CIA files reveal search for Hitler in South America 10 years after his suicide as Argentina prepares to release classified docs on Nazi fugitives
While the CIA has an autopsy report confirming Hitler’s death, other documents show field agents suspected Hitler may have taken refuge in South America under an alias and obtained a photo of a man with a striking resemblance to the Nazi leader.
A declassified file from October 1945 shows that agents with the US War Department told the FBI of a possible secret hideout at a spa hotel in La Falda, Argentina, that Hitler may have used if he survived.
The document states that the owner of the hotel and her family were “enthusiastic supporters of Adolf Hitler” and had made financial contributions to the Nazi party in its early days in the 1920s through propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels.
“This voluntary support of the Nazi party was never forgotten by Hitler,” the docs claim. “During the years after he came to power, her friendship with Hitler became so close that she and members of her family lived with Hitler in the same hotel on the occasion of their annual visit to Germany.”
The report claims that the hotel had “already made the necessary preparations” for Hitler to take refuge that their hotel in Argentina if he “should at any time get into difficulty” and needed a “safe retreat.”
Another document from October 1955 from a CIA agent with the code name “CIMELODY-3” said he received information from a friend who spoke to a man claiming to be a former Nazi SS soldier Phillip Citroen, who “confidently” told him Hitler was still alive in Colombia.
Citroen claimed to have talked to the former Nazi leader monthly and provided CIMELODY-3’s friend with a photograph showing him with the man he claimed to be Hitler on a beach in Tunja, Colombia.
CIMELODY-3’s friend, whose name was not provided in the document, unknowingly stole the picture from Citroen long enough for the agent to make a copy.
The man alleged to be Hitler was going by “Adolf Schrittelmayor,” and he left Colombia for Argentina in January 1955.
“Philip Citroen – commented that in as much as ten years have passed since the end of World War II, the Allies could no longer prosecute Hitler as a criminal of war,” the document stated.
On Nov. 4, 1955, the CIA approved agents contacting a person known in the files as “GIRELLA” to further investigate the history of “Adolf Schrittelmayor” in Colombia before 1955.
However, the same document states that “enormous efforts could be expended on this matter with remote possibilities of establishing anything concrete. Therefore, we suggest that this matter be dropped.”
It appears following 1955, no other documents have been made publicly available in the CIA’s declassified files to suggest agents were hunting for Hitler.
While there’s no concrete proof of the conspiracy that Hitler may have survived the war and fled Germany, members of the Nazi party did use “ratlines” to reach Argentina and other South American Countries to avoid persecution for their crimes after WWII.
In 1960, Israeli Mossad agents covertly captured one of the masterminds behind the Holocaust, Adolf Eichmann, from Argentina and brought him back to stand trial in Jerusalem, where he was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.
SS physician Josef Mengele — dubbed the “angel of death” for his disturbing medical experiments on prisoners at Auschwitz — escaped through “ratlines” and eluded capture. He later died from drowning after suffering from a heart attack while swimming in Brazil in 1979.
Late last month, Argentina’s interior minister, Guillermo Alberto Francos, announced that classified files relating to “Nazis who sought refuge in Argentina and were protected for many years” after World War II would be released, the Buenos Aires Times reported.
“The President has instructed that all relevant documents from any state institution be made public because there is no reason to keep them classified,” Francos said.
The records will detail banking and financial transactions and the use of Nazi “ratlines.”
Research Calls I
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Upgrades
- Americold Realty Trust (COLD) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays, tgt $21
- Apple (AAPL) upgraded to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies, tgt $167.88
- Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Wells Fargo, tgt $26
- Bath & Body Works (BBWI) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Sandler, tgt $35
- CF Industries (CF) upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at Scotiabank, tgt $81
- Constellation Energy (CEG) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup, tgt $232
- Eastman Chemical (EMN) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital, tgt $91
- First BanCorp (FBP) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Wells Fargo, tgt $20
- Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Sandler, tgt $40
- Noah Holdings (NOAH) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan, tgt $11.50
- Popular (BPOP) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Wells Fargo, tgt $100
