PDF Summary:The Nazi Hunters, by Damien Lewis

The Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis chronicles the formation of a covert team within the elite Special Air Service (SAS) unit dedicated to tracking down and bringing to justice Nazi war criminals responsible for the deaths of Allied forces, including captured SAS troops.

This chilling account reveals the gruesome atrocities committed by the Nazis against civilians and prisoners of war, particularly in the Vosges Mountains region of France. Despite facing obstacles from the changing political landscape and entities seeking to impede their efforts, the Nazi Hunters persistently pursued their targets across occupied territories, utilizing unconventional interrogation methods to deliver a measure of justice on behalf of the victims.

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The ramifications of revealing the directive from Hitler concerning commandos, coupled with Prince Galitzine's findings at Natzweiler.

The full extent and the identities of those responsible for the atrocities had not been fully grasped by the authorities until the disturbing details in Prince Galitzine's Natzweiler report of late 1944 sounded a significant alarm. The discovery of the tragic fates that befell many fighters of the French Resistance, along with the potential loss of Allied soldiers in the camp, deeply troubled the Allies. Galitzine was resolute in maintaining possession of his findings. Early in 1945, the French verified the existence of a decree known as Hitler's "Commando Order." This chilling "Most Secret" order - issued by Hitler himself - decreed that all captured SAS and other airborne forces were to be murdered without mercy and with efforts made to mask their deaths. From that point on, Colonel Franks and his team intensified their pursuit of the facts. At this point, they encountered an obstacle that seemed insurmountable: the existence of the Special Air Service had come to an end.

The clandestine operations carried out by the Secret Hunters.

This segment illustrates the development of a covert strategy designed to navigate around formal impediments, enabling the chase to continue in secrecy. Prince Galitzine played a crucial role in maintaining the ongoing operations of the unit from his office within the military's administrative division. He allocated financial support, personnel, and assets to strengthen Barkworth's team.

The operations initiated from Eaton Square and the transformation into a more clandestine group, bolstered by Galitzine's input, signified a move away from the widely recognized SAS.

After the war ended, it was determined that there was no longer a need for groups skilled in special operations, like the SAS. Colonel Franks' steadfast determination to maintain the regiment's clandestine activities yielded results, even after its formal dissolution in October 1945. The SAS's team dedicated to tracking down Nazis operated under a veil of secrecy. Under Barkworth's leadership, the SAS conducted their missions with utmost secrecy, keeping their actions hidden from the general public. Prince Galitzine directed the operations of the office located in a prestigious area of London's Belgravia district. Galitzine managed to obtain financial support for a group that had not yet been officially recognized from the War Office. He would offer assistance, ensure their well-being, and manage their personnel needs in close cooperation with the covert headquarters of the SAS and its chief, Colonel Franks.

Sergeant Rhodes was pivotal, along with the unique methods of interrogation employed by Barkworth.

The group under Barkworth's command mainly consisted of former Special Air Service operatives, including the notably tenacious Yorkshire Sergeant Dusty Rhodes, who had earlier provided reliable assistance to Barkworth in wartime intelligence activities. The team led by Rhodes persisted in their unyielding chase, crossing territories overseen by the French, Americans, and British to pursue leads and apprehend the targets. The group tasked with locating Nazis utilized surprisingly understated techniques. Barkworth showed scant tolerance for brutal treatment or torture. He was renowned for his polite and courteous demeanor during questioning, utilizing his proficiency in several languages, such as French and German, along with his empathy and intellectual acuity, to carry out thorough interrogations. His steadfast composure, meticulousness, and profound understanding were frequently highlighted by the individuals he questioned, who also mentioned his compassionate demeanor. Sergeant Rhodes, in contrast, had a greater inclination for 'direct action,' a stance that was warranted. He was resolute in his conviction that justice was owed to the individuals who lost their lives in the conflicts within the Vosges.

The employment of unorthodox strategies such as utilizing spirit boards and taking advantage of illicit trade activities

The team led by Barkworth employed a range of tactics, including the unorthodox use of a Ouija board, to pursue their targets. Under the guidance of Rhodes, the group successfully pinpointed a key suspect while posing as merchants within the underground trading network. They lured the person out of hiding in Soviet lands by offering a substantial fortune. The person journeyed far and wide across Germany in pursuit of his objective, but was eventually captured and interrogated at a location known as Barkworth's Villa Degler. The SAS frequently secured remarkable results through the use of inventive tactics, which encompassed utilizing underground trade networks and bypassing regulations that could hinder their objectives.

