Max Simon

Article summary

Max Otto Simon (6 January 1899 – 1 February 1961) was a German SS commander and war criminal during World War II. Simon was one of the first members of the SS in the early 1930s. He rose through the ranks of the SS, and became a corps commander during World War II. After the war, Simon was convicted for his role in the Marzabotto massacre and the Sant'Anna di Stazzema massacre. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, and he was released in 1954. Despite being tried three more times in a West German court for war crimes, he was acquitted and died a free man in 1961.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1899 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of death: 1961 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of death: 1961 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. release date: 1954 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. release date: 1954 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1899". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of death is "1961". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of death is "1961". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the release date is "1954". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the release date is "1954". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
8. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352492471