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Nazi Hunting: A Love Story
The inspiring, heart-thumping true story of the couple who brought some of the Holocaust’s most notorious Nazis to justice. Almost sixty years later, they’re still at it, and their work is more relevant than ever.
It all began on a Paris subway platform in 1960. Beate Künzel, a German au pair, was waiting for the Line 10 train when a bespectacled young man struck up a conversation. They rode into the heart of the city, side-by-side, and by the time he got off at his stop, the man — Serge Klarsfeld — had tucked Künzel’s phone number into his pocket. Before long, they were married, and their partnership proved to be a love affair that not only thrives to this day but literally changed the course of history in post-World War II Europe and beyond.
Their marriage was an unlikely one: They had been on opposite sides of a war whose fallout was still rippling through Europe. Serge, a Romanian-born French Jew, had lost his father to the death camps at Auschwitz. Beate’s father had voted for Adolf Hitler and fought for the Germans. Their union — and the unique kind of family business they came to operate — would be the stuff of a Hollywood spy thriller, turning this seemingly unremarkable husband and wife into surprise heroes for justice.
The Klarsfelds, motivated by outrage that high-ranking officers from the Third Reich were living freely in France and elsewhere, dedicated themselves to a singular goal: finding Nazi war criminals and bringing them to trial. The list of men they tracked down reads like a who’s who of Hitler henchmen and French collaborators: Klaus Barbie, Kurt Lischka, Herbert Hagen, Alois Brunner, Maurice Papon, and René Bousquet. Together, they were responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. The Klarsfelds became notorious throughout Europe, a vigilante Bonnie and Clyde who staged public protests and even attempted kidnapping one of their targets in their effort to pressure local governments to prosecute these criminals. By 1972, the Klarsfelds had located Barbie — a.k.a. the Butcher of Lyon — who was hiding in Bolivia. The following year, they tracked down Lischka, one of the highest-ranking Nazis in occupied France, responsible for thousands of deaths in the concentration camps. Despite death threats, a car bombing, imprisonment, and more, the Klarsfelds persisted, eventually compiling mountains of evidence that were instrumental in bringing Barbie and others to justice.
Part love story, part adventure yarn, the Klarsfelds’ long life together is a reminder that all of us have the capacity to change the world for the better. Their work has been an act of remembering not just the barbaric behavior of criminals who tried to hide from the history books but the courage of the many average people whose stories of bravery and sacrifice might never have been recorded at all. More important, they’re still at it. Now well into their eighties, they continue to uncover and record atrocities and to share the stories of the many who died at the hands of the Nazis. Sadly, perhaps, their relevance hasn’t diminished. In a time when far right-wing politics are becoming increasingly mainstream and the threat of anti-Semitism has once again reared its ugly head in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere, the Klarsfelds’ passion and devotion remain an important bulwark against a rising tide of hate and a testament to the power of moral courage.
It all began on a Paris subway platform in 1960. Beate Künzel, a German au pair, was waiting for the Line 10 train when a bespectacled young man struck up a conversation. They rode into the heart of the city, side-by-side, and by the time he got off at his stop, the man — Serge Klarsfeld — had tucked Künzel’s phone number into his pocket. Before long, they were married, and their partnership proved to be a love affair that not only thrives to this day but literally changed the course of history in post-World War II Europe and beyond.
Their marriage was an unlikely one: They had been on opposite sides of a war whose fallout was still rippling through Europe. Serge, a Romanian-born French Jew, had lost his father to the death camps at Auschwitz. Beate’s father had voted for Adolf Hitler and fought for the Germans. Their union — and the unique kind of family business they came to operate — would be the stuff of a Hollywood spy thriller, turning this seemingly unremarkable husband and wife into surprise heroes for justice.
The Klarsfelds, motivated by outrage that high-ranking officers from the Third Reich were living freely in France and elsewhere, dedicated themselves to a singular goal: finding Nazi war criminals and bringing them to trial. The list of men they tracked down reads like a who’s who of Hitler henchmen and French collaborators: Klaus Barbie, Kurt Lischka, Herbert Hagen, Alois Brunner, Maurice Papon, and René Bousquet. Together, they were responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. The Klarsfelds became notorious throughout Europe, a vigilante Bonnie and Clyde who staged public protests and even attempted kidnapping one of their targets in their effort to pressure local governments to prosecute these criminals. By 1972, the Klarsfelds had located Barbie — a.k.a. the Butcher of Lyon — who was hiding in Bolivia. The following year, they tracked down Lischka, one of the highest-ranking Nazis in occupied France, responsible for thousands of deaths in the concentration camps. Despite death threats, a car bombing, imprisonment, and more, the Klarsfelds persisted, eventually compiling mountains of evidence that were instrumental in bringing Barbie and others to justice.
