including in Jerusalem and Buenos Aires.
5. Holocaust Remembrance Day: Wiesenthal was a champion for memorializing the victims of the Holocaust, and it was largely due to his efforts that the United Nations declared January 27th as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. He also helped create the Memorial at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem to honor Holocaust victims.