One of the most significant events in post-World War II history occurred on May 11, 1960, when Adolf Eichmann, one of the primary architects of the Holocaust, was captured in Argentina by Israeli agents. Eichmann's capture was the culmination of years of relentless pursuit by Israeli intelligence, and it marked a pivotal moment in the efforts to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.
Background of Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann was a high-ranking officer in the SS (Schutzstaffel) during Nazi Germany and played a central role in orchestrating the logistics of the Holocaust. As the head of the Jewish Affairs Section within the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA), Eichmann was responsible for the deportation of Jews from all over Europe to concentration and extermination camps. He was directly involved in planning and executing the mass transportation of Jews to their deaths, making him one of the most notorious figures of the Nazi regime.
Following the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945, Eichmann was captured by U.S. forces but managed to escape a prisoner of war camp in 1946. He fled to Argentina under a false identity, aided by a network of Nazi sympathizers and collaborators. For years, Eichmann lived in hiding in Argentina, working as a mechanic and maintaining a low profile.
The Israeli Pursuit
After World War II, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, made it a priority to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. The Nuremberg Trials (1945-1949) convicted many high-ranking Nazi officials, but Eichmann, despite his pivotal role in the Holocaust, managed to evade justice. The Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, was tasked with locating and capturing Nazi war criminals who had escaped to countries around the world.
Mossad's search for Eichmann began in earnest in the early 1950s, after it was revealed that Eichmann was living in Argentina under the alias Ricardo Klement. Israeli agents, including Rafi Eitan and Peter Malkin, tracked Eichmann's movements and identified him as the key target for capture. Mossad's operation to capture Eichmann was code-named "Operation Finale."
The Capture
On May 11, 1960, Mossad agents located Eichmann’s residence in the city of San Fernando, a suburb of Buenos Aires. The agents, who had been monitoring his movements for several weeks, executed a carefully planned operation. They followed Eichmann as he walked home from his work at a local factory, ambushed him, and captured him. Eichmann was overpowered and forcibly taken to a safe house, where he was held while Israeli agents made arrangements to smuggle him out of Argentina.
The Transport to Israel
Once Eichmann was captured, Mossad agents faced the challenge of getting him to Israel for trial. Argentina, led by President Arturo Frondizi, was initially unaware of Eichmann’s capture, and his extradition to Israel was a delicate issue. However, Mossad managed to secretly transport Eichmann aboard a commercial plane, concealing his true identity, and eventually brought him to Israel in June 1960.