Franco’s Fascist Activities in a Nazi Hideout?: Teyú Cuaré, Misiones, Argentina

Abstract

The discovery of a probable Second World War criminal hideout, located on the border between Argentina and Paraguay, led to a detailed analysis of each construction and to the excavation of the shelter itself and its surroundings. Close to the main house was evidence for a pit that had been filled in and covered with vegetation. When excavated, the pit was found to have been opened and filled in twice, possibly to hide and then retrieve an object about a cubic meter in size. As the object was withdrawn, a kind of offering was left behind, buried in a special place: a Spanish military belt belonging to Franco’s army. Construction of the dwelling was dated about 1945, but unknown is whether pit is contemporary or dates to 1955, when the entire site was possibly abandoned. The second opening of the pit must have taken place before 1975, when such military belts were no longer used. Although the site is attributed to regional Nazi activities, the removal of the belt must be associated to the neo-Nazi events that took place there and as a consequence is probably associated with Franco’s Fascism. The site is still one of its kinds in Latin America.