Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased down the World's Most Notorious Nazi

This Spy Thriller is a Classic in Modern History

Wow! I have always believed that non-fiction is better than fiction and Hunting Eichmann is another book to make my case. Neal Bascomb does a thorough account of this infamous Nazi war criminal's rise to power, escape from the Allies after the war, his life in Argentina and eventual capture and execution by the Israelis in the early 1960's. All the key players involved on both sides of the fence are historically documented, in this gripping true story.

With early accounts of the genocide done by Eichmann and the Nazis, the war ends in 1945 and the cat and mouse game begins. Evading early capture, Eichmann uses his old boy network to help him keep one step ahead of those looking for him. But, with the overwhelming Allied presence, his luck runs out. Under a a series of aliases, he is put in a POW camp and blends in with the rest of the men. But as the Nurenburg Trials begin, he starts to worry and escapes. He finds work under his assumed alias but grows tired of a life in Germany where he has to constantly look over his shoulder. Through old connections Eichmann leaves Germany, and after a few stops along the way, escapes to Austria, and eventually finds safe passage to Argentina. There he begins his new life and what he hopes will be the end of the running game.

The books takes a new twist as word leaks out that he may be living there with his family. Many are still on his trail-though it has seemed to grow cold, until a break comes through. With new information and the interest of the the Israeli Government in catching him, the Mossad takes action. The intensity level is kicked up a notch as they prepare in full mode to catch and bring Eichmann back to Israel for trial. Non stop preparations are put into place, and nothing is overlooked, from the color of ink on forged documents to how to deal with government officials. This is where this book shines as we learn about every detail that the Mossad takes to do their mission. With Eichmann capture in Argentina , events continue to build with intensity as the Mossad now have to move him out of the country undetected to Israel, thousands of miles away.

What makes this book great is that many involved in his capture had actual ties to the Holocaust. They definitely had a score to settle and fond justice in the end. The bigger picture was more important to Israeli Prime Minister Ben- Gurion, who wanted young Israelis to be aware of the Holocaust and for its victims to open up and make the world never forget about this dark chapter in our history. Defending his actions to his death, Eichmann continued to claim his innocence and use the standard Nazi line of, "I was only following my orders". This book is a well written account of an important part of history.-you will be at the edge of your seat as your read this spy thriller. As I said in the beginning; true stories seem so much more interesting than made up ones. And this book will not leave you disappointed. I guarantee it.

Robert Glasker

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Meticulously Detailed

This book could quite easily be used as the basis for a spell binding movie or as a series of spy thriller books. The research is amazing, every little detail is covered, from Eichmann's backround and escape from Nazi Germany to his abduction in Argentina and trip to Israel. Reads more like fiction than fact-fast paced and suspenseful.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Justice for Eichmann and Israel

In the last days of the Third Reich,SS Lt. Colonel Adolf Eichmann, the operational manager of the Final Solution to the Jewish Question, shed his Nazi uniform and vanished. Fifteen years later, agents of the Mossad, the Israeli secret service, captured him in Argentina. The author has written a very exciting readable narrative of how Eichmann escaped from Germany and was eventually found, captured, smuggled out of Argentina and brought to trial in Israel. Eichmann's story provides interesting insights into the Nazi killing machine, Israeli's struggle for relevance and the terrible personal burdens carried by Holocast survivors.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Reads like a novel

Hunting Eichmann reads like a novel as it takes you through Eichmann's escape through Allied lines after WWII and, eventually, to South America where he eluded Nazi hunters for nearly 15 years (with help from the Argentine government and the Catholic Church). The book does an excellent job of showing that Eichmann's eventual capture was the result of persistence from officials in Germany and Israel. In short, even though he eluded them for years, those officals and others like Simon Weisenthal, remained committed to capturing Eichmann and bringing him to trial. The author also does a commendable job of showing what the trial meant to the fledgling Israeli state and those who actually participated in Eichmann's capture. Finally, the author's protrayl of Eichmann, not purprisingly, revealed that he was cold and unrepentant right to the end. A chilling reminder of what happened as Eichmann carried out the "Final Solution" and what could happen again if those who are committed to human rights do not remain vigilant.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't Put It Down!

Eventhough I knew the outcome, it was absolutely a nail biter! Very well written, and extremely detailed. All of the characters were human and at the same time, larger than life. A must read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Compelling Post WWII Read

Fabulous background research leading up to how the search started and the journey and people who were involved along the way. Very compelling. It is also told from Eichmann's perspective as well, and how he came to rise to such power within the Nazi regime. After reading this, the book "Red Orchestra" is a related topic, as it is the story of Nazi Resistance by German Youth.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome reading!!!

This book is a page turner and cannot be put down once you start. It details Israel's plans to kidnap one of the most infamous persons in modern history. It is a compelling look of how the plans were made and carried out.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

FABULOUS

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was thrilling from the first paragraph until the remarkable, and true, ending. Masterfully written. When I finished the last paragraph, I wanted to start reading it over again. I've since recommended this book to several friends all of whom agree - it's a fabulous read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Very Well Written Account

This is a excellent account of the trackin and capture of Adolf Eichmann by the Mossad. The book does a great job of explaining the characters involved, the unfolding of the operation, as well as the capture. It reads like a action novel, yet all of it is true. It is easily the best book that I've read on this subject. A must read for anyone interested in the story

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent narrative; riveting

As someone who normally reads mystery thrillers, I was extremely surprised at how riverting this narrative was. It made the content, which I'd studied before, very much alive. It was obvious from the start that the author had thoroughly researched the subject matter and found a way to relate it in a natural and convincing voice.

Fascinating, riveting

I could not put this book down. Even though I was familiar with the hunting and capture of Eichmann, this book filled in the small details that my understanding was missing.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A must!!

This book is more than a book! It is a part of history at its best and its worst! I couldn't wait to keep turning the page to find out what happen next!

A Must Must Read! A review by a common man.

I couldn't find enough time in the world to read this book! I read at work, in the car, in the bathtub, whereever I could get a moment to read I would do it. I felt myself feeling the emotions of all the characters, including Eichmann's. I lived in Honduras for 5 years in the same conditions that Eichmann had in Argentina. I understood that desire to disappear, to be someone else and start over. I felt emotions that I never knew I had, including that empty feeling as Bascombe so well put it.
The NEED to know WHY is what compels us to read on, to try and find some reason for the slaughter of so many innocent lives, and we're left with none. To conclude, an excellent book that should be obligatory literature in all schools. Five stars without a second thought.

capture of adoph eichmann

"hunting eichmann" is a fasinating indepth spy thriller but it is by no means a novel it is all fact and non fiction. the mossad through its resourses found out that former nazi ss concentration camp doctor adoph eichman had escaped trial during world war 2 and was hiding and living and working in bunenes aires and planned to kidnap and capture him and bring him back to israel to face trial for the million of innocent lifes he had murdered.this bestseller is very fasinating to me cause the arthur has collected new documents and has also interviewed many of the mossad agents so alot of information is collected here for the very first time and not only that he has traveled all around the world gathering his research. this will shed some new light on how justice is done

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