Almyre Simondant, former Gestapo agent charged with having betrayed hundreds of Jews to the Nazis during the German occupation of France, was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor today. The prosecution did not ask for imposition of the death penalty for the defendant, who had pleaded guilty to all but one of a series of charges against him.
Jewish witnesses told the court that Simondant, on the pretense that be was smuggling Jews into Vichy French territory, advised his victims to bring with them as much baggage as possible, as well as all of their jewels and other valuables. Instead of taking them into Vichy France, Simonidant’s truck transported the Jews to Belgium where they were transferred to trains waiting to deport them to Nazi death camps in the East.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
