| Record | OBS-0017 |
|---|---|
| Category | Government/Cover-ups |
| Status | DEBUNKED |
| Summary | Proponents claim that Nazi Germany established a secret base in Antarctica, called New Berchtesgaden, during or after World War II, and that senior Nazis, including Hitler, escaped there via U-boats. The claim originated with a Hungarian exile, Ladislas Szabo, in 1945-1947 and has been embellished over time. |
| Origin | The claim first appeared in 1945 in an Argentine newspaper article by Ladislas Szabo, later expanded in his 1947 book 'Hitler is Alive'. |
| Claimed |
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| Evidence / consensus | Historical evidence shows the German Antarctic expedition of 1938-39 was a scientific and whaling-related mission, and no evidence of any military base or post-war Nazi activity exists. The U-boat commanders and crews were interrogated and released, and no evidence of a Nazi escape was found. |
Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.