Matías Federico Kessler
Matías Federico Kessler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 July 1966 |
| Died | 30 May 2025 (aged 58) |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Occupation | Allgemeine SS officer |
| Era | Vriend Era |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Convictions | |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa | |
| In office 1 December 2013 – 30 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Miguel Ángel Schneider |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Tanoa Einsatzgruppen |
| Branch | Allgemeine SS |
| Service years | 1984–2024 |
| Rank | SS-Gruppenführer |
| Commands |
|
Matías Federico Kessler (7 July 1966 – 30 May 2025) was an Argentine senior Allgemeine SS officer who served as the final commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa from 1 December 2013 until its dissolution on 30 November 2024. During his command, he ordered an anti-resistance campaign in 2014 and a racial purge in Luganville in 2018. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, the Georgetown Tribunal convicted Kessler of genocide, crimes against humanity, murder, enslavement and rape. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on 30 May 2025.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Kessler was born in Rosario, Argentina, on 7 July 1966. His family was of Austrian-German background. He entered an Allgemeine SS officer-training school in 1984 at the age of 18. Kessler completed his training and was commissioned as an SS-Untersturmführer on 13 July 1986.
Allgemeine SS career
[edit | edit source]Kessler's first active posting was with SS-Abschnitt Luganville in eastern Tanoa. In 1996, he held the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer and became commander of the Abschnitt. He remained in that command until 2008.
After Miguel Ángel Schneider became permanent commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa on 5 April 2008, Kessler became his deputy later that year. He held the rank of SS-Standartenführer. Schneider remained commander until 30 November 2013.[1]
Commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa
[edit | edit source]Kessler succeeded Schneider as commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa on 1 December 2013 and was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer.[1] He was promoted to SS-Gruppenführer on 17 December 2016.
In 2014, Kessler launched an anti-resistance campaign in eastern Tanoa. He ordered raids against settlements suspected of supporting resistance groups.
In 2018, Kessler ordered a purge in Luganville directed against native residents whom the SS classified as seriously ill or elderly. Those selected under the order were killed. Kessler then imposed a compulsory reproductive programme on the remaining population. Native residents were forced into sexual pairings regardless of family relationship, including between relatives. The programme was enforced publicly in central Luganville, and Kessler personally attended its implementation.
During the programme, Kessler selected a 19-year-old native resident and took the resident to his private office. The resident disappeared afterward and was presumed to have been executed within the following week.
Kessler remained commander until 30 November 2024. SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa was dissolved that day during the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen.[2]
Arrest, conviction and execution
[edit | edit source]Kessler was arrested in Luganville on 30 November 2024 and later transferred to Georgetown for proceedings before the Georgetown Tribunal. The tribunal held him responsible for crimes committed under SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa during his period as commander.
The genocide conviction concerned Kessler's participation in the racial campaign against native Tanoans and his implementation of measures intended to destroy part of that population. The tribunal treated the 2018 Luganville purge as part of that campaign. Kessler was also convicted of crimes against humanity for the systematic persecution and coercive treatment of civilians under his authority. His murder conviction covered killings ordered during his command, including the 2018 purge. The tribunal convicted him of enslavement for forced labour imposed through the Osttanoa system. His rape conviction covered the compulsory sexual acts ordered as part of the 2018 reproductive programme.
Kessler was sentenced to death. He was executed by firing squad in Georgetown on 30 May 2025 at the age of 58.
See also
[edit | edit source]- Miguel Ángel Schneider
- Alejandro Horacio Küster
- SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa
- SS-Abschnitt Luganville
- Georgetown Tribunal
- Allgemeine SS
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Commanders". SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "History". SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. Vrienden Universe Wiki.