Hidden History: Crates of Nazi Documents Discovered in Argentine Court Basement

Crates filled with documents from Nazi Germany have been rediscovered in the basement of Argentina’s Supreme Court. This surprising find happened while workers were clearing the building ahead of moving its archives to a new museum.

These documents were sent by the German embassy in Tokyo and arrived in Argentina on June 20, 1941, inside 83 diplomatic pouches aboard a Japanese steamship. The crates ended up in the Supreme Court after Argentine customs officials intercepted them, discovering Nazi propaganda inside random pouches.

Last week, workers stumbled upon wooden champagne crates while digging through archival material. Upon opening one, they found materials meant to spread Adolf Hitler’s ideology in Argentina during World War II. The court quickly secured the crates and informed the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum, seeking assistance in inventorying their contents. Experts are now sifting through historical materials, including black-and-white photos and membership booklets adorned with swastikas.

Historians are optimistic that these documents will provide insights into Nazi financial networks and international connections. According to court officials, the materials had been declared as “personal effects” by the German embassy in Buenos Aires. However, Argentine customs grew wary because of the large shipment. They alerted the foreign minister, concerned it might jeopardize Argentina’s neutral stance during the war.

When five pouches were opened, officials found more than postcards and photographs—they discovered propaganda material that raised immediate flags. The German embassy requested the pouches’ return, but an Argentine judge ordered them seized in September 1941. The Supreme Court was then left to decide the next steps, but it seems no resolution was reached before 1944, when Argentina severed ties with the Axis powers.

As a result, these documents sat untouched in the court’s basement for decades. Following World War II, Argentina under Juan Perón became a haven for several high-ranking Nazis, including infamous figures like Adolf Eichmann. In 2000, President Fernando de la Rúa formally apologized for Argentina’s role in shielding Nazi war criminals, sparking ongoing discussions about accountability and historical memory in the country.

This recent discovery highlights the complex legacy of World War II in Argentina and raises questions about the country’s past relationships with the Nazi regime. As experts examine these documents, further revelations about historical alliances may come to light, enhancing our understanding of this dark chapter in history.



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