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Did Hitler actually spend his final days here?

January 4, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 15 Comments

CITY DISCOVERY

Hitler in Bariloche, Argentina

There is a rumour oft-repeated that Adolf Hitler did not die in that bunker in Berlin. As the story goes, he and Eva Braun fled to an idyllic Argentinian town after the Second World War and died there of old age.

They spent their final years on a farmstead, watching the cows graze, perhaps taking occasional strolls through the forests, and remembering the good times back in Germany when Adolf was Fuhrer.

The rumour has been written about in books as fact – published with a legitimacy most people feel is undeserved. In fact, it is actually quite ludicrous and there are many historians who have proven it to be complete nonsense.

When you’re in that town yourself, though, you can start to understand why the rumour may have started.

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

Bariloche (officially called San Carlos de Bariloche) is a gateway to Patagonia. It’s in the heart of Argentina but, standing there on the main streets, you could be mistaken for thinking you were somewhere in the Alps.

The city on a lake, white-capped mountains on the horizon, chocolate shops, beer taverns and a crisp fresh taste in the air. The only thing missing are the yodellers.

It’s no surprise Bariloche has been dubbed ‘Little Switzerland’.

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

Bariloche: Gateway to Patagonia

The mood of the town is no accident. In the 1930s, the Argentinian authorities wanted to lure more European tourists to the country. So, they established Bariloche as a hub for skiing and other mountain activities.

To make it feel more comfortable for the Europeans, they changed the architecture styles to feel more like home. The wood and stone of the towns in the Alps were replicated in the town of the Andes.

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

The plan worked and the area blossomed as a tourism destination. It helped that many of the residents were already from Austria and Germany.

The region began to feel like a little slice of Europe, tucked away in the middle of South America. It’s for this reason that many Nazis did find refuge here after the war and the rumours of Adolf and Eva began.

Even today, with tourists from all over the world, the European façade remains.

Signs for the local beer have cresting snow drawn over the tips of the logo; souvenir shops sell dolls of lederhosen-clad hikers; and chocolate shops name their wares with French or German names.

Scratch below the surface, though, and Bariloche is actually just as Argentinian as anywhere else in the country.

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

The real highlights of the town are the nearby mountains and national parks. Some of the best views of the region are from the nearby peaks.

The lakes and the islands they create fan out for 360 degrees and the scenery looks like it’s straight out of a painting. Hence my stylising of the following photos. Enjoy.

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

bariloche, argentina, san carlos de bariloche, adolf hitler

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Sophie |

    March 16, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Reply

    Bariloche is one of the great names, I think – sounds so romantic and remote. With your stylised photos (and they are gorgeous), it actually looks a bit like home (Norway) 🙂

    • Turtle |

      March 22, 2012 at 1:30 am

      Reply

      I’m definitely going to have to get to Norway soon then. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful country!

  2. Andrea |

    March 17, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    Reply

    I’m sure speculation of Hitler escaping to South America is also fuelled by the fact that many top-ranking members of the Nazis did escape to the Americas with false-documents and sometimes the help of governments like the United States to stay ahead of the Soviets. I believe Dr. Mengele was one of those escaping to South America – frightening!

    Bariloche is definitely a nice place to visit when you’re in Patagonia. I think it would have been a bit more fun to be there during ski season (we were late for that) – maybe a bit more exciting. But we had some great meals there and the surrounding areas are great for hiking if the weather is right.

    • Turtle |

      March 22, 2012 at 1:32 am

      Reply

      It’s definitely geared towards skiing. It would be great to go there in winter and hit the slopes – and then grab one of the delicious hot chocolates afterwards!

  3. Sherry |

    March 19, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    Reply

    Ah, an added intrigue to this beatiful place. I can’t wait to get here and see it for myself. But I’d hope Hitler did not die here. Its too nice of a place to enjoy for a person with such a tainted history.

    • Turtle |

      March 22, 2012 at 1:35 am

      Reply

      You’ve got to love a bit of intrigue… 🙂

  4. Mary @ Green Global Travel |

    May 11, 2012 at 7:46 am

    Reply

    It’s crazy to see images of the Alpine countryside in the Andes, then again we have Helen in Georgia. Helen is an Alpine village in on the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. I guess people will do anything for tourism!

  5. Dude |

    February 27, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Reply

    Bariloche is sweet. I spent a week there in early January 2013. It is one hell of a place to hide. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth. I can hardly wait to go back to that area. Next time I will head southwest into Pampa Linda.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 10, 2013 at 10:04 pm

      Reply

      Yeah, beautiful place. I know what you mean – if I had to flee anywhere on earth, this part of the planet would be high up on the list!

  6. marcos sousa |

    February 27, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    Reply

    is a wonderful city with lot of social problems.
    very beautiful landscape,
    has a very old volcano CALLED CERRO LEONES that looks like a dog sleeping in the end of the lake,
    people talk about nazis ,but i saw a big picture of rabbi menachen szneerson in 2012.
    BARILOCHE IS VERY NICE .
    ONE DAY I WILL LIVE THERE.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 16, 2015 at 5:42 pm

      Reply

      It is a beautiful city indeed. I didn’t know about the volcano. I wonder if you can climb it? That would be kind of fun to do!

  7. James B. |

    July 6, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    Reply

    There’s more legitimacy to the claim that Hitler lived out his life in Argentina than most want to believe. Argentinian journalist Abel Basti has written a book documenting his research on the subject. He came across at least a dozen credible eye-witnesses. His book is available in a few languages, but not yet in English. Author Harry Cooper has also published the book “Hitler in Argentina” documenting the findings of his research. Truth is stranger than fiction.

  8. Marilyn Current |

    November 26, 2017 at 1:39 pm

    Reply

    I spent several days exploring the Bariloche area, about 11 years ago, when my daughter lived in Buenos Aires. The entire area is absolutely gorgeous.

  9. Alan O'Brien |

    June 30, 2019 at 2:12 am

    Reply

    read “Grey Wolf” by Simon Dunstar and Gerrard Williams and you will get undeniable info about Hitler’s escape to Argentina

  10. carl |

    September 4, 2019 at 5:16 am

    Reply

    My dad told me Hitler lived here. He mentioned it many times. He said he wanted to visit family here before he died. we went to Buenos aires but never went to Bariloche. I never really believe him but he made a convincing case. He said that he died in 1962 and that the FGBI knew he was there. He said that in exchange for the atom bomb, they let him escape. I don’t know what to think but it was the war and anything was possible. Many other high ranking animals of the Hitler group seems to have survived, so why not Der Fuhrer? Whatever happed, the monster is dead!

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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