Aribert Heim's Last Home On Earth

I went searching for the house in Cairo where Nazi criminal Aribert Heim, wanted for his part in the medical human experiments at Mauthausen KZ Lager, lived for the last ten years of his life. I knew it was named Kasr Elmadin Hotel and was located at the Bur Said-Elmuski intersection. El Muski is a well known bazaar alley, old and labyrinthine, easily found via most tourist guide books.

The Kasr Elmadin Hotel, however, proved elusive. For a long while I searched in vain, and I almost gave up. Heat and exaustion almost did me in. Then suddenly I saw the tall dark building with the name of Kasr Elmadin Hotel written in huge letters on the grimed and grey facade. It is on the north-western corner of the intersection. I had not noticed it at first because the owners had placed a new blue sign over the entrance, covering the old hotel name.

As you watch this little movie, you will follow me from the moments I caught sight of the hotel, crossed the pedestrian bridge over Bur Said Road, walked along the pavement with all the stores and street shops, found the entrance, hesitated for some moments (took time to watch the horse and the passers-by), and finally entered the same stairway that Aribert Heim walked up and down on a daily basis. I wanted to rent a room, maybe his room, if possible. I felt like the ghost of Aribert, haunting his last place on earth. Maybe you will feel a bit like his ghost also, following me.

Did he feel like a ghost himself on these stairs, in this street? You can hardly say he ended up in grand style. This is no place for an Übermensch.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Aribert
• nazi
• Cairo
• holocaust
• Mauthausen