Hunting Eichmann

by Neal Bascomb

  Both organizations: Breitman et al.; Simpson. These two books provide a comprehensive examination of the CIA and German recruitment of former Nazis and benefited greatly from the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act (1998), which declassified tens of thousands of U.S. intelligence records.

  "born in Israel": NA, RG 263, Adolf Eichmann Name File (CIA), Near Eastern Connections, March 19, 1958.

  Simultaneous with these: Wojak, pp. 30–31.

  [>] Neither of them: This conjecture that the BND and the CIA wanted to protect Globke is based on the fact that once Eichmann was captured, these organizations made strident attempts to excise any mention of Globke from Eichmann's memoirs, which were coming to light. See NA, RG 263, Adolf Eichmann File (CIA), CIA Cables, September 16–20, 1960.

  In San Fernando: "Interview with Klaus Eichmann"; La Razon, April 24, 1961; Ahora, June 6, 1960; Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 100–102.

  [>] After a series: "Eichmann File," Tribunales Federales de Comodoro Py, Buenos Aires.

  Jorge Antonio: Weber.

  In Hitler: The Last Ten Days: Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, p. 287.

  "The author should be": Ibid., p. 288.

  [>] "1. Every man": Ibid.

  Eichmann was increasingly: P. Probierzym, AI.

  "I am growing tired": Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, pp. 291–92.

  CHAPTER 11

  [>] At dusk on Saturday: Friedman, The Hunter, pp. 13–15.

  When Friedman had first: Ibid., pp. 208–20.

  [>] Schüle was the director: Fulbrook, p. 69.

  Friedman had sent Schüle: ISA, 6384/4-g, Letter from Erwin Schüle to Tuviah Friedman, August 20, 1959; Friedman, Die Korrespondenz, Letter from Tuviah Friedman to Erwin Schüle, August 13, 1959; ISA, 3086/12-hz, Foreign Ministry Letter from Mr. T. Miron to Mr. Tzur, October 10, 1959.

  He strode over: Friedman, The Hunter, pp. 236–50; ISA, 3086/12-hz, Letter from L. Savir to Dr. Shinar, October 23, 1959; Wojak, p. 33.

  [>] "issue the orders": Friedman, The Hunter, p. 251.

  "completely incorrect": ISA, 6384/4-g, Letter from Lothar Hermann to Tuviah Friedman, October 17, 1959.

  [>] According to his source: Harel, p. 32.

  Bauer had resolved: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Aharoni, On Life and Death, pp. 123–26; Wojak, pp. 40–41.

  Bauer could not reveal: Despite many efforts in Germany and Israel to uncover the identity of this source, I was unable to prove many of the abundant theories on his or her identity. Stan Lauryssens, the author of a biography on Sassen, presents the idea that Sassen was the informant (based largely on the confirmed fact that Sassen later worked with the Mossad on finding Mengele). See Lauryssens. Others state that the information came from captured Nazi smugglers in Austria or a fugitive Nazi who wanted to get back at Eichmann for past wrongs. See Derogy and Carmel; Hausner. I suspect that the information came from an agent in the German intelligence services (likely from a fugitive Nazi in Argentina), particularly given the continued silence on the subject.

  [>] In June: NA, RG 263, Adolf Eichmann Name File (CIA), Extradition Case of Nazi Josef Mengele, June 24, 1960; AGN, Josef Mengele File, Federal Police Report on Mengele, July 19, 1959; Posner and Ware, pp. 125–32; Astor, p. 169.

  Since Werner Junkers: Goñi, p. 290.

  Bauer had since: Friedman, Die Korrespondenz, Letter from Erwin Schüle to Tuviah Friedman, October 1959.

  On the road: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Aharoni, On Life and Death, pp. 121–25; Producer's Notes, HAE.

  [>] Both German Jews: Aharoni, On Life and Death, pp. 142–47; Segev, pp. 263–64.

