Operation Eichmann: The Truth about the Pursuit, Capture and Trial [Hardcover]

Zvi Aharoni (Author), Wilhelm Dietl (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

On May 24, 1960, David Ben-Gurion, prime minister and founder of Israel, stood before the Knesset and made a startling announcement: "I have to inform the Knesset that, some time ago, Israeli security forces found one of the greatest Nazi criminals, Adolf Eichmann, who, together with other Nazi leaders, is responsible for what they termed the Endlösung [Final Solution] of the Jewish question, in other words, the extermination of six million European Jews. Adolf Eichmann is already in this country under arrest and will shortly be brought to trial."

Operation Eichmann, as the pursuit, capture, and trial of the notorious Nazi official was known, stunned the world. Its success was due largely to the unceasing efforts of one man, Zvi Aharoni, an experienced Mossad operative who was a skilled investigator and interrogator. He tracked Eichmann to Argentina, secured photographs that established his identity, and was a key player in the plot to kidnap the exiled war criminal and bring him to trial. Above all, as the sole person to interrogate "the architect of the Final Solution" after his capture, and the man who convinced Eichmann to admit his identity and face trial in Israel, Zvi Aharoni is the only one who knows firsthand what Eichmann actually said—a controversial subject often misrepresented in previous accounts.

Now, for the first time in Aharoni's own words, comes the extraordinary true story behind one of history's most famous manhunts. Daring, dramatic, filled with episodes of breathtaking suspense and intrigue, Operation Eichmann is also a powerful chronicle of conscience and of the never-ending search for justice.

All the intricate planning and preparation, the relentless pursuit of evidence, the constant need to justify time and expense are related with exacting detail. As events unfold, various political, personal, and philosophical issues come into play, focusing not only on a top secret mission, but on the priorities of individuals—as well as nations—during the Cold War era. The startling complicity of those who gave refuge to and provided safe passage for fleeing Nazi leaders reveals an expansive network of global proportions, while the seeming indifference of others is equally chilling. Adding to the tension is the emotional toll imposed on the participants, for whom the operation became a constant exploration of the theme of justice vs. revenge.

A probing, deeply personal account of a real-life undertaking to rival the most breathless cloak-and-dagger fiction, Operation Eichmann is a powerful, compelling reading experience.

"Operation Eichmann has been covered by a wide range of 'literature.' However, in all the books written so far there have been certain constraints which have meant that the writers were not able to present a full and correct picture of what actually happened. There is no doubt that this book represents an objective and authentic addition to the tale of heroism that led to the capture of Eichmann and his standing trial in Israel. Without Zvi Aharoni and his friends, we would never have achieved what we did."

From the Publisher

One of the most feared and hated Nazi leaders of World War II, Adolf Eichmann was responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews. When he disappeared after the war, the stage was set for one of the greatest manhunts in history. Zvi Aharoni, an agent for the Israeli Mossad and the man who tracked down Eichmann in Argentina in 1960, provides details only he can confirm. As the only person to interrogate Eichmann after his capture, Aharoni alone knows what Eichmann actually said, a subject seriously misrepresented in earlier accounts.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 21, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471193771
• ISBN-13: 978-0471193777
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #637,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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  Books > Nonfiction > Law > Specialties > War

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The kidnapping could have gone wrong., April 29, 2000

By	John Barry Kenyon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operation Eichmann: The Truth about the Pursuit, Capture and Trial (Hardcover)

Zvi Aharoni knows from personal experience the inside story of Eichmann's capture and has given us the definitive insight. The description of the trial, however, is less detailed. A lot of myths are laid to rest. For example the SS criminal on the run never tried to disguise his identity after capture contrary to other accounts and movies. Nor did he speak the Hebrew language as has sometimes been claimed by apologists. But the over-riding lesson of this spy story is how it all very nearly went wrong. The undercover agents made the mistake of pretending to be estate agents when visiting Eichmann's neighbor and their cover was very nearly blown. Eichmann himself was surprisingly careless about his personal security in Buenos Aires even though he knew the Israelis were planning to capture him. It is an interesting sidelight that he and his family lived poorly in a house without electricity or fresh water supplies. If organizations such as Odessa had plenty of nazi gold in South America, Eichmann certainly never saw much of it after his arrival there. Apparently, he was the only man executed in Israel since 1947. In the worst sense of the term, Eichmann was indeed a special case.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars almost like being there, December 22, 1999

By	Mark Dement - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operation Eichmann: The Truth about the Pursuit, Capture and Trial (Hardcover)

This book gives a brief history of the beginings of a terrible time in history. It then tells an intriguing story of espionage and kidnapping. The author had intimate contact with Eichmann, and relates some of the conversations with him, giving some insight into a twisted mind. This book has pictures(vital when studying history) which helps to put the reader in Buenos Aires. To get the full story of Eichmann's capture "The House On Garibaldi Street" is an important companion book. Note should be taken that the names are different in the two books, but as the reader gets to know the characters they tend to meld together. Operation Eichmann is a fasinating read as a part of our history that needs to be told and never forgotten.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative but dull, August 15, 2005

By	David MacDougall "rpcvny" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Operation Eichmann: The Truth about the Pursuit, Capture and Trial (Hardcover)

If you want an overview of the capture of Eichmann this book will give it to you, but don't expect a gripping story. This is unglamorous espionage. Israel receives very specific information of Eichmann living in Argentina but ignores it twice. When they finally decide to pursue him it turns out that Eichmann had given up running. He and his family were living thinly concealed lives in squalor.

The author's style is slow and plodding as if he was trying to stretch the story to fill the 180 pages. For example, we learn a bit too much about the difficulties of renting cars in Buenos Aires in 1960. But the book is worth the read if you don't know the story.