The pursuit of notable escapees like Straub, Kessler, and Neuschwanger stretched across the boundaries of regions previously governed by Germany.

Barkworth and his team spent years thoroughly scouring Germany and France, employing their war-worn vehicles to identify the culprits and gather enough proof for legal proceedings. They interrogated many people and unearthed corpses from hidden sites including remnants of bombings, forests, farm structures, and deserted pits, all the while dealing with a military and political establishment that placed a higher value on rebuilding than on seeking vengeance. Their determination did not waver as they sought to bring to justice Straub, the individual responsible for commanding the incineration of four female SOE operatives at Natzweiler, as well as the Gestapo official Max Kessler, who oversaw the slayings and subsequent cremation in the Vosges, and 'Stuka' Neuschwanger, a guard infamous for taking pleasure in the torment of captives.

The struggle involved covert operatives who hindered the administration of justice.

Barkworth's team encountered challenges that were unparalleled in their wartime service, such as navigating the intricacies of operating within the British Army of the Rhine's framework, while also dealing with influential political figures in the initial postwar era. The squad stationed at Villa Degler had a twofold objective: to pursue the architects of Nazi wartime atrocities and simultaneously ensure their operations were conducted effectively.

The British Army of the Rhine functioned as an impediment.

This section will demonstrate the continuous impediments Barkworth faced from the BAOR, stemming from their contempt for the accomplishments of an unsanctioned group. The book also uncovers a level of hypocrisy in the approach of Western nations to war crimes, as they employed ex-Nazis for espionage purposes.

Jealousy arose due to the triumphs and the attempts to thwart the missions of the Secret Hunters.

Barkworth's war crimes unit, known for its 'black' operations, drew considerable scrutiny, particularly from sectors within the military establishment that had earlier conflicts with the SAS. Barkworth's string of unparalleled successes across the French and German occupied territories incited considerable envy among the members of the British Rhine Army. The British Army of the Rhine initiated actions to assist Barkworth. They endeavored to impede his advancement and, upon failing, attempted to take possession of the carefully accumulated evidence and the results of his hard work. Barkworth responded to such efforts by claiming that the BAOR team were better employed elsewhere. Barkworth, supported by Prince Galitzine, firmly maintained his independence in managing operations, arguing that the British Army of the Rhine lacked the necessary power to guarantee a successful outcome in the hunt for individuals who disappeared during Operation Loyton.

Scrutiny of Barkworth's techniques and claims of unsanctioned activities.

The British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) voiced substantial disapproval of Barkworth's approach, which seemed chaotic, and condemned his journey across Germany and France due to his failure to finish necessary documentation. The BAOR argued that such behavior was completely inappropriate for their objectives as it did not meet any established standards for evidence and often depended on unverified gossip. They were, in a way, correct. Barkworth persevered in his efforts with steadfast resolve, acting as if his team still held official status, even though there was no formal recognition following the disbandment of the SAS. Barkworth, despite the challenges, persevered, and his unconventional tactics eventually resulted in the capture of individuals accused of wartime offenses, the unearthing of human remains, the acknowledgment of those victimized, and the gathering of enough proof to bring several suspects to trial.

The halt in prosecuting war crimes signaled a notable shift in political focus.

Lewis underscores the political backdrop and the redirection that led to the discontinuation of investigations into war crimes, guaranteeing that only the most infamous suspects faced trial.

Focus shifted to the emergence of the Soviets as the primary opponents in the developing Cold War.

The Second World War had concluded by the end of 1945. Over time, the shared memory of the atrocities committed by the Nazis started to diminish. The focus of the Allies shifted from seeking retribution for past offenses to confronting the emerging threats of the Cold War, with the Soviet Union and the spread of communism now seen as the principal foes. In July 1945, the British electorate selected Clement Atlee from the Labour Party as their new leader, supplanting Winston Churchill, who had been at the helm when the Special Air Service was established. The wartime alliance that had united the West - the US, France and Britain - against Hitler's formidable war machine was giving way to an ideological division, one in which Stalin's Russia represented a new and unprecedented threat.

