Karl Bernotat 1887 - 1943

Born 13.2.1887 in Mittel-Joddup, Kreis Goldap
Died 5.1.1943 in Mauthausen

Biography

Karl Friedrich Bernotat was born on 13 February 1887 in Mittel-Joddup, Kreis Goldap (former East Prussia, now Poland). Bernotat, who moved to Berlin in 1916 and pretended to be a wealthy businessman, became a notorious burglar. Dubbed by the press “Gentlemen-Verbrecher” (Gentleman-Burglar) due to his alleged passion for rare prints and first editions of books, he was eventually arrested in his elegant eight-room flat and charged with multiple offences. The trail was closely followed by all Berliners, none the least because Bernotat’s solicitor, Dr. Dr. Erich Frey, was one of THE Berlin lawyers at the time. Eventually sentenced to nearly twelve years of prison, Bernotat managed to escape twice. Having returned to his “trade” after his release, he was arrested and imprisoned again. In December 1942, as a notorious criminal with no chances of improvement, he was transported to KZ Mauthausen. He died in Mauthausen on January 5, 1943 less than two weeks after his arrival. Alleged cause of death: bacterial colitis.

Beata Gontarczyk-Krampe, researcher for history of crime, Berlin

Literature:

Erich Frey: „Ich beantrage Freispruch“. Aus den Erinnerungen des Strafverteidigers (Hamburg 1959).

Jens Lehmann: Der „Gentleman-Verbrecher“ und die Strafjustiz. Karl Friedrich Bernotat vor den Gerichten der Weimarer Republik und des NS-Staates (Berlin/Münster 2015).

Location In room