Karl Löffler
Encyclopedia
Karl Löffler was a German
Nazi who was head of the "Jewish Desk" (or Jewish Affairs) department of the Gestapo
in Cologne, Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. As such he was in charge of coordinating the deportations of the Jewish community of Cologne to concentration camps.
After the war, Löffler was fully exonerated by the Denazification
courts of Cologne after receiving positive recommendations from the heads of the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish churches in Cologne. He appealed successively to have his pension restored, to have his pension increased to account for his promotions, and to have his promotions during his Gestapo service recognized.
Historian Eric A. Johnson used Löffler as an example of what he called "local Eichmanns" in his book, Nazi Terror: The Gestapo, Jews, and Ordinary Germans.
Johnson points out that local Gestapo
chiefs were usually prosecuted, but Gestapo officials below that level were often not.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Nazi who was head of the "Jewish Desk" (or Jewish Affairs) department of the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in Cologne, Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. As such he was in charge of coordinating the deportations of the Jewish community of Cologne to concentration camps.
After the war, Löffler was fully exonerated by the Denazification
Denazification
Denazification was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of any remnants of the National Socialist ideology. It was carried out specifically by removing those involved from positions of influence and by disbanding or rendering...
courts of Cologne after receiving positive recommendations from the heads of the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish churches in Cologne. He appealed successively to have his pension restored, to have his pension increased to account for his promotions, and to have his promotions during his Gestapo service recognized.
Historian Eric A. Johnson used Löffler as an example of what he called "local Eichmanns" in his book, Nazi Terror: The Gestapo, Jews, and Ordinary Germans.
Johnson points out that local Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
chiefs were usually prosecuted, but Gestapo officials below that level were often not.