Part love story, part adventure yarn, the Klarsfelds’ long life together is a reminder that all of us have the capacity to change the world for the better. Their work has been an act of remembering not just the barbaric behavior of criminals who tried to hide from the history books but the courage of the many average people whose stories of bravery and sacrifice might never have been recorded at all. More important, they’re still at it. Now well into their eighties, they continue to uncover and record atrocities and to share the stories of the many who died at the hands of the Nazis. Sadly, perhaps, their relevance hasn’t diminished. In a time when far right-wing politics are becoming increasingly mainstream and the threat of anti-Semitism has once again reared its ugly head in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere, the Klarsfelds’ passion and devotion remain an important bulwark against a rising tide of hate and a testament to the power of moral courage.
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Published March 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 25, 2025
I'm currently reading a book by Jess McHugh titled "Nazi Hunting: A Love Story." She uses narration to bring the actual events to life in this brief yet captivating book. This is the heartwarming true story of the couple who, over the course of 60 years, brought some of the most infamous Nazis from the Holocaust to justice. Their efforts have served as a means of commemorating not only the savagery of criminals who attempted to evade the historical record but also the bravery of numerous common people whose tales of valour and selflessness might not have been documented at all. Even though they are now well into their eighties, they still find and document atrocities and tell the tales of the numerous people who perished at the hands of the Nazis.
June 18, 2025
A very quick peek into extraordinary lives.
July 18, 2025
Nazi Hunting: A Love Story by Jess McHugh is a compelling blend of historical investigation and intimate biography. The book traces the gripping true story of a couple who, driven by love and justice, risked everything to hunt down Nazi war criminals after World War II. With sharp prose and a strong emotional core, McHugh weaves together themes of memory, trauma, and moral reckoning, offering a fresh perspective on a dark chapter in history.
Did you know? After WWII, many high-ranking Nazis escaped to South America through secret routes known as “ratlines”—some aided by sympathetic clergy and officials.
Nb:
relatively short read, but it delivers a powerful and emotionally rich narrative in its concise format. Jess McHugh balances historical depth with personal storytelling, making it both accessible and impactful. It’s the kind of book you can finish in an afternoon but think about for much longer.
Perfect for readers who enjoy history told through a human lens—and ideal if you’re looking for something meaningful without a huge time commitment
Did you know? After WWII, many high-ranking Nazis escaped to South America through secret routes known as “ratlines”—some aided by sympathetic clergy and officials.
Nb:
relatively short read, but it delivers a powerful and emotionally rich narrative in its concise format. Jess McHugh balances historical depth with personal storytelling, making it both accessible and impactful. It’s the kind of book you can finish in an afternoon but think about for much longer.
Perfect for readers who enjoy history told through a human lens—and ideal if you’re looking for something meaningful without a huge time commitment
June 25, 2024
NetGalley ARC: The author did a remarkable job telling the story of two heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect Holocaust victims and relentlessly pursued Nazi criminals trying to escape justice for their unspeakable crimes against humanity. I found myself wishing the book had been longer, with more details about these couples and their courageous journey to bring these criminals to justice.
After reading this book, I felt compelled to delve deeper into the lives of these two heroes. To my shock and dismay, I discovered that some people only protect their own interests while ignoring the suffering of others. These two individuals are Zionists who oppose ceasefires, resulting in the deaths of thousands of children and innocent people under the guise of combating anti-Semitism. It is heartbreaking to see how they could defend innocents yet support such devastating actions. Finding a true hero in today’s world seems increasingly difficult!!!
I am deeply grateful to the author for the opportunity to discover this book and for the powerful inspiration it provided. One day, I am determined to write a book about the courageous individuals on Twitter (X) who are unmasking the new Nazis of our generation, the IDF, and exposing their crimes for the world to see. The truth about their actions must come to light, and the world needs to know the full extent of their atrocities.
After reading this book, I felt compelled to delve deeper into the lives of these two heroes. To my shock and dismay, I discovered that some people only protect their own interests while ignoring the suffering of others. These two individuals are Zionists who oppose ceasefires, resulting in the deaths of thousands of children and innocent people under the guise of combating anti-Semitism. It is heartbreaking to see how they could defend innocents yet support such devastating actions. Finding a true hero in today’s world seems increasingly difficult!!!
I am deeply grateful to the author for the opportunity to discover this book and for the powerful inspiration it provided. One day, I am determined to write a book about the courageous individuals on Twitter (X) who are unmasking the new Nazis of our generation, the IDF, and exposing their crimes for the world to see. The truth about their actions must come to light, and the world needs to know the full extent of their atrocities.
April 26, 2024
3.5 This needed to be longer, but it’s still a super important read. To my shame, I have not heard about the Klarsfeld couple before and about their very important work on unearthing Nazi crimes and bringing the criminals to justice. Heartbreaking, but very important quick read. Available on Everand.
October 14, 2024
Every time I read these mémoirs, and any other book on historical facts, the number of deaths in these atrocities is always damning and sad.. all these innocent people who lost their lives, crazy.
Thank you to all these brave authors who give a voice to these victims and raise awareness 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you to all these brave authors who give a voice to these victims and raise awareness 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
December 16, 2024
This was good but it felt more like an ad for the couple's memoir than a separate work 😅
March 3, 2025
Well, that was way too short.
December 14, 2025
jewish propaganda....
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews