After World War II, many Nazi leaders were brought to trial and punished for their crimes in war or crimes against humanity. Others, Joesf Mengele and Adolf Eichmann to name a few, escaped from persecution amidst the chaos in Europe during World War II’s conclusion. A popular destination for these fugitives was Argentina, were President Juan Perón, a pro-Axis Powers leader, and his government abided and protected the escaped Nazis. In 1958, the CIA learned the whereabouts of Adolf Eichmann, the Gestapo officer who oversaw the Final Solution, but decided not to pursue his arrest to protect important West German officials from possible revelations about their Nazi pasts. Not only did the CIA not pursue Eichmann’s arrest, they attempted to suppress the intelligence altogether. The CIA was determined to make sure Eichmann would not humiliate the West German government in the thick of the Cold War. Despite the CIA’s efforts, Israeli officials kidnapped, tried, and hanged Eichmann in 1962. Many other Nazi personal that fled to Argentina were found much later or even never found.
Should Argentinean government officials who protected and abided the Nazis escape trial be tried themselves in front of a world court? How severely should they be punished? What actual law did they break? How guilty is the CIA for suppressing the whereabouts of Eichmann to protect West Germany?
Should Argentinean government officials who protected and abided the Nazis escape trial be tried themselves in front of a world court? How severely should they be punished? What actual law did they break? How guilty is the CIA for suppressing the whereabouts of Eichmann to protect West Germany?
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