Herbert Kappler and wife, Anneliese Kappler standing, showing documents. 1972 Kappler - Vintage Photograph

Herbert Kappler (23 September 1907 – 9 February 1978) was the head of German police and security services (Oberbefehlshaber des Sicherheitspolizei und SD) in Rome during the Second World War. He rose to the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer and was responsible for the Ardeatine massacre as well as dealing with Vatican City over its wartime neutrality. By 1975, at the age of sixty-eight, Kappler was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he was moved to a military hospital in Rome in 1976. Appeals by both his wife and the West German government to release him were denied by Italian authorities. Because of Kappler's deteriorating condition and his wife's nursing skills, Anneliese Kappler had been allowed almost unlimited access to him during his time in the Italian hospital. On a prison visit in August 1977, Kappler's wife carried him out in a large suitcase (Kappler weighed about 47 kg at the time) and escaped to West Germany, assisted by apparently unwitting carabinieri. Anneliese Kappler, a nurse who had carried on a lengthy correspondence with Kappler before marrying him Herbert Kappler (23 September 1907 – 9 February 1978) was the head of German police and security services (Oberbefehlshaber des Sicherheitspolizei und SD) in Rome during the Second World War. He rose to the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer and was responsible for the Ardeatine massacre as well as dealing with Vatican City over its wartime neutrality. By 1975, at the age of sixty-eight, Kappler was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he was moved to a military hospital in Rome in 1976. Appeals by both his wife and the West German government to release him were denied by Italian authorities. Because of Kappler's deteriorating condition and his wife's nursing skills, Anneliese Kappler had been allowed almost unlimited access to him during his time in the Italian hospital. On a prison visit in August 1977, Kappler's wife carried him out in a large suitcase (Kappler weighed about 47 kg at the time) and escaped to West Germany, assisted by apparently unwitting carabinieri. Anneliese Kappler, a nurse who had carried on a lengthy correspondence with Kappler before marrying him

Dimensions: 21 x 27.6 cm

IMS SKU: SCAN-NOP-00539321

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