Philippe Sands, a British-French lawyer and author, dives into the dark world of Nazi escapes after World War II. He highlights the notorious 'ratlines'—escape routes facilitated by the Catholic Church that led war criminals to South America. Through the chilling story of SS officer Walter Rauff, Sands reveals how these figures evaded justice and later re-emerged in regimes like Pinochet’s Chile. The conversation also probes the moral complexities of seeking justice for atrocities and the ongoing legacy of these historical connections.
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insights INSIGHT
Catholic Church Aided Nazi Escape
Following Nazi Germany's defeat, many war criminals fled Europe using organized escape routes called ratlines.
Senior Catholic Church figures, especially in Rome, assisted Nazis in escaping to South America.
insights INSIGHT
Divided Catholic Church Role
The Catholic Church was divided post-WWII; some clergy abhorred Nazis, others helped them escape.
Alois Hudal, an Austrian bishop, organized ratlines in Rome to aid Nazi fugitives.
insights INSIGHT
All Roads Lead to Italy
Most Nazi escape routes led through Italy, especially Rome and Genoa, for transport to South America.
High-ranking Nazis like Eichmann and Mengele all used these ratlines linked to some Catholic officials.
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Philippe Sands' "38 Londres Street" delves into the complexities of impunity and international justice. The book follows the author's investigation into the life of a Nazi war criminal who escaped to South America and found employment within Pinochet's regime. Sands masterfully weaves together historical research, legal analysis, and personal reflections to expose the enduring legacy of human rights abuses. The narrative highlights the challenges of bringing perpetrators to justice and the importance of accountability for past atrocities. The book serves as a powerful reminder of the need for international cooperation in pursuing justice and preventing future crimes against humanity.
Patagonia
Bruce Chatwin
In Patagonia is a masterpiece of travel writing that explores the exotic and mysterious region of Patagonia at the southern tip of South America. The book is filled with evocative descriptions, historical insights, and unforgettable stories as Chatwin searches for legends, meets descendants of Welsh immigrants, and delves into the region's folklore and history. It is a blend of travelogue, history, and personal reflection that has become a classic in the genre.
Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 some of its most egregious war criminals sought to escape justice by fleeing Europe, most famously to South America. The escape routes they used, established by Nazi sympathisers, came to be known as 'ratlines'. The escaping Nazis had helped from an unexpected source; senior figures within the Catholic Church.
The story of SS officer Walter Rauff exemplifies how these networks operated and the subsequent lives of the escapees. Rauff was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people during the Second World War and was a key perpetrator of the Holocaust. After escaping to Chile, he would eventually come to work for the brutal Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. There he would go on to inflict further miseries on the Chilean people. Rauff was never put on trial, but is it possible to obtain a different kind of justice for his numerous crimes?
Philippe Sands, a renowned British-French lawyer and author, joins Dan to provide insights from his book '38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia', which explores Rauff's life and actions and the involvement of the Catholic Church.
Produced & edited by Dougal Patmore.
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