The guest list for Adolf Hitler’s sixtieth birthday party was truly astonishing. The headliners were undoubtedly the president and first lady of Argentina, Juan and Eva Perón. They were joined by a number of senior government officials and politicians, as well as elite figures from the worlds of industry and commerce. Bormann had chartered a private plane to transport the guests in style from Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz, where a fleet of limos was on hand to complete the journey to El Calafate. In addition to Argentina’s finest, Bormann had invited three prominent Nazis who’d also fled Germany in the last weeks of the war. All of them were on the Israeli government’s priority search list and faced the death penalty if they were ever captured and extradited.
Adolf Eichmann was one of the notorious architects of the final solution and a valued member of Hitler’s inner circle. The infamous SS Lieutenant Colonel had masterminded the transportation of millions of Jews to the death camps in German-occupied Poland. He now lived in Buenos Aires, where he worked at a car factory under the false identity of Ricardo Klement.
Josef Schwammberger was a sadistic SS commandant who also ran a number of death camps inside Poland. He had personally executed hundreds of Jews by shooting them in the back of the head. He was another Nazi butcher, with the blood of thousands of inmates on his hands. He presently lived in La Plata, a small town thirty miles south of Buenos Aires, where he worked at a petrochemical plant. Incredibly, his inherent arrogance meant he was the only one of the three who kept his original name, refusing to hide under a false identity.
The final member of the infamous three was the notorious “Angel of Death”, Doctor Josef Mengele. He’d earned his grotesque nickname as he was personally responsible for carrying out thousands of gruesome experiments on pregnant women and children at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp. He’d used them as human guinea pigs for his medical research. Like Eichmann, he also now lived in a quiet suburb in Buenos Aires, under the alias of Gerhard Wolfgang, where he ran a small mechanical equipment shop. The two men had become friends and often met up socially.
Bormann had requested the three prominent Nazis stay overnight at El Blondi to attend a private audience with the Führer the following morning. In total, there were fifty guests who mingled together on the sprawling manicured lawns at the rear of the house. Dozens of white-suited staff hovered around the distinguished visitors, holding silver trays carrying champagne bellinis and assorted canapés. Circular wooden tables, dressed with immaculately pressed white tablecloths, were dotted around the lawns, surrounded by red velvet-backed chairs. A twenty-piece orchestra played classical tunes on a large temporary stage, built especially for the party, in the centre of the main lawn.
Hitler sat observing it all from a small oblong table positioned on the raised decking running along the back of the house. Juan and Eva Perón sat either side of him and the remaining three chairs behind the table were occupied by Braun, her two-year-old son, Richard, and a female interpreter who spoke fluent German and Spanish. Everyone wanted an audience with Hitler and, Bormann, in his role of host, was constantly on the move, chaperoning small select groups of guests to and from the Führer’s table, where they were greeted with a limp handshake and a fake smile.
Other than Eva Perón, that is, with whom the Führer was clearly besotted. He greatly admired her rise from poverty and obscurity to her current standing as one of the world’s most loved political figures and he felt a true affinity with Argentina’s first lady. Knowing he was due to meet her for the first time, he had read up extensively on her background and one of her most famous quotes had resonated with him. Giving a speech in front of thousands of her supporters she had proclaimed, “One cannot accomplish anything without fanaticism.”
He was fascinated that a woman could achieve the same level of hero-worship from the masses that he had personally experienced in the Fatherland. It was the first time in his life he had spent time with a woman who he felt shared his intellectual and political instincts and he found her incredibly stimulating. In the days leading up to his birthday, he doubled his drug intake and was on a massive high, bursting with artificial energy. He totally ignored her husband and spent the entire afternoon monopolising her, via the interpreter.
“First lady, it is an honour to meet you. I believe we share many values and objectives. We are both greatly loved by our own people, who respect strong and patriotic leadership. In the future, as we look to build a Fourth Reich, we can work together to create a superior regime.”
Eva Perón maintained eye contact with Hitler as she listened to the interpreter. Despite the facial surgery he’d undergone four years earlier, his piercing blue eyes were still unmistakable and, in recent months, he had reinstated his trademark moustache, which was now iron grey.
“Führer, you are a true legend and a personal inspiration to me. We share the same philosophy and beliefs, and I and my husband will do everything possible to support your return to power. Your generous donations to our cause will never be forgotten.”
