The Odessa File
History
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Historical Background
After WWII (1947), the UN adopted a plan to
give Israel independence and the right to be a free
nation from Palestine.
Israel – considered a Holy Land---Bethlehem
Huge Jewish population at this time in Palestine.
Arab nations (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, etc.) are still in the post war mind
set that Jews are ―inferior‖
A struggle ensued between the Arab nations and
Israel.
History continued
Arab nations launch an attack
Resulted in the Jews gaining a larger territory
than they would have had under the UN plan.
Violations and war broke out intermittently for
years thereafter.
June 5, 1967, Israel scored a decisive victory in
this long standing conflict and took control of the
Sinai Peninsula—the Gaza strip, The Golan
Heights, and the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem.
The Six Day War
The Arab attack only lasted 6 days; hence its
name.
Why was Israel able to win in such a fashion?
Israel was a military powerhouse due to
mandatory enrollment for ALL men and women
when they reached the age of 18 – they had to
stay for 2-3 years.
Israel also prided itself on its super Intelligence
Agency (MOSSAD)
U.S. Role
The Waldorf Deal- agreement started by
Eisenhower, continuing with Kennedy.
It gave Israel $50 million a year, no strings
attached!
Later during Kennedy’s presidency, it was
amended to say that Israel could buy weapons
from Germany, many American made.
Kennedy in a sense wanted to help Israel
maintain their position, but did not want the US
directly involved in the weapons acquisition.
Response of Arab Nations
Not good!
Egypt was especially upset.
After Kennedy’s death, these nations
hoped the deal would end with the new
president, Lyndon Johnson.
Might the conspiracy theories relate
directly to this Arab nation hope?
The Story
The Odessa File shows the struggle between
Cairo, Egypt; Tel Aviv, Israel; and Hamburg,
Germany prior to the Six Day War.
The story begins with Peter Miller hearing of
JFK’s death on November 22, 1963 in Hamburg,
Germany
Pay very close attention to dates when
reading!!!!
Flashbacks
Since the novel deals a lot with history, it
gives us quick flashes back or forward and
tells us what happens in the past and the
future (specifically, pre war and 1964-
1968)
The story to really pay attention to is from
Nov. 1963 through Feb. 1964- a three
month span.
FACTION
Part fiction, part fact
Common to suspense and historical
novels
Examples?
Favorite subjects are WWII, Naziism,
Cold War, Middle East, Drug War
NAZIISM
Name of a political and social doctrine
Began in early 1900’s
Came to power in Germany from 1933 –
1945
Continues in an almost ―cult‖ sense today
Translated – National Socialist German
Workers Party
Adolf Hitler
Elected Chancellor of Germany –1933;
committed suicide April, 1945
Initiated WWII by invading Poland in 1939
History Review
Nazi movement of extreme nationalism
restoring German pride after WWI became
extreme Racism- wished to ―purify‖
Europe:
14 million murders: 6 million Jews, 5 million Russians, 2
million Poles, ½ million gypsies, ½ million handicapped
Wehrmacht vs. Gestapo and the SS:
Wehrmacht was/is the highly respected German Army.
The SS was Hitler’s elite, private army who carried out
his “final solution”
The ODESSA (acronym for ―Organization
Der Ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen" or The
Organization of former SS members)
Actual organization that evolved at end of WWII
by surviving SS who wished to…
1) carry on the movement 2) escape Germany or
3) go into hiding with new identities in Germany
Discovered to exist in 1964- an old file of new
names was found at a police station
Nazi war criminals are still being hunted; some
have been tried and executed