Alois Brunner

Alois Brunner

Alois Brunner (born April 8, 1912) is an Austrian Nazi war criminal who was Adolph Eichmann's right hand man. He was a trouble shooter for the SS deportations to concentration camps from France and, through his role in these deportations, he is considered responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Jews.

Brunner was born in Rohrbrunn, Austria. He lost an eye and several fingers from letter bombs sent to him years ago by Israel's intelligence services.

While unsuccessfully hunted by Simon Wiesenthal, he is believed to live in Damascus, Syria using the alias "Dr. Georg Fischer". In December 1999, rumors surfaced saying that he had died in 1996 and had been buried. However, German journalists visiting Syria said Brunner was living at the Meridian Hotel in Damascus. On March 2, 2001, he was found guilty in absentia by a French court for crimes against humanity.