In an extraordinary historical revelation, Argentina’s Supreme Court has discovered 83 boxes filled with Nazi-era propaganda materials in its basement, a find that dates back to the early years of World War II. The materials, which had remained untouched for more than 80 years, were unearthed during preparations for a new judicial museum project, prompting renewed attention to Argentina’s complex wartime and post-war legacy.

The contents of the boxes include postcards, photographs, Nazi Party-affiliated notebooks, and documents believed to have been used to promote Adolf Hitler’s ideology in Argentina during the 1940s. According to court authorities, the items were originally confiscated by Argentine customs officials in June 1941 from the Japanese steamship Nan-a-Maru, which had arrived from the German embassy in Tokyo. While German diplomats claimed the shipment contained personal belongings, Argentine authorities discovered it was in fact a trove of Nazi propaganda.

After the seizure, the materials were handed over to a federal judge, who in turn referred them to the Supreme Court. What happened to the boxes afterward remained unclear until their recent rediscovery. The materials had been stored and largely forgotten in the court’s archives until staff came upon them during routine organization efforts for the planned museum.

The court has since secured the materials and partnered with the Holocaust Museum in Buenos Aires to assess, document, and preserve them. The museum's specialists believe the find could provide valuable insights into Nazi propaganda efforts in South America, as well as uncover lesser-known aspects of the Holocaust, including the financial and diplomatic strategies the Nazi regime pursued in the region.

Argentina’s role during and after World War II has long drawn scrutiny from historians. The country remained officially neutral for much of the conflict, only declaring war on Germany and Japan in 1945. Simultaneously, it became both a refuge for approximately 40,000 Jewish immigrants fleeing Nazi persecution and, controversially, a destination for fleeing Nazi officials after the war.

This is not the first time Nazi artifacts have surfaced in Argentina. In 2017, police discovered a hidden room in a Buenos Aires suburb containing Nazi memorabilia, including a bust of Hitler and medical tools thought to be used for racial profiling. That discovery had sparked widespread concern and renewed investigations into Nazi flight networks that extended into South America.

The Supreme Court’s recent find is expected to deepen the historical record and encourage further examination of Argentina’s wartime past. Authorities say the materials will be preserved with full transparency and made available for future public exhibition and academic research.