- Karl von Spreti
Count Karl Maria
von Spreti (May 21 ,1907 -April 5 ,1970 ) was a Germandiplomat . He is best known as the West German Ambassador toGuatemala from 1968 until his assassination in 1970. The story of his assassination by Guatemalan guerillas was pictured in a 1970 book "Why Karl Von Spreti Died " byRyszard Kapuściński .Von Spreti was born in the
Kapfing Castle nearLandshut to aaristocratic family (his direct ancestor wasLeo von Klenze ). Like his forefather, Karl von Spreti studied architecture. He also joined theBavarian People's Party . After his service in theWorld War II German Army and a short period inAllied captivity he settled inLindau , where he continued his career as an architect and as a local politician for theChristian Social Union of Bavaria .In 1956, Karl von Spreti became West Germany's first ambassador to
Luxembourg since the second world war, and held that post until 1960, when he became the ambassador to Cuba (until 1963) and thenDominican Republic (between 1966 and 1968). Finally he was dispatched toGuatemala during the turbulent times of theGuatemalan Civil War . OnMarch 31 ,1970 he was kidnapped byleftist FAR guerillas inGuatemala City and was murdered onApril 5 of the same year. [cite news | title = Guatemalans Seize Bonn Envoy | publication = Washington Post | date =1970-04-01 ] [cite news | title = Guatemalans Kill Bonn Envoy After Ransom Bid Is Refused | publisher = Washington Post | date =1970-04-06 ] In the immediate aftermath,West Germany freezed all diplomatic ties with Guatemala. [cite news | title = Bonn Envoys In Guatemala Are Recalled | publisher = Washington Post | date =1970-04-07 ] OnApril 8 , a counter-insurgency claimed the life a Guatemalan communist politician as revenge for the Spreti murder.César Montenegro Paniagua was killed by a group namedMANO . [cite news | title = Guatemala Red Killed For Revenge | publisher = Washington Post | date =1970-04-07 ]References
External links
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0903031/ IMDB profile]
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