Juan Carlos Witowski

Juan Carlos Witowski
Born	(1940-09-26)26 September 1940 Astra, Chubut, Argentina
Died	19 April 2021(2021-04-19) (aged 80) Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
Other names	Iron Beast
Era	Middenvader Era Vriend Era
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Title	Head of the Geheime Staatspolizei
Term	2004 – 19 April 2021
Political party	NSTAP
Military career
Allegiance	Tanoa Einsatzgruppen
Branch	Geheime Staatspolizei
Service years	1960–2021
Rank	SS-Oberstgruppenführer

Juan Carlos Witowski (26 September 1940 – 19 April 2021), nicknamed Iron Beast, was an Argentine officer of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen who headed the Geheime Staatspolizei from 2004 until his death. He held the rank of SS-Oberstgruppenführer and was known for his harsh interrogation methods during the late 1980s.

Career

Witowski was born on 26 September 1940 in Astra, Chubut, Argentina. He entered service with the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen in 1960 and served in the Geheime Staatspolizei, the regime's political police agency under the Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt.

Witowski held the rank of SS-Gruppenführer from 1985 to 1993. During the late 1980s, he developed a reputation for ruthless interrogation tactics. He was promoted to SS-Obergruppenführer in 1993 and retained that rank for eleven years.

In 2004, Witowski became head of the Geheime Staatspolizei and was promoted to SS-Oberstgruppenführer. The agency investigated political opponents of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen and carried out arrests through its regional offices. It also detained suspects without judicial hearings.

Witowski remained head of the Geheime Staatspolizei until his death in Comodoro Rivadavia on 19 April 2021, aged 80.

See also

• Geheime Staatspolizei
• Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt
• Allgemeine SS
• List of SS members by rank