by Neal Bascomb
"She can't hear you," said the old woman, growing impatient with his visit.
Just as Malkin was losing hope, he felt a hand cover his own, and then his mother tightened her grip.
"Do you understand?" Malkin asked her eagerly.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Yes," she said. "I understand."
* * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
* * *
Acknowledgments
While writing this history, one based on research and interviews on four continents and involving an equal number of languages, I benefited from a range of generous assistance. Without the help of the individuals acknowledged here, Hunting Eichmann would likely still be an idea awaiting execution.
First, I would like to recognize my able team of research assistants, whose commitment to uncovering new material in archives, finding interview subjects, and working down my "to do" lists was unwavering. In Argentina: Valeria Galvan, Patricia Delmar, and Matias Delmar. In Israel: Nava Mizrahi and Franziska Ramson. In Germany, Ms. Ramson also proved indispensable. Thank you, thank you.
In the course of my research, numerous people steered me in the right direction and in many cases offered the fruits of their own labor. Ron Frank, the producer of The Hunt for Adolf Eichmann, and Peter Kessler, the producer of I Met Adolf Eichmann, provided me with the transcripts from their interviews, an essential resource, particularly since many of the people they questioned for their documentaries have since passed away. Uki Goñi, author of The Real Odessa, offered critical advice for my research in Argentina, as did Professor Daniel Lvovich, Professor Ignacio Klich, Jorge Camarasa, Kenneth Marty, and Richard Wald. Patricia Ambinder helped me understand Peter Malkin. Stan Lauryssens and Roelf van Til gave me insight into the Sassen-Eichmann relationship. In Israel, Professors Leonardo Senk-man and Shlomo Shpiro were more than generous with their time and my many questions. Karen Broderick and Marvin Goldman were instrumental in collecting the pictures in the insert. Thank you also to Zvi Aharoni and Wilhelm Dietl for photographs of the operation.
This narrative would not have been possible without the firsthand recollections of those involved in the operation. Although I was not able to speak with Isser Harel, Peter Malkin, and Zvi Aharoni, their memoirs of the operation were essential in making this story come to life. I want to thank all those noted in the bibliography who spoke to me in the course of my research, but I would especially like to acknowledge Avraham Shalom and Shaul Shaul. They answered follow-up after follow-up with patience and exacting detail.
I would still be struggling with my pidgin German, and would be totally lost in Spanish and Hebrew, without my able translators: Tanja Gonzalez, Olga Cudnik, Dan Shorer, Milagros Simarro, Sari Cohen, and Judy Heiblum. Kudos also to Melissa Sarver, who transcribed many of my interviews.
I would have been sunk without my crack publishing team. First, Liz O'Donnell, my first line of defense, reworked what I too generously called a rough draft. I tremble to think what I would have done without her. Next, Susan Canavan, my editor at Houghton Mifflin, has been an invaluable treasure in bringing my work to the world with enthusiasm and skill. This is our third book together. My sincerest appreciation also goes to the whole team at Houghton Mifflin, especially Megan Wilson, Lori Glazer, Larry Cooper, and my manuscript editor, Barb Jatkola. I am also in debt to the great efforts of Scott Manning. A big thanks to Farley Chase, who ensured that this book would be published far and wide. And last but by no means least, kudos to my agent, Scott Waxman, who, as usual, was with this book from its gestation.
Finally, to my wife, Diane, and my baby girls, Charlotte and Julia: you are everything.
* * *
Notes
In citing works in the notes, short titles have generally been used. Works frequently cited have been identified by the following abbreviations.
AdsD Archiv der Sozialen Demokratie der Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Bonn
AGN Archivo General de la Nación, Buenos Aires
AI Author interview
BArch Bundesarchiv, Koblenz
CZA Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem
HAE The Hunt for Adolf Eichmann
HHStAW Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden
IMAE I Met Adolf Eichmann
ISA Israel State Archives, Jerusalem
NA National Archives, Washington, DC
OHD Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry, Oral History Division,
Hebrew University, Jerusalem
YVS Yad Vashem, Jerusalem
page CHAPTER 1
[>] Outside Mauthausen, a concentration: "Eichmann Memoirs," p. 23; Aschenauer, pp. 332–33.
Dressed in his pale: Boyle, p. 5; NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Interrogation of Dieter Wisliceny," December 2, 1946.
[>] "Send down the Master": The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 1768; "Eichmann Memoirs," p. 24; Hausner, p. 135.
Along the 250-mile route: "Eichmann Memoirs," p. 23.
Besides this stop: Cesarani, pp. 162–67.
Eichmann ran his office: Ibid., pp. 117–58.
