Karl Wolff

Karl Friedrich Otto Wolff (13 May 1900 – 17 July 1984) was a German SS functionary who served as Chief of Personal Staff Reichsführer-SS (Heinrich Himmler) and an SS liaison to Adolf Hitler during World War II. He ended the war as the Supreme SS and Police Leader in occupied Italy and helped arrange for the early surrender of Axis forces in that theatre, effectively ending the war there several days sooner than in the rest of Europe. He escaped prosecution at the Nuremberg Trials as a result of his participation in Operation Sunrise. In 1962, Wolff was re-arrested and prosecuted in West Germany for the deportation of Polish Jews, and he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for being an accessory to murder in 1964. He was released in 1971 due to his failing health, but died 13 years later.

Karl Wolff
Wolff in 1937
Birth nameKarl Friedrich Otto Wolff
Born(1900-05-13)13 May 1900
Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire
Died17 July 1984(1984-07-17) (aged 84)
Rosenheim, Bavaria, West Germany
AllegianceGerman Empire
Nazi Germany
Years of service1917–1918
1931–1945
RankSS-Obergruppenführer
UnitSchutzstaffel
Commands heldChief, Personal Staff Reichsführer-SS
Supreme SS and Police Leader, occupied Italy
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsIron Cross, German Cross in Gold
RelationsFatima Grimm (daughter)
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