ABSTRACT
In Latin America of the late 1940’s, the “Third Reich” was far from dead history; indeed, it was multifariously present. In the decade before, Germany had maintained close political, economic, cultural and military relations with most Latin American states. Since the mid 1930’s, Argentina had resisted United States efforts to create a block of American states against totalitarian trends in Europe. Buenos Aires did not want to be led by the continental hegemonial power. Instead, Argentina maintained contact with Germany, the foreign organisations of the NSDAP were active in the large German community; trade grew. Brazil had no need for a commission, for it had been on the right side - at least in the crucial moment. For that reason, Brazilians started to question their country’s relationship with the “Third Reich” fairly early on and their approach was relatively uninhibited. Panama is a tiny state compared to Argentina and Brazil.
