"Hunting Eichmann" is written by Neal Bascomb. It is non fiction released in 2010, recounting how Israeli agents took down one of the most notorious Nazi war criminals. This book is awesome. The story is great and the author does a great job telling it. His extensive research is easy to see as the story comes alive from so many different vantage points.Plot: The story picks up with Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann in the last few months of WWII. Eichmann was essentially the architect of the final solution of the "Jewish question" in the Third Reich. At the fall of the German empire, Eichmann is amazed and disappointed at many of his colleagues surrender. Eichmann has in mind that the SS should reorganize and hold the last line of defense. With the knowledge of Hitler's death and direct commands to surrender he goes into hiding.
He eventually moves to Austria under a new identity and becomes a logger for about five years. After this time, with the help of some former Nazis as well as a Bishop in the Catholic church he gets a new identity and moves to Argentina. The Argentine government at this time was full of Nazi sympathizers. He even takes the risk to contact his wife and children and they move to Argentina with him, and for almost ten more years Mr. Eichmann evades discovery and even holds down a job at a Mercedes Benz plant outside Buenos Aires.
The story of how his identity is discovered, then the meticulous plan by Mossad Agents to capture him are the highlights of the book. It all starts when one of Eichmann's sons is visiting his girlfriend's parents house in Buenos Aires for dinner. Embarrassed perhaps by his father's factory job, he tells his girlfriend's father (who is a judge) of how is father was a high ranking officer in the Third Reich. Little did he know that the German ex-patriot he was talking to was half Jewish. This got the ball rolling for Eichmann's eventual capture. The Argentine government did not know of the events until Eichmann was already captured and flown to Israel. The success of the events of his capture is a testament to proper planning and flawless performance by the Israeli agents.
In the writing of this book, Bascomb unearthed several documents that were previously undiscovered, namely the fake passport that Eichmann used to gain entrance into Argentina in 1950. Again, I will say this book is awesome! The author really takes the reader into the adventure. The fairness with which the Israeli agents treat Eichmann after his capture is inspiring. I will be surprised if it is not made into a movie in the near future.
