The Real Odessa : How Perón Brought the Nazi War Criminals to Argentina

The groundbreaking expose of an international conspiracy to protect Nazi war criminals—now with new material and an introduction by Phillip Sands. As Russian forces closed in on Berlin, and Hitler’s premiership drew to a close, many Nazi officials fled Germany. In this startling, meticulously researched account, acclaimed journalist Uki Goni unravels the complex international network that led them to Argentina. Goni demonstrates how numerous war criminals—including Adolf Eichmann, Joseph Mengele, Erich Priebke, and many others—made their escape with the support of the Vatican and President Juan Peron, as well as significant assistance from Scandinavia, Switzerland, and Italy. Both riveting and rigorous, this remarkable investigation sheds light on both a disquieting episode in Europe's history, and the ties between Argentinian Catholic Nationalism and Fascist movements in Europe. A groundbreaking work of investigative journalism revealing the complicity of the Vatican and the Swiss government in aiding Nazi war criminals' escape from Europe to Argentina - reissued with a new preface by Philippe Sands and additional material.As Russian forces closed in on Berlin, and Hitler's premiership drew to a close, many Nazi officials fled Germany. In this startling, meticulously researched account, acclaimed journalist Uki Goni unravels the complex network that led them to Argentina. Relying on international support - in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Italy - and the enthusiasm of the Vatican and President Juan Peron, Goni shows how this 'ratline' allowed Adolf Eichmann - the architect of the 'Final Solution' - Josef Mengele, Erich Priebke, and many more, into the country. Both riveting and rigorous, this remarkable investigation sheds vital light on both a disquieting episode in Europe's history, and the ties between Argentinian Catholic Nationalism and Fascist movements in Europe The history of President Peron’s conspiracy to protect Nazi war criminals: “a chilling, detailed story of one of Argentina’s most shameful secrets” (Foreign Affairs). It has long been known that, after the Allied victory of World War II, Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele, Erich Priebke and many other Nazi war criminals found refuge in Argentina. In this book, Argentinian historian Uki Goni reveals the complex networks that made their escapes possible—and demonstrates that the operation was organized with the enthusiastic support of President Juan Peron. Even at this late date, when so much is known about the complicity of the Catholic Church and Allied intelligence agencies in the flight of the Nazis, Goni’s historical revelations are truly shocking. This edition of The Real Odessa includes a revised introduction and conclusion, with a new afterword containing material that focuses on the Vatican’s complicity in providing sanctuary for war criminals. It has long been known that Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele, Erich Priebke and many other Nazi war criminals found refuge in Argentina. In this book, a courageous Argentinian writer shows exactly how it was done, and reveals that the escapes were organized with the enthusiastic support of President Juan Peron. Even at this late date, when so much is known about the complicity of the Catholic Church and Allied intelligence agencies in the flight of the Nazis, Goni's material still has the power to shock. The paperback edition of The Real Odessa includes a revised introduction and conclusion, with a new afterword containing material that Uki Goni has recently researched and which focuses on Vatican complicity in providing sanctuary for war criminals. -- Amazon.com This book is the first to map the precise details of the smuggling of Nazis into Argentina, an operation organized with the enthusiastic support of Peron's presidential palace. Using previously unseen archival sources, it uncovers a wide geography (Scandinavia, Switzerland, Italy) and proves the complicity of the Vatican and the Argentine Catholic Church in one of the great postwar scandals