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A review by eldaaurora97
Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World's Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb
"'We will bring Adolf Eichmann to Jerusalem,' Harel said, striking the table, 'and perhaps the world will be reminded of its responsibilities. It will be recognized that, as a people, we never forogt. Our memory reaches back through recorded history. The memory book lies open, and the hand still writes.'" (174).
This quote embodies the stakes involved in capturing Eichmann for several Israeli agents--the book discusses how some of these had relatives who died in the Holocaust, prompting them to take action after the war was over. Simultaneously, Adolf Eichmann, who worked with the Nazis throughout, tries to hide out with his family, traveling across Europe until he eventually gets to Argentina, which hides him well for a decade.
The more positive reviewers compared this to a spy novel or a detective story, and it clearly shows. We see the Israeli agents try to hunt Eichmann down, but to no avail. There are multiple conversations, plans, and intrigue involved. However, due to the writing style of this book, it may not be as well highlighted as it was supposed to be, making it more dense. Bascomb frequently uses details to add color to his storyline, along with the arcs of the different players in the book. It also provides very good detail on why Argentina became the Nazi haven it was during the 1950s.
However, he does do good research and incorporates quotes quite well. One of my favorites was during an interrogation with Eichmann after he was captured:
"'As soon as you told me to keep quite, there in the car, I knew it was in the hands of the Israelis,' Eichmann continued. 'I know Hebrew. I learned it from Rabbi Leo Baeck. Sh'ma Yisrael, Ha'Shem Elokeinu--'
"Aharoni cut him off, refusing to listen to Adolf Eichmann say the holiest prayer in the Jewish religion, one recited in the morning and at night by the faithful. It was the prayer spoken at the hour of death, and millions of Jews had come to utter it because of Eichmann." (233).
What was curious was how little time he gives for the trial itself. Considering he mentions that it was a significant one on the world stage, it goes a little bit faster than expect. I assume that he wanted to focus on the capture--a mission impossible, especially with the lack of interest at some points.
Overall, I found Hunting Eichmann enjoyable and interesting. Not only in terms of Nazi hunters, but also how it confronted one's memories of the Holocaust, and how the new State of Israel played a role in tracking him down. Especially with the declined knowledge of the Holocaust, it throws it back into the spotlight, and I might want to read it again. (7/10)
This quote embodies the stakes involved in capturing Eichmann for several Israeli agents--the book discusses how some of these had relatives who died in the Holocaust, prompting them to take action after the war was over. Simultaneously, Adolf Eichmann, who worked with the Nazis throughout, tries to hide out with his family, traveling across Europe until he eventually gets to Argentina, which hides him well for a decade.
The more positive reviewers compared this to a spy novel or a detective story, and it clearly shows. We see the Israeli agents try to hunt Eichmann down, but to no avail. There are multiple conversations, plans, and intrigue involved. However, due to the writing style of this book, it may not be as well highlighted as it was supposed to be, making it more dense. Bascomb frequently uses details to add color to his storyline, along with the arcs of the different players in the book. It also provides very good detail on why Argentina became the Nazi haven it was during the 1950s.
However, he does do good research and incorporates quotes quite well. One of my favorites was during an interrogation with Eichmann after he was captured:
"'As soon as you told me to keep quite, there in the car, I knew it was in the hands of the Israelis,' Eichmann continued. 'I know Hebrew. I learned it from Rabbi Leo Baeck. Sh'ma Yisrael, Ha'Shem Elokeinu--'
"Aharoni cut him off, refusing to listen to Adolf Eichmann say the holiest prayer in the Jewish religion, one recited in the morning and at night by the faithful. It was the prayer spoken at the hour of death, and millions of Jews had come to utter it because of Eichmann." (233).
What was curious was how little time he gives for the trial itself. Considering he mentions that it was a significant one on the world stage, it goes a little bit faster than expect. I assume that he wanted to focus on the capture--a mission impossible, especially with the lack of interest at some points.
Overall, I found Hunting Eichmann enjoyable and interesting. Not only in terms of Nazi hunters, but also how it confronted one's memories of the Holocaust, and how the new State of Israel played a role in tracking him down. Especially with the declined knowledge of the Holocaust, it throws it back into the spotlight, and I might want to read it again. (7/10)