The story of events that have occurred in the past. - Macron presents Beate and Klarsfeld, renowned Nazis pursuers, with an honorary title.
President Emmanuel Macron of France praised and honored Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, a German-French couple who've been lifelong pursuers of Nazi perpetrators, during his state visit in Berlin. These two individuals received prestigious French awards for their efforts in ensuring justice for those responsible for the persecution of Jews and for providing a lasting remembrance for the victims.
Beate Klarsfeld, aged 85, was made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, while Serge Klarsfeld, aged 88, received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. In his speech, Macron recognized their dedication as "fighters for remembrance and fighters for justice," as well as for the importance of their work to keep history from forgetting the victims of the Holocaust. Inspired by their efforts, Macron mentioned that these awards allowed both countries to confront their histories directly.
The Klarsfelds are often referred to as "Nazi hunters" due to their decades-long pursuit of hiding Nazi perpetrators. An example of their work is when they tracked down Klaus Barbie, a feared Gestapo chief who fled to Bolivia, which occurred in the 1970s. They're also well-known alongside Simon Wiesenthal as leading pursuers of Nazi perpetrators.
In the past, Beate Klarsfeld worked as an au pair in Paris before meeting her husband, Serge—who's the son of a Jew murdered in Auschwitz. Together, they've published numerous publications, including one on over 80,000 victims of Nazi persecution in France. In a significant work, they've also collected information and photos about the murdered Jewish children of France. Throughout their years, both Beate and Serge received various honors, such as the Federal Cross of Merit in 2015, for their historical dedication and work against anti-Semitism.
In 1968, Beate Klarsfeld made headlines when she received an ear slap while aiming to bring attention to Kurt Georg Kiesinger's Nazi past. He was a CDU politician who was a member of the NSDAP and worked for the Reich Foreign Ministry during the Nazi era. Macron commended Beate's lifelong commitment, saying, "Your fight against forgetting has changed the conscience of Germany." Meanwhile, Serge Klarsfeld has spent years presenting evidence linking French authorities' complicity with the Nazis in the persecution of Jews.
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- During his state visit in Berlin, President Emmanuel Macron of France honored Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, a German-French couple known for pursuing Nazi perpetrators, with prestigious French awards.
- The Klarsfelds, now aged 85 and 88 respectively, were recognized for their lifetime commitment to ensuring justice for Holocaust victims and preserving their memories.
- Serge Klarsfeld received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, while Beate Klarsfeld was appointed a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor by Macron.
- Macron highlighted the Klarsfelds' work as "fighters for remembrance and justice," stressing the importance of acknowledging the victims of National Socialism in both France and Germany's histories.
- The Klarsfelds, often referred to as "Nazi hunters," have made significant contributions to uncovering the past, such as tracking down Klaus Barbie, a notorious Gestapo chief in Bolivia, and publishing numerous publications on the victims of Nazi persecution.
Source: www.stern.de