The coalition of nations against the Axis powers recruited individuals formerly associated with the Nazi leadership to collect intelligence information.

The alteration in worldwide political landscapes unintentionally provided a sanctuary for many infamous figures whose skills were considered 'suitable', despite their involvement in heinous acts during the Nazi period. In particular, the Americans, followed by the British, sought to recruit those who had fought against or spied upon the Russians and those of a communist persuasion. The United States notably enlisted a significant number of former Gestapo and SS members to gather intelligence and establish a web of operatives across the communist nations of Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union. Reinhard Gehlen, who previously directed the scrutiny of Nazi war crimes, headed the newly formed West German intelligence agency. The rationale for enlisting individuals with questionable ethics and integrity was clear: one's foe can likewise become a collaborator. In the wake of the war, the West recruited those who had committed egregious crimes against humanity to aid in the escalating struggle against communism.

The decision was made to halt war crimes prosecutions to concentrate on rebuilding West Germany as a partner.

In the evolving political climate, the quest for justice for wartime atrocities was rapidly becoming an afterthought. In August 1948, the British government announced the cessation of all further war crimes prosecutions, which led to the abrupt conclusion of the last trial related to the killings at Stalag Luft without a decision being reached. During the initial stages of the Cold War, West Germany evolved from a vanquished adversary into a freshly minted partner. Many authorities considered the pursuit of those responsible for the heinous acts to be in vain, especially since the very people whose skills and assistance were essential had participated in the crimes themselves. The period of carrying out executions concluded. The courts would cease to impose sentences of life imprisonment. From that point on, individuals such as Eichmann, who were instrumental in the Holocaust and played a role in the demise of British and American troops, might ultimately be subjected to the retribution meted out by the Allied forces.

The lasting influence of the operations carried out by the Secret Hunters.

The Villa Degler team managed to accomplish several significant victories, bringing a measure of justice to individuals who had almost given up on securing retribution for their relatives, even though their operations ended earlier than anticipated. They played a pivotal role in casting light on a significant event, guaranteeing that the perpetrators of the Natzweiler murders faced legal consequences, an outcome that might have remained obscured. They upheld the core values and ethos which enabled the Regiment to resurface as a powerful fighting force, participating in military actions in Korea, Malaya, the Falklands, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and many other worldwide conflicts after 1945.

Delivering a measure of justice for the Op Loyton victims and exposing the horrors of Natzweiler

Lewis highlights the considerable achievements of this covert team of operatives. They unearthed the horrific extent of war crimes perpetrated against Allied Special Forces while investigating the disappearance of individuals linked to Operation Loyton. Equally significantly, they had unearthed the truth about Natzweiler and the mass killings orchestrated and executed by its camp commanders and guards. The actions implemented guaranteed that despite considerable obstacles, family and friends of the Op Loyton victims were provided with a feeling of justice, even though they might have previously been oblivious to what had happened to their loved ones.

The actions of these specialized military units underscored their importance and solidified the continuous existence of the SAS.

The very presence of the Secret Hunters' clandestine activities also fulfilled an essential role. The SAS Regiment underwent a significant and discreet transformation as a result of these substantial efforts. The British leadership stood firm in their choice to dissolve groups that functioned without stringent supervision, including the Special Air Service. But during the war, time and again those units had proved more valuable than any of the conventional forces operating alongside them. The Secret Hunters' unwavering quest to bring the perpetrators of the Op Loyton murders to justice underscored the enduring significance of the Special Air Service in the face of persistent conflicts, discord, and terrorist actions.

The story honors the suffering and emphasizes the importance of persistently pursuing justice for wartime crimes.

Lewis underscores the crucial part the Secret Hunters had in maintaining the remembrance of the victims and in their unwavering pursuit of justice for wartime atrocities, as well as during times of peace. Ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice and identifying the final resting places can provide profound significance to the loved ones and companions of those who lost their lives in battle or perished during captivity. Our quest to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes stems from a desire to lessen the harshness and inhumanity of combat, which in turn may deter the senseless and malicious deeds that make conflicts both pointless and evil.