  "This is simply unbelievable": Aharoni, On Life and Death, p. 123.

  [>] "I want Zvi": Ibid., p. 125.

  Harel agreed: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Harel, pp. 32–37.

  Though equal in height: Bar-Zohar, Spies in the Promised Land, p. 110.

  [>] Haim Cohen joined them: Harel, p. 37.

  "Prevent Bauer": Derogy and Carmel, p. 177.

  Harel had already: Shpiro, Geheimdienste in der Weltgeschichte.

  Ben-Gurion was unequivocal: Wojak, p. 40; Yablonka, pp. 46–47; Harel, p. 38.

  [>] "Isser will deal": Bar-Zohar, Ben Gurion, p. 1374.

  Three weeks later: NA, RG 263, Nazis/West Germany/Post WWII, Current Intelligence Weekly Summary, February 18, 1960; Williams, p. 478.

  "evoked pictures": Tetens, p. 149.

  Chancellor Adenauer promptly: NA, RG 263, Nazis/West Germany/Post WWII, Current Intelligence Weekly Summary, February 18, 1960; Time, January 20, 1960; Fulbrook, p. 63; Tetens, pp. 42–60; Prittie, pp. 278–81.

  [>] "almost nationwide": Tetens, p. 222; NA, RG 263, Nazis/West Germany/Post WWII, CIA Report, "Growth of Neo-Nazism," March 21, 1958.

  Soon after the Cologne: Producer's Notes, HAE.

  Already the Mossad chief: Y. Gat, AI.

  "an influential middleman": ISA, 2354/8-hz, Announcement from Comité International d'Auschwitz, January 14, 1960.

  "Please make sure": Friedman, Die Korrespondenz, Letter from Erwin Schüle to Tuviah Friedman, January 1960.

  [>] Third, the Mossad chief: OHD, (228)2, Interview with Joel Baromi; OHD, (228)3, Interview with Arye Levavi; Haim, "Jewish Leadership in Times of Crisis," pp. 122–23.

  "take suitable measures": Ben-Gurion, p. 574.

  "I am planning": Producer's Notes, HAE.

  CHAPTER 12

  [>] His Israeli diplomatic papers: Documentary Transcript, HAE.

  Aharoni had the kind: Aharoni, On Life and Death, pp. 9–102.

  [>] "I am absolutely": Black and Benny, p. 138.

  [>] Waiting outside the airport: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 88–91.

  In every country: Thomas, p. 68.

  Two days later: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Harel, pp. 43–45.

  [>] Across the globe: Y. Gat, AI.

  Every attempt to speak: Harel, p. 40.

  [>] Forty years old: Y. Gat, AI.

  When Bloch returned: Ibid.

  The independent Nazi-hunter: Ibid.; Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, pp. 126–29; Pick, pp. 143–46.

  [>] Like Tuviah Friedman: Pick, p. 144.

  "This must be how": Wiesenthal, The Murderers Among Us, p. 128.

  Wiesenthal gladly gave: Y. Gat, AI.

  Gat wanted to: Ibid.; Pick, pp. 144–45.

  [>] "For my friend": Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE.

  "Excuse me please": Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 92–96.

  [>] Listening to Juan's: Documentary Interview Notes, HAE; Harel, pp. 48–51.

  [>] That night: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 88, 97.

  Aharoni and Juan: Ibid., p. 97.

  [>] Early that morning: Harel, p. 53.

  That was more: Ibid., pp. 98–103.

  [>] "Go back to": Research Notes, HAE.

  On March 11: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 103–4.

  "And what do you": Ibid.; Harel, pp. 59–60.

  [>] At a café: Documentary Interview Notes, HAE.

  "What happened": Research Notes, HAE.

  "Ah. Never mind": Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE.

  CHAPTER 13

  [>] Aharoni crawled along: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 106–7.

  On this, Aharoni: La Razon, April 24, 1961; Ahora, June 7, 1960; Lauryssens, p. 117.