- Simon Property (SPG) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Stifel, tgt $168.50
- Starbucks (SBUX) upgraded to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies, tgt $76
- Travelers (TRV) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Wells Fargo, tgt $247
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Downgrades
- Bio-Techne (TECH) downgraded to Sector Weight from Overweight at KeyBanc
- Bloom Energy (BE) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Redburn Atlantic, tgt $10
- Ford (F) downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Bernstein
- Harvard Bioscience (HBIO) downgraded to Sector Weight from Overweight at KeyBanc
- Health Catalyst (HCAT) downgraded to In Line from Outperform at Evercore ISI
- Invesco (IVZ) downgraded to Hold from Buy at TD Cowen, tgt $13
- LyondellBasell (LYB) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital, tgt $62
- Myriad Genetics (MYGN) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Guggenheim
- OFG Bancorp (OFG) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Wells Fargo, tgt $42
- PTC (PTC) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan, tgt $160
- Rallybio (RLYB) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at H.C. Wainwright
- Rio Tinto (RIO) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley
- RxSight (RXST) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS, tgt $16
- W. R. Berkley (WRB) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Wells Fargo, tgt $69
- Bio-Techne (TECH) downgraded to Sector Weight from Overweight at KeyBanc
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Others
- Acadia Health (ACHC) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $36
- Affirm Holdings (AFRM) initiated with an Outperform at Evercore ISI, tgt $50
- Ardent Health Partners (ARDT) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $16
- Atlantic Union (AUB) initiated with an Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley, tgt $32
- Bionano Genomics Inc (BNGO) initiated with a Buy at H.C. Wainwright, tgt $10
- Block (XYZ) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $52
- Boot Barn (BOOT) initiated with an Equal Weight at Stephens, tgt $100
- Casella Waste (CWST) initiated with a Buy at TD Cowen, tgt $130
- Centene (CNC) initiated with a Neutral at Guggenheim
- Cigna (CI) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $384
- Community Health (CYH) initiated with a Neutral at Guggenheim
- Couchbase (BASE) initiated with a Buy at Rosenblatt, tgt $20
- CRH (CRH) initiated with a Buy at Loop Capital, tgt $114
- CubeSmart (CUBE) initiated with a Neutral at Mizuho, tgt $39
- Elevance (ELV) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $518
- Extra Space (EXR) initiated with an Outperform at Mizuho, tgt $141
- Global Payments (GPN) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $85
- HCA Healthcare (HCA) initiated with a Neutral at Guggenheim
- Humana (HUM) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $326
- Mastercard (MA) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $550
- Molina (MOH) initiated with a Neutral at Guggenheim
- National Storage (NSA) initiated with a Neutral at Mizuho, tgt $35
- Newlake Capital Partners (NLCP) initiated with a Neutral at Lucid Capital Markets, tgt $14
- Palvella Therapeutics In (PVLA) initiated with a Buy at Chardan, tgt $50
- PayPal (PYPL) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $65
- Public Storage (PSA) initiated with a Neutral at Mizuho, tgt $287
- Shift4 Payments (FOUR) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $80
- Six Flags (FUN) initiated with a Buy at UBS, tgt $49
- Standex (SXI) initiated with a Buy at Roth MKM, tgt $175
- Tenet (THC) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $165
- Toast (TOST) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $29
- Tractor Supply (TSCO) initiated with an Equal Weight at Stephens, tgt $56
- United Parks & Resorts (PRKS) initiated with a Neutral at UBS
- Universal Health (UHS) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim, tgt $208
- Vertiv Holdings (VRT) initiated with an Outperform at Daiwa, tgt $73
- Visa (V) initiated with an In Line at Evercore ISI, tgt $330
- VTV Therapeutics (VTVT) initiated with a Buy at H.C. Wainwright, tgt $36
Gapping down
In reaction to earnings/guidance:
In reaction to earnings/guidance:
- NEOG -6.5%, CALM -5% (also to acquire Echo Lake Foods), NRIX -1.4%, WMT -0.7% (guidance)
Other news:
- CDP -6.5% (files mixed securities shelf offering) OS -3.5% (approved certain changes to executive management - co-founder Thomas Shea will assume the role of president)
- AMLX -3.3% (Announces First Participant Dosed in Phase 1, Multiple Ascending Dose LUMINA Trial of AMX0114 in People Living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
- CRGY -2.6% (transitions to single class of common stock)
- VSCO -2.4% (announces series of leadership appointments)
- KKR -2.1% (nearing deal to acquire Karo Healthcare, according to Bloomberg)
- TXNM -1.9% (confirms recommendation to approve unopposed stipulation in PNM 2025 rate request)
- LOT -1.7% (names new CFO)
