Aftermath

by Ladislas Farago

Book by Farago, Ladislas

Genres: History, World War II, Holocaust, True Crime, Espionage

559 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1974

About the author

Ladislas Farago was a military historian and journalist who published a number of best-selling books on history and espionage, especially concerning the World War II era.

He was the author of Patton: Ordeal and Triumph, the biography of General George Patton that formed the basis for the film "Patton" and wrote The Broken Seal, one of the books that formed the basis for the movie ''Tora! Tora! Tora!''.

One of his more controversial books was Aftermath: Martin Bormann and the Fourth Reich .

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farago is a dependable historian of WWII, particularly as regards black operations, i.e. espionage. This book is more focused than most, being a personal, well-documented investigation of the whereabouts, if any, of Martin Ludwig Bormann, Hitler's private secretary and Parteikanzlei head, after the defeat of Nazi Germany. Farago's conclusion: he lived and settled in South America with the connivance of several dictatorships and the passivity of the United States of America. This conclusion is much debated.

[Chris reads! · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than anything this book has represented a personal reflection on how convincing one’s fervent belief in their own position can be … rather than anything to do with Martin Bormann himself. How can you contend with the DNA matches of the skull found in Berlin? I really think even if Mr. Farrago had been presented with the DNA evidence in his day he would’ve been no less convinced of Bormann’s postwar life - and equally as convincing of his position.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently now obviated by a DNA test done on some remains found in Berlin, this still remains an interesting book about the post-war hijinks of Nazis. Had me convinced 20 years ago that this guy was still alive and in S. America.

[Julio The Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Borman is alive and well and living in Argentina, at least as of 1974 when this book was published. Ladislas Farago, author of PATTON: ORDEAL AND TRIUMPH, the basis for the 1970 film, blew that one, but he scored a perfect 100 points in documenting the South American exile of Dr. Joseph Mengele, "the Angel of Death" and Klaus Barbie, "The Butcher of Lyon". Mengele lived undercover, moving back and forth between the borders of Paraguay and Brazil. Farago even reproduces photographs from Brazilian magazines depicting a mustachoed Mengele. Barbie lived an underground life in Bolivia, where he used the torture techniques he had practiced on Jews and maquisards in France on political prisoners in his adopted land. All of this, Faraop claimed, took place under the supervision of the CIA and the indifference of the Israelis, who badly needed South American allies after the 1967 Six-Day War. Think of MARATHON MAN or THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL, but only for real. Mengele's body, and post-1945 whereabouts, were not discovered until after Farago's death, while Barbie got shipped back to France once he was no longer a valuable Cold War asset.

[JW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Farago’s claim that Martin Bormann survived the war and fled to South America was contested when first made and then exploded when DNA testing, in 1998, confirmed that the remains found in Berlin in 1972 were Bormann’s. Did Farago really believe that Bormann was still alive, or was he just spinning a lucrative story? In the book he states that that he saw Bormann, although he didn’t speak with him. Just a case of mistaken identity? Farago makes much use of Argentine government documents, but were they real? If real, were Argentine intelligence agents reporting what they knew, or what they were told? At times, especially when covering Bormann’s supposed period of hiding in Italy prior to his Argentine move, the author describes what Bormann was thinking and feeling. How would Farago know this? He doesn’t mention any source. Mere speculation, or creative writing? If it’s all a hoax, then why give it even three stars? Because the book is well written and enjoyable as historical fiction. The legend makes better entertainment than the truth.

[Rob Tesselaar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fodder for any fans of conspiracy theories, particularly about the senior Nazis that disappeared after WWII. Many of the authors claims have been proven false over the past forty years, despite his proclaimed evidence and documentation.

[Terry Check · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another World War 2 book. This time Farago transcends the normal drudgery of retelling obscure histories, he actually embarks on a quest to hunt a man down(Martin Bormann), and how so many Nazis were able to escape Germany after World War 2