  The house looked: Donovan, p. 105; Pearlman, p. 2.

  Driving past: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE.

  [>] Later that night: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 106–7.

  In Tel Aviv: Harel, p. 61; Weber, pp. 40–41.

  [>] Two days later: Kurzman, pp. 410–11; Schwarz, pp. 441–44; Shpiro, "Intelligence Services and Foreign Policy."

  "I belong to a nation": Vogel, pp. 119–20.

  [>] No longer willing: NA, RG 263, Adolf Eichmann Name File (CIA), The Eichmann Trial and Allegations Against Secretary State Globke, February 7, 1961.

  On March 16: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 106–12.

  [>] "It's possible there's been": Research Notes, HAE.


  [>] "They looked like": Eichmann, Meine Flucht.

  [>] Eichmann knew that: "Interview with Klaus Eichmann"; Ben-Gurion, p. 582; Von Lang, Eichmann Interrogated, p. 285.

  Those two men: Eichmann, Meine Flucht; "Interview with Klaus Eichmann."

  [>] His sons, however: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 109–10.

  CHAPTER 14

  [>] Once Aharoni learned: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 112–13.

  [>] Over the past: Harel, p. 76; Demo Tape, HAE; Thomas, p. 75; Bar-Zohar, Spies in the Promised Land, pp. 108–9; Rein, pp. 143, 157–59.

  [>] Given what was: R. Eitan, AI.

  Rafi Eitan, the Shin Bet: Raviv and Melman, pp. 253–54; Black and Benny, pp. 418–19; Thomas, pp. 73–75; Harel, pp. 83–84.

  [>] The thirty-four-year-old: Harel, pp. 83–84; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 110–11; Black and Benny, p. 419.

  "What are the odds": Harel, pp. 83–84.

  "I'm putting you": R. Eitan, AI; Producer's Notes, HAE.

  "None of them": Harel, p. 84.

  On Sunday, March 20: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 116–18.

  [>] Vardi was an Israeli: Ben Natan, pp. 84, 90.

  Vardi understood: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 118–19.

  [>] Through a contact: Aharoni and Dietl, p. 120; "Interview with Klaus Eichmann"; AGN, Josef Mengele File.

  Through a clerk: J. Moskoviz, AI.

  On Sunday, April 3: Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Harel, pp. 73–77.

  [>] Yaakov Gat welcomed: Y. Gat, AI.

  [>] "Are you definitively sure": Research Notes, HAE.

  CHAPTER 15

  [>] Avraham Shalom walked: A. Shalom, AI.

  The thirty-three-year-old: Ibid.

  [>] Logistics and operational: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 122.

  [>] "Isser wants honest men": Steven, p. 39; Bar-Zohar, Spies in the Promised Land, pp. 66–67.

  "How would you feel": A. Shalom, AI.

  Although the chief: Bar-Zohar, Spies in the Promised Land, p. 106.

  The first choice: A. Shalom, AI; Y. Gat, AI; Demo Tape, HAE.

  [>] Aharoni entered: A. Shalom, AI; Harel, pp. 79–81.

  [>] The two top lawyers: Yablonka, p. 46; Papadatos, pp. 52–62; Robinson, pp. 103–6.

  At Mossad headquarters: Steven, p. 111; A. Shalom, AI.

  [>] any equipment: A. Shalom, AI; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 128.

  [>] "We're going to bring": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 120.

  What Eitan didn't: A. Shalom, AI.

  Malkin entered: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 124.

  The two were: Ibid.; A. Shalom, AI.

  [>] "We'd just better hope": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 125–27.

  There the thirty-seven-year-old: Documentary Interview Notes, HAE.

  [>] Over the next: Harel, p. 89; New York Times, March 16, 1960.

  Aharoni showed them: R. Eitan, AI.

  Each night: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 127.

  [>] Malkin was eleven: Peter Malkin interview, Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive; McKechnie and Howell; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 19–72.

