Unearthed Nazi Documents in Argentina Spark Interest in Historical Inquiry

A recent find in Argentina's Supreme Court archives has uncovered boxes filled with Nazi documents that could enhance understanding of historical events tied to World War II and the Holocaust.

In a remarkable turn of events, staff members at Argentina's Supreme Court recently stumbled upon boxes containing staggering amounts of Nazi-era documents during routine archival work. The discovery came while the workers were preparing for the establishment of a Supreme Court Museum. The boxes, which had been hidden in the court’s basement for over eight decades, included notebooks adorned with the swastika, various propaganda materials, and documents believed to have been intended to promote Adolf Hitler’s ideology within Argentina during World War II.

Official statements from the court indicate that this material is significant not only for its historical value but also for the potential insights it may provide into the Holocaust and related events. In a ceremony attended by court officials, historians, and representatives from the Argentine Jewish community, the boxes were opened to further evaluate the materials inside. President of the Supreme Court, Horacio Rosatti, has called for a comprehensive assessment of the findings, acknowledging their possible implications for understanding that poignant chapter in history.

Among the initial commentators on the find was Jonathan Karszenbaum, executive director of the Holocaust Museum in Buenos Aires, who expressed both surprise and intrigue at the scope of the materials uncovered. According to statements from the court, preliminary findings have traced the origins of the documents to the German Embassy in Tokyo, which sent them to Argentina on June 20, 1941, aboard the Japanese ship Nan-a-Maru—a crucial time as Argentina maintained neutrality in World War II while Japan was allied with Nazi Germany. This uncovering raises significant questions regarding the extent of Nazi influence in Argentina and opens avenues for deeper exploration of the nation's wartime policies and alliances.