- POST -1.7% (to close Cobourg, Ontario and Sparks, Nevada facilities)
>>> Up
* Airtel Africa Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan; PT 162.50 pence
* Alfa Laval Raised to Neutral at UBS (+)
* Apple Raised to Hold at Jefferies; PT $167.88
* Belimo Raised to Hold at Research Partners; PT 525 Swiss francs (+)
* Deutsche Telekom PT Raised to 44 euros from 43 euros at JPMorgan
* Eastman Chemical Raised to Outperform at RBC; PT $91
* Fluidra Raised to Outperform at Oddo BHF; PT 23.80 euros (+)
* Heidelberg Materials Raised to Reduce at AlphaValue/Baader (++)
* Hermes Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank; PT 2,550 euros (+)
* Huhtamaki Raised to Buy at Danske Bank Markets; PT 39.50 euros (++)
* Norwegian Air Raised to Overweight at Barclays; PT 14 kroner
* Riber Raised to Buy at TP ICAP Midcap; PT 3.10 euros (+)
* Rolls-Royce Raised to Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
* SEB Raised to Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
* Simon Property Raised to Buy at Stifel; PT $168.50
* TGS Raised to Hold at Danske Bank Markets; PT 80 kroner (++)
* Tokmanni Raised to Buy at DNB Markets; PT 13.50 euros (+)
* Trevi Finanziaria Industrial Raised to Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
* Tristel Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank; PT 385 pence (+)
* Wienerberger Raised to Buy at Wiener Privatbank; PT 33.50 euros
* Wienerberger Raised to Buy at Wiener Privatbank; PT 33.50 euros
* Wolters Kluwer Raised to Buy at BofA (+)
>>> Down
>>> Down
* Basic-Fit Cut to Neutral at UBS (+)
* Bossard PT Cut to 165 Swiss francs from 175 Swiss francs at UBS (++)
* CVC Capital Cut to Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; PT 15 euros
* EQT Cut to Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; PT 249 kronor
* Etteplan Cut to Accumulate at Inderes; PT 12.50 euros
* Gooch & Housego PT Cut to 560 pence at Deutsche Bank (+)
* ITV Cut to Sell at UBS (+)
* Jupiter Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley; PT 58 pence
* Kering Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank; PT 205 euros (+)
* LVMH PT Cut to 580 euros from 695 euros at Deutsche Bank (+)
* LyondellBasell Cut to Sector Perform at RBC; PT $62
* LyondellBasell Cut to Sector Perform at RBC; PT $62
* Noram Drilling AS Cut to Hold at Fearnley; PT 28 kroner (+)
* Richemont Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank; PT 150 Swiss francs (+)
* Schroders Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley; PT 280 pence
* STS Group Cut to Hold at SMC Research; PT 11.60 euros (+)
* Telia Cut to Hold at Danske Bank Markets; PT 37 kronor (++)
* Vestas Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank; PT 110 kroner (+)
>>> Initiation
>>> Initiation
* Adyen Rated New Outperform at Evercore ISI; PT 1,775 euros
* Bavarian Nordic Rated New Buy at SEB Equities; PT 250 kroner
* Bavarian Nordic Rated New Buy at SEB Equities; PT 250 kroner
* Borregaard Rated New Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux; PT 205 kroner
* Johnson & Johnson Assumed Buy at Goldman
* KPN Rated New Hold at Kepler Cheuvreux; PT 4.10 euros
* Unipol Assicurazioni Rated New Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux (+)
>>> Call
* Affirm, Adyen Rated Buy as Evercore Says ‘Too Cheap’ to Pass
>>> Call
* Affirm, Adyen Rated Buy as Evercore Says ‘Too Cheap’ to Pass
* Apple Raised at Jefferies, But PT Slashed on Tariffs, AI Outlook
* Bavarian Nordic New Buy at SEB, Potential for Compelling Returns (+)
* BHP Seen Outperforming Australian Miners Amid Volatility: MS
* China’s Stimulus Bazooka Is Necessary Amid Tariff Hit: Aberdeen
* Euronext Among Favored Names at Morgan Stanley; EQT, Jupiter Cut
* ITV Cut to Sell at UBS on Advertising, Streaming Concerns (+)
Gapping up
In reaction to earnings/guidance:
In reaction to earnings/guidance:
- AEHR +6.6%, KRMN +3.6%, TFPM +3.2% (guidance), DAL +3.1%, SMPL +3.1%
Other news:
- BTU +15.2% (Trump makes positive comments on coal; also reviewing all options related to its acquisition of steelmaking coal assets from Anglo American)
- NTHI +6.7% (Phase I trial of NEO212 nearing full enrollment)
- SATL +4.9% (wins $30 mln contract)
- HST +3.9% (files mixed securities shelf offering)
- X +2.8% (comments on Ancora's plan)
- TNXP +2.7% (Tonix Pharma and Makana Therapeutics announce collaboration combining Tonix's anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody (TNX-1500) with Makana's genetically engineered organs in preclinical and clinical xenotransplantation studies)
- INDI +2.4% (CFO resigns)
- BKD +2.1% (reports March occupancy)
- ARLP +1.5% (Trump makes positive comments on coal)
- TRNO +1.4% (reports Q1 data)
Early premarket gappers
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Gapping up:
- BTU +19.9%, SATL +7.9%, NTHI +6.7%, CDP +6%, NRIX +4.6%, LOT +4.3%, RDW +2.5%, BKD +2.1%, CNX +2%, HCC +1.8%, AEHR +1.8%, AMR +1.3%, INDI +1.2%, X +1.2%, ARLP +0.9%
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Gapping down:
- CALM -4.8%, OS -4.5%, HST -4.3%, ANNX -3.9%, KRMN -2.4%, NMRK -2.2%, FORM -1.9%, CRGY -1.8%, CNR -1.7%, VSCO -1.4%, KKR -1.3%, PG -1%, PANW -0.7%