[>] The first stage: Zweig, pp. 49–59.
To prevent any escapes: Cesarani, pp. 162–69; Braham, The Politics of Genocide, pp. 434–37; Aschenauer, p. 336.
[>] For all these plans: Cesarani, p. 166.
When they reached: Braham, The Politics of Genocide, p. 386; Tschuy, p. 3.
Gestapo agents fanned out: Hôttl, p. 204; Lozowick, p. 246.
Eichmann established: Tschuy, pp. 53–54.
Fearing assassination: Wighton, Eichmann, pp. 154–55; NA, RG 319, IRR, Eichmann, "Interrogation of Dieter Wisliceny."
At the crack of dawn: YVS, O.3, File 6151, Testimony of Zeev Sapir, April 9, 1990; Z. Sapir interview, IMAE; Braham, The Politics of Genocide, pp. 590–94; Mermelstein, pp. 2, 74.
[>] "Jews: You have": YVS, Testimony of Zeev Sapir,; Z. Sapir interview, IMAE. In his account, Sapir also details how Eichmann executed several ghetto prisoners, but since there is no corroboration of this occurrence in any other historical record, I have excluded the event. That said, it is clear from other histories that Eichmann was indeed touring Carpatho-Ruthenia at this time and that these visits were recorded in the press. See Braham, The Politics of Genocide, pp. 606–7; Hausner, p. 139.
Soon after Eichmann's visit: YVS, Testimony of Zeev Sapir; Z. Sapir interview, IMAE; Levai, Eichmann in Hungary, pp. 104–7; Nagy-Talavera, p. 289; Lengyel, pp. 6–23.
[>] Four days after: YVS, Testimony of Zeev Sapir; Levi, pp. 18–19.
Six weeks later: Erez.
[>] Five of the six: Braham, The Politics of Genocide, table 19.1. This figure is based on German statistics and includes some Jews already deported from Budapest.
Every day, an average: Gutman and Berenbaum, pp. 88–89; Braham, The Politics of Genocide, p. 676.
[>] Only the Jews: Hausner, pp. 139–40; Braham, The Politics of Genocide, p. 742.
Still, there were forces: Erez.
Incensed at the interruption: Ibid.
A week later: Braham, The Politics of Genocide, pp. 771–75; Cesarani, pp. 184–85; Braham and Miller, pp. 138–40.
[>] "Under no circumstances": Hausner, p. 143.
With the war: For the sake of brevity, I have not included Eichmann's role in the famous "blood for trucks" deal with Joel Brand (see chapter 3). It is clear to me that Eichmann had little intention of fulfilling his end of the bargain. If you would like to know more about these events, there are a number of books devoted to the subject, including Brand's autobiography, Desperate Mission: Joel Brands Story (New York: Criterion Books, 1958); Andre Biss's A Million Jews to Save; and Yehuda Bauer's Jews for Sale.
Eichmann thought this was: The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, pp. 1518–19.
He rode horses and took: Cesarani, pp. 186–88; NA, RG 319, IRR, Eichmann, "Interrogation of Dieter Wisliceny"; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, pp. 1789, 1834, 1855, 1971; Levai, Black Book, p. 109.
The fact that: Ibid., pp. 152–53; Levai, Eichmann in Hungary, pp. 14, 164–66; Braham, The Politics of Genocide, pp. 834–43.
Before they met: Lauryssens, p. 76.
"If until now": The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 1530.
On a late December morning: The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, pp. 970–74; YVS, Testimony of Zeev Sapir; Z. Sapir interview, IMAE; Gutman and Berenbaum, pp. 50–57.
[>] Once Sapir had arrived: YVS, Testimony of Zeev Sapir; Z. Sapir interview, IMAE; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, pp. 970–74; Muller, pp. 135–38; Lengyel, pp. 16–20.
Now, filing out: YVS, Testimony of Zeev Sapir; Z. Sapir interview, IMAE; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, pp. 970–74.
CHAPTER 2
[>] On April 12, 1945: Shirer, p. 1105; Gilbert, The Day the War Ended, pp. 8–9; Shephard, p. 7; Botting, p. 10.
While these forces: Shephard, pp. 7–8; Miller, p. 762.
As early as the summer: F. H. Hinsley, E. E. Thomas, C.F.G. Ransom, and R. C. Knight, British Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations, vol. 2 (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1981), pp. 670–73.
[>] "To the Hitlerites": Nizkor Project, "Holocaust Almanac—The Weczler-Vrba Report," http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi/camps/auschwitz/ftp.pyicamps/auschwitz//auschwitz.07.
