Quiet Neighbors: Prosecuting Nazi War Criminals in America

by Allan A. Ryan

Tells how Nazi war criminals emigrated to America under assumed identities and now live quiet, prosperous lives among us.

Genres: History

386 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an account of the operations of the Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations during its administration by the author during the years 1980-83. The OSI was primarily created in order to investigate charges brought against individuals for crimes against humanity during WWII and to expedite, as appropriate, the revocation of citizenship, extradition or deportation. Beyond detailing such prominent cases as those of John Demjanjuk, Andrija Artukovic, Viorel Trifa, Josep Magyar and Hermine Braunsteiner, the author also presents his conclusions as regards the matter of the U.S.A. having protected Klaus Barbie, 'the butcher of Lyon'. Ryan, a former federal prosecutor, displays a profound respect for the rule of law throughout.

Dated, this book only scratches the surface of governmental complicity in the harboring and protecting of Nazi war criminals. In it there is no mention whatsoever of 'Operation Paperclip' whereby many suspect individuals were snuck into the United States. Nor is there relevant regard paid to the Nuremburg judgement that the German S.S. was a criminal organization. (F.i., W. Von Braun, often credited as being a father of the American space program, was an S.S. officer during the war, directly implicated in the employment of slave labor, a crime which put others, like A. Speer, behind bars for decades.) --still, within its compass, this is an excellent account.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bottom-line history is amazingly told and I understand so much more of the Russian mind-set (which really means I DO NOT understand the Russian mind-set). But having their "phases" broken down and explained helped. Obviously each leader throughout history has been a narcissistic mental case. So sad for the people themselves most of whom just wanted to live their lives and raise their children in peace.
Which brings me to an important point: anyone with a tender heart should steer clear of the actual first person testimonies of what they suffered. I finally had to just stop reading after getting near to the end of the book.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Soviet Union tool and bureaucrat. Working for the Soviet Union, getting the good life from the pockets of the Americans. Prosecuting? Not really. Just processing KGB data.