Hitler and Perón continued to be locked in animated conversation for the following two hours, much to the annoyance of their respective partners. They were finally interrupted by Bormann, whose unmistakable voice boomed out across the garden. He was using the stand microphone on the stage and called for a moment of quiet.
“President and first lady, distinguished guests, please join me in wishing our beloved Führer a happy sixtieth birthday.”
The orchestra struck up and guests took their cue, joining in with a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” sang in a mix of Spanish and German. Hitler stood throughout and relished the tumultuous applause that followed. Bormann left the stage and, a few moments later, a stunning figure appeared. A young woman, dressed from head to toe in a Christian Dior couture black evening gown, made her way elegantly to the microphone. Her olive skin and rich red lips were perfectly framed by long, flowing black hair, and her eyes shone like diamonds. Silence fell across the garden and even Eva Perón sensed she was in the presence of a true diva. The orchestra began playing and Hitler instantly recognised the opening chords to one of his favourite arias. The soprano began to sing “Liebestod”, the final dramatic sequence from Wagner’s 1859 classic, Tristan und Isolde. Her remarkable voice was almost celestial and overwhelming in the purity of its register.
Every guest was transfixed by the performance and, as she delivered the final note, she was greeted by a spontaneous standing ovation. Bormann led her offstage and escorted her across the lawn to Hitler’s table. The Führer stood up to greet them. She offered him her hand, and he took it in his own and then, to the amazement of the assembled guests, he lowered his head and gently kissed it.
“What is your name?”
She instinctively turned to Bormann for assistance, as she didn’t understand German. He stepped forward to join them.
“Führer, allow me to introduce you to Maria Callas.”
The garden party was a great success, and, at eight in the evening, the limos returned to ferry the guests back to the private plane for the return flight to Buenos Aires. Hitler and Braun immediately retired to their respective bedrooms, leaving Bormann to entertain the three house guests. It was a balmy evening and the four men sat around one of the circular tables drinking the exquisite German cognac that Bormann had shipped over from the Fatherland. He took them through the agenda for the upcoming meeting with Hitler, making sure they were fully briefed and on his side. Although they were still respectful of the Führer, by the time Bormann had finished, it was absolutely clear to all of them who was really pulling the strings.
The following morning, they assembled in Hitler’s study, where four chairs had been laid out in a semicircle facing his imposing desk. Bormann sensed the Führer was far more energised and alert than normal. The adrenalin from the party was evidently still coursing through his veins, as was his latest intake of cocaine and, when he spoke, his voice was stronger than ever.
“Gentlemen, there is much to discuss. We and the German people were betrayed by our own military, who bent their knee to the communists and the Western powers. My generals ignored specific orders and couldn’t wait to surrender. Even Hess betrayed me.”
Despite the fact he was in exile and had lost the war, Hitler was still able to conjure up feelings of fear and trepidation when he addressed the three former prominent Nazis.
“Martin and I have been working together for many years, developing a long-term plan to build a Fourth Reich. There is no question that America is emerging as the strongest nation in the world and we plan, in time, to take control of its political structures, just as we did with the Weimar regime. We believe the major pharma companies will become the most powerful institutions in the world, which is why we are pouring millions of dollars into creating our own vehicle. The Franklin Corporation will eventually migrate to America, as will Martin and my son, Richard. In time, it will grow to become one of the biggest and most formidable companies in the world. At the same time, it’s vital that my grandson is born a US citizen. He will be groomed from birth for the role of president and, when he achieves that goal, my lineage will be secured. The new Reich will enjoy political, financial and institutional power on an unparalleled level.”
Mengele was the first of the three to speak. He was as obsequious as ever.
“Führer, the work you and Martin have carried out is truly remarkable. How can we help to secure this new Reich? What can we offer?”
Hitler acknowledged the interruption and continued. “Josef, you are all great men and have always been loyal to me and our cause. Most of you have sons and, from this day forward, Martin will ensure that, when they reach the appropriate age, senior positions in the Franklin Corporation will be made available for them and then, in time, for their children. Our descendants will carry forward our master plan and bring it to fruition.”
Mengele glanced across at Bormann. “What about your sons, Martin?”
Bormann’s reply was instant. “The day I left the bunker with the Führer, my family became dead to me.”
Hitler totally ignored the brief exchange. “Gentlemen, the Franklin Corporation will be run by the Nazi Party and, when the time is right, it will spawn a future president of the United States.”