NEWSRAEL: Another dark page in the history of Argentinian aid to German Nazis in WWII
Argentina's security ministry reportedly halted all investigations after receiving an independent report of the wreck.
After a suspected World War II submarine was discovered in Argentinian waters in 2022, confidential government documents secured by MercoPress present the possibility of a Nazi smuggling route created by the United States in partnership with Argentina, according to a May report.
The sub, which was found near the beaches of Costa Bonita and Arenas Verdes, has the potential to confirm theories that Nazis escaped to Argentina toward the end of the war.
However, MercoPress state that the Argentinian government has failed to provide any transparency in their investigative attempts to identify the sub. Rather, according to MercoPress, the Argentine has refused to publicly identify the ship which cost the government $300,000 to investigate.
The investigation was meant to identify the sub’s origin, the date that it sank and whether there were any passengers of significant military interest aboard at the time of sinking.
Argentina's security ministry reportedly halted all investigations after receiving an independent report of the wreck, despite the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea legally requiring that the wreck be returned to the country of origin.
Some analysts have stated that the Argentine government has been unwilling to provide information on the submarine because of the upcoming 2023 presidential elections, the outlet said. Some have gone so far as to say that the Argentinian government is engaging in a cover-up.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s reaction
In an exclusive with MercoPress, Dr. Ariel Gelbung , Director of The Simon Wiesenthal Center Latin America said, "in situations where the Government remains silent on a specific issue, such as the recent discovery of what may be a WWII submarine, it is crucial for the Government to respond to any concerns raised, regardless of any historical, political, or financial constraints. Failing to do so only fuels speculation and suspicion.
"Truth requires acknowledging both the positive and negative aspects of a story and maintaining objectivity when examining historical events, particularly those related to WWII. While no Government is perfect, we cannot ignore the grave and ugly mistakes that have been made in the past."
Source: JPost