On Monday, Argentina’s National Archives released over 1,850 declassified documents detailing Nazi fugitives and their activities, marking a significant step toward transparency regarding the country’s historical role as a haven for war criminals.
The decision to make these records publicly accessible came after President Javier Milei ordered their release last month following a meeting with leaders from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an organization dedicated to tracking and exposing Nazi criminals. Milei stated there was “no reason to withhold the information,” affirming his commitment to historical accountability.
The declassified collection includes secret service files, presidential decrees spanning from 1957 to 2005, and records documenting the escape, funding, and settlement of high-profile Nazi war criminals in Argentina. Among the individuals mentioned in the records are Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust who was captured in Buenos Aires in 1960, and Josef Mengele, the notorious physician of Auschwitz who evaded capture for years.
With nearly 1,850 reports and approximately 1,300 formerly classified decrees now available online, Argentina’s General Archives has opened access to these documents for global public scrutiny. This initiative allows historians, researchers, and the general public to examine the extent of Argentina’s involvement in providing refuge for Nazi figures and to further investigate the escape networks that facilitated their relocation.
The release of these files underscores Argentina’s evolving approach to confronting its complex past, shedding light on historical injustices and contributing to broader efforts to ensure accountability. The newly accessible records are expected to prompt deeper exploration into the mechanisms through which Nazi fugitives found sanctuary in Argentina, offering new insights into their movements and support systems.
