The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: ‘38 Londres Street,’ Impunity, and Immunity with Philippe Sands
Oct 7, 2025
Philippe Sands, a law professor and author, dives deep into the intertwined histories of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Nazi SS commander Walter Rauff. He discusses his new book, exploring the legal and moral implications of Pinochet's arrest and its impact on international criminal law. Sands shares personal connections to his research, the importance of victim stories, and how recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on immunity may unsettle global accountability for past atrocities. His insights are a compelling reflection on justice and historical memory.
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Accidental Trilogy From Family Roots
- Philippe Sands discovered interconnected personal and historical links when invited to lecture at Lviv, tracing Lauterpacht, Lemkin, and his grandfather.
- That research unexpectedly expanded into a trilogy connecting Nuremberg figures to later atrocities and his own family's history.
Sands' Personal Role In Pinochet Case
- Pinochet was arrested in London in October 1998 and Sands was asked to defend him but declined due to a prior public statement.
- He later worked with Human Rights Watch and helped obtain medical records when Pinochet claimed unfitness for trial.
Nazi Past Reemerges In Chile
- Walter Rauff, architect of mobile gas vans, relocated to Chile and befriended a Chilean couple who were Pinochet's acquaintances.
- Sands traced Rauff's path to Punta Arenas and found links suggesting Rauff may have reappeared during Pinochet's regime.
