Charleston County Public Library

Nazis on the run, how Hitler's henchmen fled justice, Gerald Steinacher

eng

Includes bibliographical references (p. [342]-364) and indexes

platesillustrationsmaps

index present

non fiction

Nazis on the run

bibliography

671709702

Gerald Steinacher

how Hitler's henchmen fled justice

Steinacher not only reveals how Nazi war criminals escaped from justice at the end of the Second World War, fleeing through the Tyrolean Alps to Italian seaports, but he also highlights the key roles played by the Red Cross, the Vatican, and the Secret Services of the major powers. --from publisher description

The Nazi escape route through Italy. Italy as a country of refuge ; Refugees, prisoners of war, and war criminals ; Illegal immigrants ; Smuggling goods and people ; South Tyrol, the Nazi bolt-hole ; Fake papers -- The co-responsibility of the international Red Cross. Red Cross travel documents ; How the ICRC issued travel documents in Italy ; The routine nature of false documentation ; The Red Cross calls a halt ; The Red Cross on the escape route ; Escaping with ethnic German identity -- The Vatican network. The Vatican relief commission ; The national subcommittees ; The network of Bishop Alois Hudal ; The monsignor and the Croatian fascists ; The role of the Church in South Tyrol ; Denazification through baptism -- The intelligence service ratline. Operation Bernhard ; The special case of Italy ; "Recycled" war criminals ; The origins of the Italian ratline ; The ratline players ; Escape along the ratline -- Destination Argentina. Argentinian immigration policy ; The recruitment of specialists ; Argentinian diplomats and agents in Italy ; Perón's escape agents in Italy ; Austrian pioneers in the escape network ; The escape of the concentration camp commandants ; A new start in Argentina -- Conclusion