In a historic decision, Argentina has granted the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) full access to previously sealed Nazi-era financial archives. The move, ordered by President Javier Milei, is an unprecedented step toward uncovering how South American banking networks helped Nazi war criminals escape justice after World War II.
For decades, historians have known that Argentina played a key role in the post-war ratlines, secret escape routes that allowed high-ranking Nazis to flee Europe. But the full extent of financial complicity has remained elusive—until now. With these records finally open, investigators may be able to trace how banks and financial institutions enabled Nazi fugitives to rebuild their lives in South America.
“This is a potential watershed moment,” said SWC CEO Jim Berk. “We’ve long suspected that key financial institutions helped facilitate these escapes, but this access could finally provide concrete evidence.”
Breaking decades of silence
Argentina has a complicated history when it comes to Nazi fugitives. Under the rule of Juan Perón, the country became a safe haven for Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele and others who slipped through the cracks of post-war justice. While past governments have released partial records, this is the first time full, unrestricted access has been granted to an organization dedicated to hunting war criminals.
What’s in the archives?
The SWC investigation aims to expose which financial institutions were directly involved in laundering money, facilitating transfers or otherwise aiding Nazi war criminals. These archives could contain bank statements, wire transfers and correspondence that confirm the long-suspected role of South American financial networks in sustaining Nazi exiles.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, has also been pushing for greater transparency in Nazi-related investigations. “The pursuit of truth doesn’t have an expiration date,” Grassley said in a statement. “This is about justice and ensuring history is fully documented.”
Global implications
Uncovering Nazi financial networks could have implications beyond Argentina. If new evidence ties major banks or multinational corporations to war criminal support, it could spark legal actions, diplomatic pressure and even financial reparations. Additionally, historians believe these records could shed light on how Nazi-linked money flowed into modern institutions, potentially influencing post-war global finance in ways previously unknown.
While it remains to be seen what investigators will uncover, one thing is clear: the last chapter of Nazi accountability is still being written.