Roosevelt had made: Conot, p. 9.
"shot to death": Overy, p. 6; Bower, p. 82.
"otherwise the world": Overy, p. 8.
Plans to capture: Botting, pp. 202–6; Bower, pp. 113–24.
"notorious offenses": Overy, p. 28.
[>] In contrast: Ziemke, p. 219; Bower, pp. 111–13.
Guided by former inmates: Este, p. 687; Read and Fisher, p. 770; Read, pp. 762–63.
[>] "The indignity of death": Reilly, p. 58.
"Why have we": Ibid.
By April 13: Read and Fisher, pp. 261, 317.
[>] "Well, Eichmann": Aschenauer, pp. 415–16; Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, pp. 257–58; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 140.
Eichmann had romantic notions: Höttl, pp. 308–9; Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, p. 256; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 1520; Farago, p. 160. Eichmann was not averse to false bravado, but in this case his testimony after the war appears to be true, since it was confirmed by several of his SS colleagues, including Wilhelm Höttl and Dieter Wisliceny. See NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Summary of Interrogation Reports from Counter Intelligence War Room, London," November 19, 1945, and NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Interrogation of Dieter Wisliceny," December 2, 1946.
"I have never been": Eichmann, "Meine Gotzen—September 6, 1961," p. 536; Aschenauer, p. 416.
"For me": "Eichmann Memoirs," p. 46; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 1804.
[>] From Prague: Eichmann, "Meine Gotzen—September 6, 1961," p. 538; "Eichmann Memoirs," pp. 48–49; Aschenauer, pp. 416–17; Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, pp. 258–61.
[>] On April 30: Botting, pp. 46–47; Read and Fisher, pp. 385–86.
Fifty feet under: Gilbert, The Day the War Ended, pp. 41–42; Roper, p. 119; Read, p. 909.
[>] Over the past month: Read and Fisher, pp. 257–58.
Of the top leadership: Shirer, p. 1135.
When Eichmann arrived: Höttl, pp. 301–2; Black, pp. 234–37.
"You: You belong": Cesarani, p. 31.
"Did everything turn out": Ibid., pp. 315–17; "Eichmann Memoirs," pp. 48–51; Aschenauer, pp. 416–20; Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, pp. 263–67; Lauryssens, p. 86.
CHAPTER 3
[>] The following morning: "Eichmann Memoirs," p. 56; Lawson.
[>] An innocent, uncomplicated: NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Interrogation of Dieter Wisliceny," December 2, 1946; Pick, p. 114; Cesarani, pp. 23–29, 43–45.
Eichmann had bought: "Eichmann Memoirs," pp. 57–58; There have been any number of stories that Eichmann hid hundreds of pounds of gold in the mountains around Altaussee. Most of these stories originated with Wilhelm Höttl, an SS officer who knew Eichmann in Hungary and saw him before he escaped after the war. See Höttl, pp. 315–17, as well as ISA, 3017/8-a, Report of Höttl Adjunct, October 29, 1949.
Unless this gold was stolen from Eichmann, he never had it in the first place, as he lived poorly from the moment he reached Altaussee in May 1945 until his capture fifteen years later.
"The war is over": Lawson.
Then he left instructions: I do not have a specific source for this statement, but the facts indicate that Eichmann and his wife had arrangements as to what she was to say and do after his escape. She was consistent over numerous investigations throughout the seven years she remained in Austria.
Then Eichmann went out: Lawson; Aschenauer, p. 423.
[>] As he climbed: Matteson, pp. 3–39.
By dark, Eichmann: "Eichmann Memoirs," pp. 55–58; Cesarani, p. 202.
[>] "Do you know": Weissberg, p. 121.
Once the peace: U.S. Department of Justice, exhibits, p. 95; Sayer and Botting, pp. 201–5; Ziemke, p. 320.
Since the liberation: Ziemke, p. 221; Sayer and Botting, p. 225.
[>] "From Norway": Bar-Zohar, The Avengers, p. 108.
The day after Eichmann: Matteson, pp. 31–39; Black, pp. 258–59.
[>] "Well, gentlemen": Bar-Zohar, The Avengers, p. 109.
Himmler followed: Gilbert, The Day the War Ended, pp. 390–91.
Other top Nazi leaders: Overy, pp. 33–35; Bloch, p. 44; Conot, pp. 31, 37, 70–72.
[>] "The game is up": Bloch, p. 433.
Every day, more than: Ziemke, p. 380.
Although the Russians: Botting, p. 201; Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 56.
After the war: Briggs, p. 174; Cohen, pp. 188–213; Segev, pp. 140–49; Bar-Zohar, The Avengers, pp. 23–26.
