Argentina plans to disclose Nazi documents
Argentina is set to declassify documents relating to the Nazi fugitives who sought refuge in the country following Germany's defeat in World War II. This commitment to transparency was made public on Monday by Guillermo Francos, the chief of...
TroibNews 
Argentina is set to declassify documents relating to the Nazi fugitives who sought refuge in the country following Germany's defeat in World War II.
This commitment to transparency was made public on Monday by Guillermo Francos, the chief of staff to President Javier Milei, during an interview with the TV channel DNews. Francos indicated that the decision was influenced by a meeting last month between the president and U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who was a strong proponent of the documents' public release.
Franco mentioned that the president believes “there is no reason to withhold information” regarding the protection provided to Nazis in Argentina, noting that the majority of the documents to be released are located in the Defense Ministry. He added that some files are related to financial dealings with Swiss banks.
Estimates suggest that around 10,000 war criminals exploited 'ratlines' to flee Europe and establish themselves elsewhere as the Axis powers collapsed. Approximately half of these individuals are thought to have settled in Argentina, a country known for its hesitance to comply with extradition requests.
Among those who found sanctuary were notable figures such as Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann and notorious death camp physician Josef Mengele. Eichmann was captured by Israeli agents and brought to Israel for trial, while Mengele died in 1979 after a heart attack while swimming.
This influx largely occurred during the first presidency of the controversial Argentine leader Juan Perón, whose government from 1946 to 1955 actively supported Nazi exiles. Perón’s policies blended authoritarianism with populism, with critics claiming a fascist influence.
Milei’s promise to reveal Nazi-related documents aligns with a previous initiative aimed at hastening the release of records concerning the Argentine military's actions during the 1976 to 1983 dictatorship, a tumultuous era known as “the last junta.” This period began with a coup that ousted Isabel Perón, who had assumed the presidency after her husband’s death in 1974.
The junta was responsible for a severe crackdown on political dissent, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and disappearances. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni emphasized that the government aims to prevent political manipulation of this dark chapter in history through complete transparency.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
This commitment to transparency was made public on Monday by Guillermo Francos, the chief of staff to President Javier Milei, during an interview with the TV channel DNews. Francos indicated that the decision was influenced by a meeting last month between the president and U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who was a strong proponent of the documents' public release.
Franco mentioned that the president believes “there is no reason to withhold information” regarding the protection provided to Nazis in Argentina, noting that the majority of the documents to be released are located in the Defense Ministry. He added that some files are related to financial dealings with Swiss banks.
Estimates suggest that around 10,000 war criminals exploited 'ratlines' to flee Europe and establish themselves elsewhere as the Axis powers collapsed. Approximately half of these individuals are thought to have settled in Argentina, a country known for its hesitance to comply with extradition requests.
Among those who found sanctuary were notable figures such as Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann and notorious death camp physician Josef Mengele. Eichmann was captured by Israeli agents and brought to Israel for trial, while Mengele died in 1979 after a heart attack while swimming.
This influx largely occurred during the first presidency of the controversial Argentine leader Juan Perón, whose government from 1946 to 1955 actively supported Nazi exiles. Perón’s policies blended authoritarianism with populism, with critics claiming a fascist influence.
Milei’s promise to reveal Nazi-related documents aligns with a previous initiative aimed at hastening the release of records concerning the Argentine military's actions during the 1976 to 1983 dictatorship, a tumultuous era known as “the last junta.” This period began with a coup that ousted Isabel Perón, who had assumed the presidency after her husband’s death in 1974.
The junta was responsible for a severe crackdown on political dissent, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and disappearances. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni emphasized that the government aims to prevent political manipulation of this dark chapter in history through complete transparency.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
