The Sass Brothers: From Bank Robbers to Nazi Victims
Franz and Erich Sass became legends of the Berlin underworld — but their fate was ultimately sealed not by police, but by the Nazi regime.
Published June 6, 2025
Case Details
Quick Facts
Classification:
Quick facts
Franz and Erich Sass were legendary bank robbers who made their names in Berlin during the 1920s. The German brothers became notorious for a series of daring bank robberies that shocked the public during the years of the Weimar Republic.
A Criminal Legacy Tied to Dark History
The Sass brothers represent a distinctive chapter in criminal history — not only as criminals, but as men whose fate became inextricably linked to one of Europe's darkest periods. Their story eventually moved beyond the realm of bank robbery and into the machinery of Nazi brutality.
Consumed by the Nazi Regime
Their case serves as a stark reminder that even criminal careers were swallowed up by the violence of National Socialism in Germany. The brothers were ultimately executed under the Nazi regime, bringing a grim and definitive end to their story.
Timeline
The beginning of the criminal career
In the 1920s, Franz and Erich Sass begin their series of spectacular bank robberies in Berlin
The National Socialists' seizure of power
With Hitler's appointment as Reich Chancellor, the political system changes fundamentally – also for imprisoned criminals
Execution under the NS regime
The Sass brothers are executed under the National Socialist regime (exact date under investigation)
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