Recently declassified CIA files reveal that American intelligence agents hunted for Adolf Hitler in South America for a decade after his reported suicide, raising questions about what the US government really believed about the Nazi dictator’s fate.
At a Glance
- CIA documents show agents searched for Hitler in South America for 10 years after his presumed death in Berlin
- A declassified 1945 file mentioned a possible Hitler hideout at a Nazi-owned spa hotel in La Falda, Argentina
- A 1955 CIA document reported claims by a former SS soldier that Hitler was living in Colombia under an alias
- Argentina plans to release classified files on Nazi fugitives, potentially revealing more about their escape networks
- Approximately 10,000 Nazis and fascist war criminals fled to Argentina and other Latin American countries after WWII
The Official Story vs. CIA Suspicions
The widely accepted historical account states that Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide on April 30, 1945, in Berlin as Allied forces closed in. Their bodies were partially burned and later recovered by Soviet soldiers. Despite an autopsy report confirming Hitler’s death, newly released CIA documents reveal American intelligence officers remained skeptical and continued investigating possible Hitler sightings in South America for years afterward.
The documents show that conspiracy theories suggesting Hitler survived and escaped through Nazi “ratlines” – secret escape routes established to help Nazi officials flee Europe – were taken seriously enough by the CIA to warrant continued investigation well into the 1950s. These revelations come as Argentina prepares to declassify files on Nazi fugitives who found sanctuary in the country after World War II.
Argentine Connections and Potential Hideouts
One particularly intriguing lead explored by American intelligence agents was a possible Hitler hideout at a spa hotel in La Falda, Argentina. According to a declassified 1945 file, this hotel was owned by ardent Nazi supporters who had established connections with the regime before the war. The document noted: “This voluntary support of the Nazi party was never forgotten by Hitler,” suggesting that such loyalty might have been rewarded with protection for the defeated dictator.
The connection was not far-fetched considering Argentina’s well-documented history as a haven for Nazi fugitives. Under Juan Perón’s government, an estimated 10,000 Nazis and fascist war criminals fled to Argentina and other Latin American countries to avoid prosecution for their crimes. High-profile Nazi officials including Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust, and Josef Mengele, the infamous “Angel of Death” from Auschwitz, both escaped to Argentina.
The Colombia Lead and Its Aftermath
Perhaps the most specific claim investigated by the CIA came in 1955, a full decade after Hitler’s supposed death. According to a CIA document, a former Nazi SS soldier named Phillip Citroen claimed Hitler was alive and living in Colombia under the alias “Adolf Schrittelmayor.” The report even included a photograph purportedly showing Citroen sitting next to the man he claimed was Hitler. In the document, Citroen reportedly stated that “in as much as ten years have passed since the end of World War II, the Allies could no longer prosecute Hitler as a criminal of war.”
Despite this lead, CIA officials ultimately decided to abandon the investigation. The agency concluded that “enormous efforts could be expended on this matter with remote possibilities of establishing anything concrete. Therefore, we suggest that this matter be dropped.” No further CIA documents suggest continued pursuit of Hitler after 1955, effectively ending the decade-long hunt.
Argentinian President Javier Milei will declassify all secret documents on Nazis who fled to Argentina after WWII, which include Adolf Hitler himself. Yes, you read that right. The documents will include Nazi-linked bank accounts and records documenting the use of Nazi… pic.twitter.com/cf9ROQotfI
— The SCIF (@TheIntelSCIF) March 31, 2025
Argentina’s Upcoming Document Release
The recent interest in these declassified CIA files coincides with Argentina’s announcement that it plans to release previously classified documents about Nazi fugitives who found refuge in the country. These files are expected to provide unprecedented insight into the financial transactions, property acquisitions, and escape routes used by Nazi war criminals. The release may also shed light on the extent to which Argentine officials and institutions actively participated in harboring these fugitives.
This document release comes at a time of renewed interest in the post-war Nazi escape networks. While historians have documented many cases of Nazi officials who fled to South America, including the capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1960, many details about the mechanisms that facilitated their escape and protection remain sketchy. The forthcoming Argentine files may provide valuable information about how these war criminals evaded justice for so long.
The CIA’s decade-long search for Hitler, despite the official conclusion of his death in Berlin, highlights the uncertainty and chaos of the immediate post-war period, when intelligence agencies struggled to verify information and track down Nazi leadership scattered across multiple continents in the aftermath of history’s deadliest conflict.
