The Testimony of Franz Stangl: A Journey to Justice

Simon Wiesenthal, a renowned figure in the pursuit of Nazi war criminals, has revealed the intriguing story behind the arrest of Franz Stangl, former commandant of the notorious Treblinka and Sobibor murder camps. Stangl's testimony is a testament to the tireless efforts of individuals who have worked tirelessly to bring perpetrators of genocide to justice.

With the cooperation of the Austrian Minister of Justice, a 50-page summary of a 1,000-page Austrian accusation against Stangl was prepared and sent to Brazil by secret couriers. The summary detailed the atrocities committed under Stangl's responsibility, estimated to be over 700,000 deaths. In exchange for revealing Stangl's address, Wiesenthal was promised a payment of $7,000 upon his arrest.

The informant, whose name remains anonymous, initially demanded a hefty sum of $25,000 for providing Stangl's address. However, after further negotiations with high-ranking Brazilians, he reduced the price to 1 cent per victim. This agreement ultimately led to the informant receiving a payment of '2 cents for every man, woman and child killed' under Stangl's responsibility.

Wiesenthal's office had previously been credited with tracking down Adolf Eichmann, leading to his apprehension in Argentina and subsequent sentencing to death and execution in Israel. The informant revealed that he first received information about Stangl's address in 1964 from a former member of the Nazi secret police.

The story of Franz Stangl's arrest in Brazil is a remarkable example of perseverance and dedication to justice. Simon Wiesenthal's efforts, coupled with those of his team, have ensured that war criminals like Stangl will not escape accountability for their heinous crimes.

Franz stangl testimony