  Malkin's first commissions: McKechnie and Howell.

  Beyond focusing: A. Shalom, AI.

  [>] This mission was different: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 54.

  [>] That left air travel: Harel, pp. 38–39.

  This would not be: B. Tirosh, AI; D. Alon, AI; Goldman, pp. 23–29.

  [>] Once this was: Yaakov Medad interview, Massuah Institute; A. Shalom, AI; Harel, pp. 94–95.

  A week before: Harel, p. 86.

  [>] On April 18: Ibid., p. 87; Y. Klein, AI.

  "Okay, everyone": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 140.

  "I want to begin": Demo Tape, HAE.

  [>] He often instilled: A. Shalom, AI; Steven, p. 38.

  "We will bring": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 140–41.

  CHAPTER 16

  [>] On April 24: Y. Gat, AI; Harel, pp. 102–3.

  [>] Since arriving: Aharoni and Dietl, p. 126.

  [>] Entering the lobby: A. Shalom, AI; Davies, p. 111.

  Like his colleagues: A. Shalom, AI.

  "Compatriot": Ibid.

  [>] "What do you want": Ibid.; Y. Gat, AI.

  [>] Early the next morning: Y. Gat, AI.

  [>] Harel had already: Harel, pp. 86–89, 99–100.

  There were scores: Y. Klein, AI; S. Shaul, AI; D. Alon, AI.

  [>] Harel knew El Al: B. Tirosh, AI.

  A German Jew: Ibid.; S. Alony, AI; Goldman, pp. 44, 56, 61.

  "Look, friends": B. Tirosh, AI.

  [>] Peleg was noticeably: Harel, p. 109.

  Before the meeting: B. Tirosh, AI.

  The captain understood: S. Shaul, AI.

  "It is a very": B. Tirosh, AI.

  [>] Lying flat: A. Shalom, AI; Y. Gat, AI; Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 128–29.

  [>] They had spent: Harel, pp. 116–19.

  In addition to Maoz: A. Shalom, AI; Documentary Interview Notes, HAE.

  In the best-case: A. Shalom, AI; J. Moskoviz, AI.

  [>] In New York: Y. Klein, AI. "You are hereby": L. Volk, AI.

  CHAPTER 17

  [>] "The initial team": Harel, p. 111.

  Top-level officers: Aharoni and Dietl, p. 7; Shpiro, Geheimdienste in der Weltgeschichte, p. 305; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 129.

  Harel understood: Demo Tape, HAE.

  [>] "Dead or alive": Bar-Zohar, Ben Gurion, p. 1375; Derogy and Carmel, p. 176.

  There was nothing: Harel, pp. 94, 111–13; Bar-Zohar, Spies in the Promised Land, p. 65.

  Once they had Eichmann: Harel, pp. 210–11; NA, RG 263, Adolf Eichmann Name File (CIA), Extradition Case of Nazi Josef Mengele, June 24, 1960; U.S. Department of Justice, report, p. xx.

  [>] On Sunday, May 1: A. Shalom, AI.

  "worse than criminal": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 122.

  Their house searches: Aharoni and Dietl, p. 131.

  [>] Another problem was: Yaakov Medad interview, Massuah Institute; Documentary Interview Notes, HAE; A. Shalom, AI.

  While Gat remained: Harel, p. 121.

  The Mossad chief: A. Shalom, AI.

  [>] "We can't be too": Harel, p. 122.

  "Look, this is not": Y. Klein, AI.

  [>] For a while: Ibid.; Harel, pp. 123–25.

  Klein thought vaguely: Y. Klein, AI.

  [>] "There is something": L. Volk, AI.

  "What your job": Y. Klein, AI.

  [>] On May 3: Harel, p. 135.

  The first was located: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 168; A. Shalom, AI.

  Code-named Doron: Malkin, The Argentina Journal, p. 48; Harel, p. 132.

  [>] After the El Al: A. Shalom, AI; Harel, p. 130.

