Pieter Menten

Pieter Nicolaas Menten (May 26, 1899 – November 14, 1987) was a World War II war criminal, businessman, and art collector.

Background

Born into a wealthy Rotterdam family, Menten became interested in Poland through his father's business connections. He soon developed an extensive export trade in Dutch products to Poland. Menten moved to East Galicia in 1923 (then in Poland and later part of the U.S.S.R.'s Ukraine), where he became a wealthy landowner and businessman. Described as mild-mannered and quiet, he developed a deep grudge against a prominent neighboring Jewish family over a business dispute. Menten travelled back to Holland in 1939, when Russia invaded eastern Poland, and returned in 1941 after the Nazi counter-occupation—this time as a member of the SS. According to witnesses, he helped shoot as many members of the offending family in Galicia as he could find, then turned on other Jews in the area.

Trial

While travelling in his personal train with his prized art collection, he was recognized by Dutch Resistance fighters. He was brought to trial, yet Menten had influential associates. His chief defense lawyer was the speaker of the Tweede Kamer (the higher house of the Dutch parliament). The controversial trial concluded in 1949, and Menten was sentenced to an eight-month term for having worked in uniform as a Nazi interpreter. Dutch prosecutors would later ignore allegations by an Israeli journalist claiming that Menten had taken part in the East Galician atrocities. In 1951 the Dutch government also refused a Polish request for Menten's extradition.

Menten would go on to become a successful art collector and businessman. His 20 room mansion was filled with valuable art work (Nicolaes Maes, Francisco Goya, Jan Sluyters, etc.) and he held vast areas of real estate. [ [http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,911921,00.html] Time Magazine, Monday, Dec. 20, 1976. Retrieved Sep. 15, 2007.]

In 1980, the case was reopened. Israeli journalist, Haviv Kenaan, proved that Menten had been responsible for the murder of Kenaan's family and numerous other Jews in Galicia. Menten would serve six years of a 10-year sentence for murdering 20 Jewish villagers in 1941 Poland. Upon his release he believed he would settle in his County Waterford mansion in Ireland only to find out Garret Fitzgerald, Taoiseach at the time, had barred him from the country. [ [http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/destinations/ireland/article1290234.ece] Times Online, January 27, 2007. Retrieved Sep. 17, 2007] Menten died at a senior's home in Loosdrecht, Netherlands.

References