Lawfare Daily New Files Reveal Nazis Sheltered in Argentina
Dec 3, 2025
Uncover the hidden lives of infamous Nazi war criminals who found refuge in Argentina after the war. Explore how ratlines facilitated their escape and the dark alliances formed, including Western intelligence support during the Cold War. Dive into shocking revelations from newly discovered Argentine archives, shedding light on state complicity and long-held secrets. The discussion delves into the moral implications of using these 'useful monsters' and calls for transparency in historical documentation and accountability.
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Ratlines Enabled Mass Escape
- Many high-ranking Nazis escaped Europe via organized ratlines after Berlin fell in April 1945.
- These networks used clergy, Red Cross papers, and sympathetic officials to move fugitives to places like Argentina.
Mengele Lived In Plain Sight
- Josef Mengele arrived in Argentina under a false name and later reclaimed his identity to live openly.
- Argentine authorities tracked him yet treated West German arrest requests as political prosecution, allowing him to flee again.
Eichmann Captured By Mossad
- Adolf Eichmann hid in Argentina under a fake identity and worked at a Mercedes factory before capture.
- Mossad abducted him in 1960, tried and executed him in Israel for his central role in the Holocaust.