  On the evening: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 153–56.

  [>] In Vienna alone: Cesarani, pp. 68–72.

  [>] Reading about Eichmann's: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 132–38; Malkin, The Argentina Journal, p. 11; McKechnie and Howell.

  Now, his hands: Peter Malkin interview, Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 155–56.

  What neither Malkin: Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 130–31; Z. Aharoni interview, IMAE; Documentary Interview Notes, HAE.

  CHAPTER 18

  [>] Since receiving word: Thomas, pp. 74–75.

  It was clear: R. Eitan, AI.

  Still, there were: A. Shalom, AI; Harel, pp. 147–48.

  [>] As for the operation's timing: Harel, pp. 131–32.

  They were to practice: Y. Gat, AI.

  At Ezeiza Airport: Y. Klein, AI; Harel, p. 138.

  [>] "Maybe it would": L. Volk, AI.

  On the evening: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 163–64.

  [>] The forger had arrived: Harel, pp. 136–37.

  None of the team: Steven, p. 112; Black and Benny, p. 177.

  The team had relied: A. Shalom, AI; Y. Gat, AI; M. Tabor interview, IMAE.

  [>] He and Moshe Tabor: M. Tabor interview, IMAE; Malkin,
Eichmann in My Hands, p. 210.

  "When did you": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 163–64; Malkin, The Argentina Journal, p. 28.

  Shalom scouted routes: A. Shalom, AI; Harel, p. 148.

  [>] He also assisted: Yaakov Medad interview, Massuah Institute; Aharoni and Dietl, p. 132.

  The surveillance of: Peter Malkin interview, Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 132.

  He also was learning: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 158.

  [>] Many hours were: M. Tabor interview, IMAE; A. Shalom, AI.

  Whenever all: A. Shalom, AI; Y. Gat, AI.

  [>] At the end: Malkin, The Argentina Journal, p. 31; Y. Gat, AI.

  On a chilly Sunday: Harel, pp. 142–43.

  In his early forties: A. Shalom, AI; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 169.

  For cover: D. Sasson, AI.

  "We're glad you're here": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 169–70.

  In the city: Harel, p. 160.

  [>] "The government has approved": A. Levavi, AI; OHD, (228)3, Interview with Arye Levavi.

  Harel recommended: A. Levavi, AI.

  A drawing of: Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, p. 143.

  [>] "As soon as we": Ibid., pp. 175–77; Harel, p. 147.

  In Malkin's view: P. Malkin interview, HAE.

  One car would be: Harel, p. 147; Aharoni and Dietl, pp. 133–34; A. Shalom, AI; M. Tabor interview, IMAE; P. Malkin interview, HAE.

  CHAPTER 19

  [>] On May 9: R. Eitan, AI.

  Later that morning: Harel, pp. 147–49.

  [>] "What if he": Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 179–80.

  Even with: M. Tabor interview, IMAE; A. Shalom, AI.

  [>] "I assure you": AdsD, Nachlass Fritz Bauer, Box 1, Letter from Haim Cohen to Fritz Bauer, May 10, 1960.

  [>] As Eichmann was: "Interview with Klaus Eichmann"; Eichmann, Meine Flucht. As soon as: Lawson.

  "We're planning": Y. Klein, AI.

  Once they had discussed: Ibid.

  [>] Klein told Harel: Ibid.; Harel, pp. 152–53.

  [>] At Tira: M. Tabor interview, IMAE; Producer's Notes, HAE; Malkin, Eichmann in My Hands, pp. 168–69.

  "Can you tell me": Aharoni and Dietl, p. 138.

  Meanwhile, in the garage: A. Shalom, AI.

  "You were chosen": Harel, p. 150.

  [>] What should they do: Aharoni and Dietl, p. 183.

  What would happen: Ibid., p. 136; A. Shalom, AI.

  What if they: Harel, p. 150.

  As many of the team: R. Eitan, AI.