DOC Klaus Barbie; the Butcher of Lyons by Tom Bower in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Reopening Old WoundsBy Paul AtreidesA well researched piece on The Butcher of Lyons. Could be regarded as a cliff hanger as the book has not been updated to include the circumstances of his death by cancer in prison at the age of 77. I was raised with the naive belief that the denazification of Germany was a success. Imagine my surprise to discover that so many kept their uniforms in the closet waiting for the birth of the Fourth Reich. Disappointing to read about the French collaborators; so many of them. With all that; the US using Barbie to combat Communism seems to be disproportionately belabored; while in comparison; Barbie's involvement with drug trafficking and the killing of Che was just touched upon in passing. Karma did catch up with Klaus in his family life; but all in all; for an inherently evil man; he had a long and fulfilling life up until his incarceration. The slant of the book does not reflect that Tom Bower has a Jewish background; but as for being an Englishman; well- - - -0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The "Butcher of Lyons"By Tony LesceThis is a searching biography of a Nazi killer who got away with it; having had help from the U.S. Government because it needed the expertise of Barbie and other Nazis in the cold war against the Soviet Union. The U.S. used Barbie's talents in intelligence gathering to promote its own agenda during this time; as it used other Nazi specialists. Barbie had been a member of the Gestapo; the best counter-intelligence police in the history of the world; and his professionalism served the U.S. well.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good historyBy D. SampsonA good history but a boring read. Unless you are a dedicated WWII historian I wouldn't recommend the book.