Sunday, November 30, 2014

THE NAZIS NEXT DOOR : HOW AMERICA BECAME A SAFE HAVEN FOR HITLER'S MEN
by Eric Lichtblau
 
There was a quota that only forty thousand people could be admitted to the United States after World War II. Visas were denied to Holocaust survivors. (Anti-semitism was still rearing its ugly head.) The ones that should have come were not allowed, and, ironically, the ones that should NEVER have been admitted, and came by the thousands, were Nazis. They had no trouble entering, labeling themselves as "war refugees." Many of them had help and protection from the U.S. government. The CIA used Hitler's collaborators to work as spies, scientists (Project Paperclip), and engineers, while shoving their horrendous, murderous deeds under the rug. They lived as American citizens unscathed until years later when the Justice Department decided to identify and prosecute them.
There have been many books written about Nazis who came to America. Most of them were boring to read and not very interesting. You can't say that about this particular book. The Nazis Next Door will blow your socks off. It's disturbing, compelling, makes you shake your head in disbelief, and is one fantastic read.
Author Eric Lichtblau is an investigative reporter and he did one heck of a job. Between 150 interviews and perusing 4500 pages of archival documents, intelligence reports, etc., he didn't miss a thing. The writing is superb and keeps you riveted.
If I had to rate this book, I would give it ten stars instead of the usual five.
Very highly recommended.