Italy: Nazi War Criminal Erich Priebke Dies Aged 100, Leaves Video Political Will

Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke has died aged 100 at his house in Rome, where he was serving a life sentence.

Priebke, a captain with Adolf Hitler's Schutzstaffel (SS) corps in Italy during WWII, was jailed in 1998 over the so-called Ardeatine Caves massacre.

His lawyer Paolo Giachini said that before he died Priebke recorded a video message and a written interview, which he described as his "human and political will".

Priebke served under the command of Herbert Kappler in Rome between 1943 and 1944. On 23 March 1944 Keppler ordered the execution of some 335 Italians in retaliation for an attack by partisan troops.

The execution by firing squad was carried out by Priebke in the ancient Ardeatine Caves in central Rome. He never repented.

He had been allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest due to his advanced age and poor health.