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Release of Eichmann’s Aide in Austria Criticized in Rome

October 22, 1965
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The Corriere della Sera, a leading Italian newspaper, sharply criticized today the release of Erich Rajakowitch, “Eichmann’s right-hand man.” from a Vienna prison. Rajakowitch, who was convicted for his part in the deportation of thousands of Dutch Jews as an occupational official, was released after a three-year term.

The Italian newspaper said it was “astonished that, of the entire Austrian press and news agencies, only one daily” reported on the Nazi’s release. The newspaper said that “the most peculiar aspect” of the case was that the Nazi was released even before a higher court had the chance to rule on an appeal by the public attorney against the Nazi’s light sentence.

The newspaper recalled that Rajakowitch fled from Milan in 1963 when his Nazi past was exposed and that after he was denied asylum by several countries and refused readmittance to Italy, he decided to give himself up to Austrian authorities.

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