Hunting Eichmann: how a band of survivors and a young spy agency chased… (2009)

This is my favorite type of book: Non-fiction that reads like fiction. I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely rank it in my top ten favorite non-fiction books. It starts with a brief biography of Adolf Eichmann, concentrating mostly on his brutality as a key player in the Final Solution, and details how he fled to Argentina with the assistance of Nazi sympathizers (including the Vatican).

The most interesting part of the book is the account of the Mossad's involvement in apprehending Eichmann. Reading how the Mossad initially became involved (after missing an earlier opportunity to capture Eichmann), and how they carefully planned the capture, was like reading a spy novel. The book gives background on each of the operatives (many of whom were Holocaust survivors) and details their feelings about capturing (and then guarding while they secured transport out of Argentina) a man who orchestrated the death of many of their friends and family.

The book also does give some details on Eichmann's life from his perspective, to the extent that such information is available. We find out a little about his life in Argentina, his family, and how he viewed himself vis a vis the Holocaust.

I highly, highly recommend this book. The only negative I found in this book was the fact that the pictures are clustered together in the middle of the book (which I normally like), but I did find that they "spoiled" the end of the book. I knew that Eichmann was captured, but some of the pictures gave away some details I didn't know, and I hadn't reached that point in the book yet. So I do recommend skipping past the pictures and reviewing them at the end. ( )

What a fantastic book! It was a gripping read. ( )

Despite the author repeating himself at times, this was an incredible book that i could not put down. This book shows how we should never forget the atrocities of the Third Reich. Mossad agents could have easily killed Eichmann, but they held back their emotions and brought this person to justice. This is the story of how they went about doing that. In a day where there are those who want to deny the holocaust ever happened, this is a must read. It is well researched and fairly well written...moreDespite the author repeating himself at times, this was an incredible book that i could not put down. This book shows how we should never forget the atrocities of the Third Reich. Mossad agents could have easily killed Eichmann, but they held back their emotions and brought this person to justice. This is the story of how they went about doing that. In a day where there are those who want to deny the holocaust ever happened, this is a must read. It is well researched and fairly well written. The author was interviewed on extension 720. ( )

A nail-biting cliffhanger even though we know how it ends. Bascomb tells this story with all the sensitivity and attention to context necessary to give you a sense of both the hunters and the huntee. I was amazed at how Eichmann was able to elude capture in Europe and shocked at the identities of some of the people who aided his escape. The stories of the people who risked their lives to capture him -- what can I say? Heartbreaking, heartrending. Yet, for them it was unique opportunity to bring justice in the name of so many wounded and murdered souls. An incredible story well worth reading. I know I am getting off topic, but I just wish the world could learn a few lessons here. ( )

8 stars: Very good

--------------------------------

Adolf Eichmann was the "operational manager" of the "Final Solution". While he may not have directly killed anyone, with his role of taking over cities in Hungary, first segregating the Jews into the ghettos, and eventually sending them to extermination camps, that distinction is moot. He indirectly was the cause of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people. When WWII ended, he fled, ultimately ending up in Argentina, which harbored many Nazi criminals (most notably the horrific Josef Mengele).

This book alternates from Eichmann on the run and setting up his new life, to his pursuers capturing him (1960), holding him for 10 days, smuggling him out of Argentina, and bringing him to trial in Israel.

This was an engaging story beginning to end, more so because it is true. It caused me to think about many things, including the nature of evil, faith and religion in the reality of the Holocaust, the justification of "just following orders", as well as more specific things such as the nature of faith and the toll that being in Eichmann's presence took on his captors. There was an anecdote of a Nazi hunter befriending Eichmann's family trying to find out where he had gone. This man took Eichmann's two young sons out in a boat on a lake--- and had to very emotionally restrain himself from drowning them. He couldn't bring back the 6 million Jews that had died, but he said that Eichmann could know *this* pain. He did not do it, and he swore he'd never go back to the house. This person is perhaps a better man than most of us.

Some passages that I took note of, with some of my commentary inserted in [brackets].

"despite his feelings toward Jews, Eichmann was unnerved by what he saw [mass executions, in these cases outside of the camps, and including women and children]. This was no longer a "political solution". At the same time, he feared that the new policy would obviate the need for his department. This fear of losing his position and power outweighed his misgivings, and after further consideration, he accepted the necessity of ridding Europe of the Jews through extermination."

[speechless. I guess this is what sociopathy is. It must be more than "just following orders", that you can justify your needs in that way? ].

"Both German Jews by birth, neither had kept their faith in a God that had abandoned the Jews to the Nazi barbarity".

[This is something I often think about. At times I have a hard time understanding how people can have faith in a God that allows such horrors. I know the counterargument, but fundamentally don't understand it.]

And after capturing Eichmann, and holding him until they could smuggle him out: "...they were overwhelmed with disgust at having to be so close to him. They had to feed him, to dress him, to shave him, to accompany him to the bathroom, and to tend to his every discomfort. It would have been easier if thye felt only hatred toward him, but unexpectedly, he looked and acted too pathetic and sheepish to inspire that emotion. They were contemptuous of his presence, especially when they considered those they had lost because of his actions. But most of all they were burdened by other unsettling emotions, namely their frustrating inability to reconcile the pitiful nature of their prisoner with the fact that he had been responsible for the deaths of so many Jews. This conflict cast a pall over the house. "

Later on, Malkin, who physically had grabbed Eichmann and put him in the getaway car told Eichmann "I don't know [why I give you this cigarette to ease your pain.] I don't hate you." Malkin was berated by his cohorts for speaking to Eichmann, and giving him wine and cigarettes. However, he got what they were all looking for-- a written statement by Eichmann saying he volunteered to be travel to Israel to be tried there in court.

And a good summary, by Simon Wiesenthal, who in this particular case, was barely involved in Eichmann's capture. "A few Jews caught him and brought him to justice. They didn't kill him, which they could have in Buenos Aires. No, they brought him to the free and sovereign state of Israel where men could serve as his judges. The trial was almost more important in the field of education than in justice. It was important for the Israeli youth to know what happened, where we came from. And that's what the Eichmann trial did. But not only in Israel, the real turning point was the awareness of the world towards the tragedy of the Jewish people."

Eichmann was given a fair trial in Israel. The evidence was overwhelming, and he did not contradict it. His defense was based on "following orders" and how he personally did not kill anyone. He was found guilty, and sentenced to execution.

And from this reviewer, who is generally against the death penalty, there are exceptions to all rules. Hannah Arendt's quote describes best to me, what I feel:

"Just as you [Eichmann] supported and carried out a policy of not wanting to share the earth with the Jewish people and the people of a number of other nations — as though you and your superiors had any right to determine who should and who should not inhabit the world — we find that no one, that is, no member of the human race, can be expected to want to share the earth with you. This is the reason, and the only reason, you must hang."

And hang, he did, on May 29, 1962. ( )