Note from BW of Brazil: The little known history of German Nazis and Nazi ideology in Brazil is a topic that is occasionally covered here on the blog. From Brazil hosting the largest branch of the Nazi party outside of Germany in the 1930s, to the continual growth of modern day Nazi (and Skinhead) sympathizers in the country, and the spread of the ideology, this history is a another fascinating layer to a country that simultaneously defined itself as a “racial democracy”. Also keep in mind that this was during a period in time in which Africans and Asians were basically barred (needing special permission by law) from migrating to the country. See the story below courtesy of Opera Mundi.
The SS commander explains to a Nazi colleague all of the procedures to flee to South America and says that, to land in Brazil, an identity card was enough
by Roberto Almeida
A typewritten letter, dated May 10, 1949, is one of the historical treasures in the attic of the Hagenberg Castle, in Austria, under the guardianship of Horst Wächter. The two-page document, preserved delicately, provides details of the famous “Ratlines”, the Nazi escape route concealed by Bishop Alois Hudal, that led Adolf Hitler’s former officers to South America.
The letter, according to Horst, was written by his father, Otto Wächter, a SS commander and former governor of Cracow and Galicia. The document is addressed to a certain Ladurner, a friend of his, living in Bolzano, Italy, but was never sent. Wächter died a month after writing it. The main subject of the letter is places to stay in Rome and escape routes to Brazil and Argentina.
Heard by Opera Mundi, specialists on the escape of Nazis to South America attest that several indications suggest the legitimacy of the letter. Both Daniel Stahl, author of Nazi Hunt: South America’s Dictatorships and the Avenging of Nazi Crimes (Wallstein, Alemanha, Portuguese for Germany), as well as Gerald Steinacher, who wrote Nazis on the Run – How Hitler’s Henchman Fled Justice (Oxford University Press, United Kingdom), agree that the document shows important information about the escape route of Adolph Hitler’s allies.
“The network of people that have made the escape possible was wide and, definitely, now we can say that Wächter is among them, which was unknown until today”, reports Stahl.
Even saying that it’s not possible to be 100% certain that the letter is truthful, Steinacher points out that this kind of correspondence “with recommendations, written from Italy going to old partners and people looking for emigration, in order to escape justice, is common”. “This doesn’t mean that Wächter was a great organizer, but that he gave guidance to others.”
“Here I am back to the city completely exhausted. During the day the temperature reaches considerably warmer degrees. But the nights cool off marvelously. I now understand why all men here wear tank tops underneath their shirts. One can catch a cold easily with the weather changes, which is why to the guide Baadecker, and in Deterling’s experience here is much worse than up North….” (full letter here)
The papers were collected by the official’s wife, Charlotte Bleckmann, years after his death in the Italian capital. Otto Wächter, who was hiding under the fake name Alfredo Reinhardt, had succumbed to jaundice after swimming in the city’s channels, but there are no records of his death besides news published in Italian and Austrian newspapers of the time.
The September 9, 1949 issue of the Weltpresse newspaper confirms Wächter’s death and questions in its headline the whereabouts of his archive, which was destroyed. The letter, according to Horst, was one of the hundreds of documents kept by his mother. None of them talks about the Holocaust in the territories governed by the SS commander.
Required documents
Otto Wächter maintained close ties with Bishop Alois Hudal and gave orientation to his colleague Ladurner, in the letter, about methods to seek refuge in South America. The SS commander managed to gather lots of information about the use of Red Cross passports to escape and requirements of Brazilian and Argentinean border officials.
“According to Hu. [possibly Bishop Alois Hudal], Red Cross passports will not be issued after the end of May. This function will then be transferred to a Vatican department. He believes that the document issued by the Vatican may have less value than the current ones (which, in turn, already have very limited recognition)”, writes the SS commander.
It is well known that the Red Cross, in the most vexing episode of its history, gave passports to Nazi officials, including Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele and Klaus Barbie, who fled – at least momentarily – to anonymity. According to research conducted by Gerald Steinacher, at Harvard University, at least 120,000 of Hitler’s disciples benefited from those documents. The organization publicly apologized for what happened.
The Vatican, which also had its share of complicity with Nazi fugitives, never commented on the accusations of issuing through a committee of refugees, false identities – they are, most likely, the documents Wächter cites in the letter as having “very limited recognition.”
Entrance to Brazil
Wächter clarifies to Ladurner that entering Argentina would entail “known difficulties” and states that “candidates” went to Brazil “to change professions.” “You should do the same when you’re on the other side, to increase your chances of success,” writes the SS commander, and then lists the Brazilian consulate’s requirements.
They are: Red Cross passport, as long as it’s accompanied by an older, prewar document, birth certificate, marriage certificate, employment card and a declaration that the person is not a communist. Then the Nazi adds that “Brazilians actually don’t recognize the Red Cross passports, but would settle for an Austrian passport or I.Karte [identity card].”
“Furthermore, it is possible to speak openly with them, without making Austrian authorities aware,” Otto Wächter said, showing signs that there was greater receptivity on the part of the Brazilians.
Accommodation and food
“Concerning a possible stay here [in the zeal of the Catholic Church in Rome], it would be possible to get free lunch and dinner in the papal cafeteria for a week (renewable),” Wächter recommends to his friend Ladurner. “It is rather primitive, as is the company, but it is all there is,” he completes.
The SS commander had up his sleeve all costs necessary to stay hidden with the help of Bishop Alois Hudal and wrote about the possible funding of an organization that could help them escape, that only accepted Protestants. At the end of the letter, Wächter reaffirms that the main offer is to go to Brazil.
“If you are interested in the things discussed here and still manage to face all obstacles and fulfill all the requirements, then your expenses and your time will be more than justified. In case you do not want to go to Brazil, and this offer is valid only to get there, you can save your money and leave it to me to keep the crank moving,” he wrote.
Source: Opera Mundi
Gosh! Nazis is such an anglophonic topic!!!
For brazilians the second European war, which the westerns self centred insists in call it world war, was a chapter in history.
Brazil and many South American
Countries received massive immigration of Jews, Japanese, otaman empire citizens and any refugees from 2 European war. Including the nazis.
Firstly we were and we still are corrupted. If have money you would bribe all the power and get what u want.
Secondly brazil and Argentina had a massive Prussian immigration ( Germany didn’t existed in the 19 century). So they could easily emerge in the middle of the community.
Secondly Brazilian, because of the old immigration of Prussian citizens, think until now Germans are friendly, open minded people, who doesn’t shave their under arms, who eats a delicious healthy brown bread.
We have a German school in São Paulo city which has more than 145 years.
The Germans were since the beginning the most important economical influence in brazil since the 19century.
Don’t make simplist the suddenly immigration of ( small group of nazis) if compared to the numbers of Jews and Germans against the war we had received.
Remember anglophonic audience Germans moved forward and had built a much more equal society than USA and Uk who insists in make a nazi joke or a nazi research.
Lets learn with them and move forward and start to give education and health care to all citizens!
Racism will always be with us and this silly prejudice against Germans will be here until when??