The Nazi Hunters

By: Andrew Nagorski

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

More than seven decades after the end of the Second World War, the era of the Nazi hunters is drawing to a close as they and the hunted die off. Their saga can now be told almost in its entirety.

After the Nuremberg trials and the start of the Cold War, most of the victors in World War II lost interest in prosecuting Nazi war criminals. Many of the lower-ranking perpetrators quickly blended in with the millions who were seeking to rebuild their lives in a new Europe, while those who felt most at risk fled the continent. The Nazi Hunters focuses on the small band of men and women who refused to allow their crimes to be forgotten - and who were determined to track them down to the furthest corners of the earth.

The Nazi Hunters reveals the experiences of the young American prosecutors in the Nuremberg and Dachau trials, Benjamin Ferencz and William Denson; the Polish investigating judge, Jan Sehn, who handled the case of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss; Germany's judge and prosecutor, Fritz Bauer, who repeatedly forced his countrymen to confront their country's record of mass murder; Mossad agent Rafi Eitan, who was in charge of the Israeli team that nabbed Eichmann; and Eli Rosenbaum, who rose to head the US Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations that belatedly sought to expel war criminals who were living quietly in the United States.

But some of the Nazi hunters' most controversial actions involved the more ambiguous cases, such as former UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim's attempt to cover up his wartime history. Or the fate of concentration camp guards who have lived into their 90s, long past the time when reliable eyewitnesses could be found to pinpoint their exact roles.

The story of the Nazi hunters is coming to a natural end. It was unprecedented in so many ways, especially the degree to which the initial impulse of revenge was transformed into a struggle for justice. The Nazi hunters have transformed our fundamental notions of right and wrong. Andrew Nagorski's book is a richly reconstructed odyssey and an unforgettable tale of gritty determination, at times reckless behavior, and relentless pursuit.

©2016 Andrew Nagorski (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Best on subject

This is a well written, organized accounting of the search and prosecution of war Nazis.It may not have as much information as Hunting Evil but is a much better book. The more notorious cases are covered, as well as some I wasn't familiar with.The stories of the hunters themselves are very interesting. Great narration and writing draw you in.

Fantastic!

This book had a lot of new and interesting information. The narrator was one of the best I've ever heard. Highly recommended if you have an interest in this area!

informative.

It was nice to have the various aspects of the post war hunt for perpetrators put together, although the book could have, unreasonably, been much longer. A good and educational read.

Interesting

So many things I did not know, Historical content was amazing, factual, presented well, engaging,

The Nazi-Hunters

Very knowledgeable. Lots of "factoids" I did not know. I especially liked the Kurt Waldheim section. What a piece of crap he was.

A little dry

A little clinical in its writing of such an emotional topic. Needed more expansion of cases like Ivan the terrible etc.

well worth the time!

I must admit that at times I found the narrative hard to follow but realized the problem for me was the number of foreign names and the fact that "hearing" the names is harder for me to follow as opposed to seeing them in print. Several times I thought of giving up but I'm glad I didn't. The book gives a comprehensive of those hunters of Nazi "criminals"--their difficulties, failures and successes--and above all. the influence of their efforts. Good narration too.

Educationally exceptional !

Superb historically accurate story about a dedicated few who spent their lives tracking down those who took part in the extermination of over 6 million innocent people. They spoke for those who could not speak for themselves.

Story that needs to be told

Great detail, well written and easily understood. Fascinating history of events that should never be forgotten.