[>] With so many hell-bent: Overy, p. 37.
Eichmann and Jänisch: Eichmann, Meine Flucht; Aschenauer, p. 426.
Most wanted some food: Bischof and Ambrose, pp. 7–9.
As soon as night: Eichmann, Meine Flucht.
[>] Born in an industrial: Cesarani, pp. 1–156.
In this biographical summary of Adolf Eichmann before Hungary, I have drawn heavily on the thorough and balanced biography by David Cesarani, Becoming Eichmann. Much of the Eichmann historiography paints him as either a deluded madman who was bent on the destruction of the Jews from cradle to grave or, thanks to Hannah Arendt, a sober, passionless desk clerk. Cesarani revealed a more realistic portrait. I also referenced the following sources in completing this summary: "Eichmann Memoirs"; BArch, Sassen Transcripts, 6/110; The Trial of Adolf Eichmann; Lawson; Reynolds; Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated; Bukey; Wighton, Eichmann; Clarke; Yahil; Mulisch; Arendt; Mendelsohn and Detweiler, vol. 8, pp. 71–93. Any quotes have separate notes.
In Linz: Goldenhagen, pp. 28–29.
[>] "the most dangerous enemy": Cesarani, p. 51.
"They are in my hands": The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 1589.
"requisite hardness": Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, p. 157.
[>] "The Führer has ordered": Ibid., p. 81.
Eichmann was sent: Ibid., pp. 74–77.
"political solution": Cesarani, p. 115; Hausner, p. 11.
On January 20, 1942: Roseman, pp. 93–157.
[>] "the Popes": The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, p. 1423.
"They were stealing": "Eichmann Memoirs," p. 14.
He was keen: Ibid., pp. 202–3; Eichmann, Meine Flucht; Aschenauer, p. 426.
[>] While in the mountains: Cesarani, p. 202.
"Otto Eckmann": Eichmann, Meine Flucht; Aschenauer, p. 426.
[>] Wrecked tanks and cars: Spender, pp. 21–33, 77, 217; Ziemke, p. 242; Botting, pp. 94–115.
"It is your own business": Adolf Eichmann, YVS, M.9, File 584a, Interrogation of Rudolf Scheide by Curt L. Ponger.
In late June: Aschenauer, p. 426; Eichmann, Meine Flucht.
A sea of soldiers: Bischof and Ambrose, pp. 219–37; Pearlman, p.
29.
CHAPTER 4
[>] "Have you heard": Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 100.
Only four weeks before: Ibid., pp. 10–14; Pick, pp. 31–98.
[>] "SS Major-General Katzmann": Pick, p. 86.
In late July: Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 100.
According to Wiesenthal, he met with Asher Ben-Natan (Arthur Pier), the head of the Haganah and Brichah in Austria in July. However, since Ben-Natan did not arrive in Austria until November—note Pearlman, p. 15—it is impossible that Wiesenthal met with him at this time. Nonetheless, it is clear that Wiesenthal had this information, so I have assumed that he met with one of Ben-Natan's compatriots, Ehud Avriel or Gideon Raphael.
Raphael handed Wiesenthal: Pearlman, p. 14.
[>] The name Eichmann: Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 100.
Unbeknownst to Wiesenthal: NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Summary of Interrogation Reports from Counter Intelligence War Room, London," November 19, 1945. Specifically, the Allies had already interrogated SD agent Werner Goettsch and Wilhelm Höttl, both of whom knew Eichmann intimately, at this point in July.
"Eichmann!": Wiesenthal, Justice Not Vengeance, p. 67.
He could not bear: Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 25.
On July 28: NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Summary of Interrogation Reports from Counter Intelligence War Room, London," November 19, 1945; Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 101.
[>] Standing in a line: Eichmann, "Meine Gotzen—September 6, 1961," p. 541; Eichmann, Meine Flucht; Aschenauer, p. 426.
Contrary to the very: NA, RG 319, IRR, Adolf Eichmann, "Interrogation of Dieter Wisliceny," December 2, 1946.
In October: Pearlman, p. 30; Wighton, Eichmann, p. 227–28; Aschenauer, pp. 426–27.
[>] He returned to Ober-Dachstetten: Aschenauer, pp. 426–27.
Two hours before dawn: Conot, pp. 100–105; Maser, p. 187.
[>] After a brief introduction: Trial of German Major War Criminals, vol. 2, pp. 15–95.
[>] "I suppose we'll": Conot, p. 105.
"I declare myself": Trial of German Major War Criminals, vol. 2, pp. 96–97; Taylor, p. 166.
