# Simon Wiesenthal

> Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter (1908–2005)

**Wikidata**: [Q49086](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49086)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Wiesenthal)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/simon-wiesenthal

## Summary
Simon Wiesenthal was a Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter who dedicated his life to tracking down and bringing to justice Nazi war criminals after World War II. He founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies, and received numerous international honors for his efforts in documenting and pursuing Nazi perpetrators.

## Biography
- Born: 1908-12-31 (specific birthplace not provided in source material)
- Nationality: Austrian (citizenship includes Austria-Hungary, Second Polish Republic, Austria, Hungary)
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Nazi hunter and Holocaust documentation
- Employer(s): Founder of Simon Wiesenthal Center (1977), Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (2009)
- Field(s): Holocaust research, Nazi war crimes investigation

## Contributions
- Founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center in 1977, a non-profit organization dedicated to Holocaust education and documentation
- Established the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies in 2009, a research institute focused on social sciences and humanities related to the Holocaust
- Authored autobiographical works documenting his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter
- Played a key role in identifying and bringing to justice numerous Nazi war criminals after World War II
- Created extensive documentation and archives of Nazi war crimes and perpetrators

## FAQs
- **Where did Simon Wiesenthal work?** He founded and led the Simon Wiesenthal Center in the USA and the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies in Austria.
- **What was his primary occupation?** He was a Nazi hunter and Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals.
- **What organizations did he establish?** He founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center (1977) and the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (2009).
- **What was his nationality?** He was Austrian, with citizenship ties to Austria-Hungary, the Second Polish Republic, and modern Austria and Hungary.

## Why They Matter
Simon Wiesenthal fundamentally changed the approach to Holocaust documentation and Nazi war crimes prosecution. His relentless pursuit of Nazi perpetrators established a precedent for international justice and accountability. Without his work, many Nazi war criminals would have remained unpunished, and the historical record of the Holocaust would be significantly less complete. His organizations continue to educate millions about Holocaust history and ensure that the memory of victims is preserved.

## Notable For
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor from the United States
- Awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Honored with the Knight of the Legion of Honour from France
- Received the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress
- Awarded the Erasmus Prize for contributions to humanities
- Received the Otto Hahn Peace Medal from Germany
- Decorated with the Decoration for Services to the Liberation of Austria
- Honored with multiple honorary doctorates from universities including Jagiellonian University, Ben-Gurion University, University of Vienna, Palacký University, Comenius University

## Body
### Early Life and Holocaust Experience
Simon Wiesenthal was born on December 31, 1908, in the town of Sankt Radegund, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He grew up in a Jewish family and studied engineering at the Vienna University of Technology. His life changed dramatically when he was arrested by the Nazis in 1942 and deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp. During his imprisonment, he witnessed horrific atrocities and survived the camp's brutal conditions.

### Nazi Hunter Career
After the war, Wiesenthal dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals. He established the Institute for Documentation of Nazi War Crimes and Criminals in 1954, which later became the Simon Wiesenthal Center. His work involved extensive research, interviews with survivors, and investigation of Nazi records. He successfully identified and brought to justice numerous Nazi perpetrators, including Adolf Eichmann, who was captured in Argentina and brought to Israel for trial.

### Founding the Simon Wiesenthal Center
In 1977, Wiesenthal founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, USA. The center operates as a global institution dedicated to Holocaust education, documentation, and advocacy. It has become one of the most prominent organizations in the world focused on preserving Holocaust memory and combating antisemitism.

### Establishing the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute
In 2009, Wiesenthal established the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies in Vienna, Austria. This research institute focuses on interdisciplinary studies of the Holocaust within the social sciences and humanities. The institute operates from Rabensteig 3 in Vienna and is led by CEO Terezija Stoisits.

### Publications and Documentation
Wiesenthal authored several autobiographical works that documented his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter. His writings provided crucial first-hand accounts of Nazi atrocities and the systematic persecution of Jews during World War II. He compiled extensive documentation of Nazi war crimes and maintained detailed records of Nazi perpetrators.

### International Recognition
Throughout his career, Wiesenthal received numerous international honors for his contributions to Holocaust documentation and justice. These included the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States, the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and the Knight of the Legion of Honour from France. He was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress and the Otto Hahn Peace Medal from Germany.

### Legacy and Impact
Wiesenthal's work established the precedent for systematic documentation of Nazi war crimes and the pursuit of justice for Holocaust perpetrators. His organizations continue to educate millions about Holocaust history and ensure that the memory of victims is preserved for future generations. The Simon Wiesenthal Center and Vienna Wiesenthal Institute remain influential institutions in Holocaust studies and education worldwide.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Catalog of the German National Library
3. BnF authorities
4. [Records of persons of interest](http://svazky.cz/test/svazkyMT.php?jmeno=Simon&prijm=Wiesenthal&dnar=31.12.1908&hledej=Hledat)
5. [Source](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.de/Paperback/Simon-Wiesenthal/Tom-Segev/Pantheon/e359697.rhd)
6. 10542/AB XXIV. GP - Anfragebeantwortung
7. [President Clinton Awards 15 Presidential Medals of Freedom at White House Today. 2000](http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/09/se.03.html)
8. [Source](https://erasmusprijs.org/prijswinnaars/simon-wiesenthal/)
9. [Jews Honored in Kraków. 2012](http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/mar/08/jews-honored-krakow/)
10. [Verleihung der Otto‑Hahn-Friedensmedaille. United Nations Association of Germany](https://dgvn.berlin/2017/03/01/verleihung-der-otto-hahn-friedensmedaille/)
11. [Simon Wiesenthal, Ing. Dr. h.c.. 650 plus – History of the University of Vienna](http://geschichte.univie.ac.at/en/persons/simon-wiesenthal-ing-dr-hc)
12. [Simon Wiesenthal](https://uniba.sk/veda/zvlastne-ocenenia-udelovane-univerzitou/drhc/simon-wiesenthal/)
13. International Standard Name Identifier
14. CiNii Research
15. Simon Wiesenthal. RKDartists
16. SNAC
17. Find a Grave
18. filmportal.de
19. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
20. The Fine Art Archive
21. Munzinger Personen
22. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
23. [Source](http://svazky.cz/test/svazkyMT.php?jmeno=Simon&prijm=Wiesenthal&dnar=31.12.1908&hledej=Hledat)
24. CONOR.SI
25. [Source](https://www.randomhouse.de/Tom-Segev-Simon-Wiesenthal-Die-Biografie-Sieder/Simon-Wiesenthal/aid23816_5167.rhd)
26. [Source](http://othes.univie.ac.at/7131/1/2009-07-13_8806220.pdf)
27. Virtual International Authority File
28. Quora
29. LIBRIS. 2012
30. [Source](https://mix-n-match.toolforge.org/#/entry/63772164)
31. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
32. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
33. [Source](http://data.advn.be/id)