Michael Seifert (SS guard)

Michael Seifert (1924 – 2010), also known as "Misha", was a Ukrainian-born Nazi SS guard who served at the Bolzano transit camp in Italy during World War II. He was convicted in absentia in Italy in 2000 of war crimes, including torture and murder, committed against prisoners at the camp.

Seifert emigrated to Canada after the war and lived there for decades. He worked as a ski instructor and later as a caregiver. His past remained largely unknown until an Italian journalist located him in Vancouver in the 1990s.

Following a lengthy legal battle, Seifert was extradited from Canada to Italy in 2008 to serve his life sentence. He maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, claiming he was only a translator at the camp.

He died in prison in Italy in 2010. The case highlighted the challenges of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice decades after the atrocities they committed.