It was alleged that after World War 2 many ex-Nazis, in order to to evade capture and trial as war criminals, escaped by crossing the German border through Switzerland and into Rome. The Vatican then assisted these ex-Nazis for their eventual escape to South America. Is this true or just another conspiracy theory?.
2006-12-20 17:45:33 · 9 answers · asked by roadwarrior 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Untrue. Lots of priest were put into concentration camps after they were caught aiding jewish people, or sometimes just for being priests. A google search will tell you all about this. I doubt the vatican would offer to help the nazis who were trying to wipe out religion alltogether. Hitler did not approve of any authority other than his own. He felt the Catholic church with it's heirarchy was a threat to the nazi party. He wanted to put himself in place of god religion and the church.
2006-12-20 18:10:38 · answer #1 · answered by brittany 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There was some assistance, but whether or not it was officially sanctioned is another story, though the then-Pope *had* signed a concordat with the fascists in Italy and with the Nazis in Germany.
The vatican essentially "hedged its bets" - it sheltered down allied airmen and also Germans as the Germans evacuated Rome in 1943.
But Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the Holocaust, escaped Europe on a Vatican-supplied Red Cross passport. Again, whether it was indivdual or officially sanctioned is a bit murky.
Mainly as the church, which did nothing to prevent the Holocaust, has some difficulty with question on it. Which is what made John Paul II's apology to the Jewish people all the more important.
2006-12-20 18:07:00 · answer #2 · answered by barbaross2002 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Could be true, or could be a mere conspiracy theory.
BUT, it is true that there were ex Nazis that were sheltering in Argentina. Its possible that they got some help within Europe and South America.
But I somehow doubt whether the Vatican would be involved in that.
2006-12-20 17:51:21 · answer #3 · answered by Zabanya 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There were indiviudal priests that helped Nazis to escape but that Vatican as an institution did not help them to escape. It is uncertain if any of the priests knew they were helping war criminals per se to escape.
2006-12-21 01:19:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard about the Vatican helping jews to hide from Nazis or to convert them to Christianity, not the other way round.
2006-12-20 18:06:27 · answer #5 · answered by Tune 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. Trying sending an email to the Israeli government. They would know and I'm sure they wouldn't be shy about telling you the truth or where you could find the information. Personally, I don't trust the Vatican! They have their own agenda.
2006-12-20 19:18:34 · answer #6 · answered by Henry H 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hello,
I have heard about this before. Scary if you ask me, oh wait, you are..
Here are some websites below to give you more information.
If you need more info, just type in Vatican and ex Nazi in Yahoo or Google.
Hope this helps you............ : - O
2006-12-20 17:54:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think there were people within the churc that helped ex-nazis flee, but I doubt it was top-down thing.
2006-12-20 21:00:22 · answer #8 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Perfectly true
2006-12-20 18:13:34 · answer #9 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