Nazi artifacts discovered in Argentina after 80 years

In a remarkable historical discovery on May 11 in Beunos Aires, Argentina, 83 boxes of Nazi-related materials confiscated by Argentine authorities during World War II have been unearthed in the basement of Argentina’s Supreme Court, according to an official statement released Sunday.

Rediscovered WWII-Era Nazi Materials in Argentina

Originally seized in 1941, the boxes were found while court staff were preparing a new exhibit for a Supreme Court museum. The materials had remained untouched for more than 80 years. Court historians revealed that the boxes had been shipped from the German Embassy in Tokyo to Argentina aboard the Japanese steamship Nan-a-Maru in June 1941—during a time when Argentina maintained neutrality in World War II. At the time, the large shipment drew suspicion from Argentine customs officials, who feared it could threaten the country's political neutrality. Despite claims by German diplomats that the shipment contained personal effects, five of the boxes were randomly inspected.

What Was Found Inside

Authorities uncovered thousands of documents, including:

• Nazi propaganda materials
• Postcards and photographs
• Party notebooks and ideological texts promoting Adolf Hitler’s regime

A federal judge immediately ordered the materials confiscated and transferred them to the Supreme Court. However, records from the period do not clarify what action, if any, the court took following the seizure.

New Investigations Underway

Upon their rediscovery, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the contents were designed to promote Nazi ideology within Argentina during World War II. The boxes have now been moved to a high-security room within the Court’s archives. To ensure proper preservation and academic analysis, the Supreme Court has partnered with the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum. Experts will assess the materials for historical value and investigate potential links to unknown aspects of the Holocaust—such as global Nazi financial networks.

Historical Context

Argentina and WWII Argentina remained officially neutral for most of World War II, only severing ties with the Axis powers in 1944. In 1945, the country formally declared war on Germany and Japan. Between 1933 and 1954, an estimated 40,000 Jewish refugees fled to Argentina to escape persecution in Nazi-occupied Europe. Today, Argentina is home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America.