For some years now, a theory has been circulating in Colombia that Adolf Hitler settled in the country after fleeing Germany in 1945. In fact, since the end of World War II, the figure of Adolf Hitler has been the subject of countless conspiracy theories.
Although historical evidence supports that the Nazi dictator died in his Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945, some have put forward alternative hypotheses about his fate. One of the most intriguing and least substantiated asserts that Hitler fled to South America and lived in Colombia until his death.
This theory, which lacks historiographical support, has persisted in the collective imagination for decades, fueled by rumors, declassified documents and alleged appearances in Colombian territory.
Hitler in Colombia, the origin of the theory
The idea that Adolf Hitler might have escaped from Europe arose almost immediately after the war. Initial uncertainty about his fate, coupled with the disinformation of the time and the opacity of the Soviet authorities who liberated Berlin, led to speculation.
In 1945, Soviet forces found the remains of the Nazi leader, but the lack of public access to evidence during the Cold War fueled doubts. This led to theories that placed him in remote locations, especially in South America, where other Nazis, such as Josef Mengele and Adolf Eichmann, are known to have found refuge.
In the case of Colombia, the hypothesis gained strength in the 2010s, when the CIA declassified documents revealing that, in 1955, an informant had reported Hitler’s presence in Tunja, a city north of Bogota.
According to the report, Hitler had changed his appearance and was living under the name of Adolf Schrittelmayor. This document mentions that the informant had received the information from a former SS soldier who claimed to have visited the Nazi leader in that city.
Alleged appearances of Adolf Hitler in Colombia
Despite the lack of evidence, several local stories claim that Hitler lived in Colombia. One of the most mentioned places is Tunja, the capital of the department of Boyacá, known for its colonial history and cold climate. There, according to rumors, Hitler would have led a discreet life, interacting only with a small circle of German residents.
Another version places him in the region of Cundinamarca, where, according to some accounts, he was seen in the company of other Nazi exiles. It has even been speculated that his presence influenced certain architectural and cultural developments in these areas, although these claims have no solid basis.
A curious case is the account of a man identified as “the old German” in Tunja, who supposedly bore a physical resemblance to Hitler and avoided being photographed. However, there are no concrete records linking this person to the Nazi dictator, and it is likely that these stories are the product of physical coincidences and popular imagination.
South America’s role in Nazi conspiracy theories
South America has been a focus of Nazi conspiracy theories due to its actual role as a refuge for war criminals after World War II. Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay are countries where Nazi exile activities have indeed been documented. In Colombia, however, the historical record of Nazi presence is much more limited.
The main reason for this association with South America lies in the case of prominent figures such as Adolf Eichmann, captured in Buenos Aires in 1960, and Josef Mengele, who lived in Brazil until his death in 1979. These real-life examples have led some to extend the narrative to other characters, including Hitler.
Conspiracies like Hitler’s in Colombia are kept alive in part because they challenge the official historical narrative. They also feed a cultural fascination with unsolved mysteries. In the case of South America, remote landscapes, cultural diversity and historical connections to European immigrants provide a context ripe for speculation.
In addition, the declassification of government documents, while not providing conclusive evidence, revives these narratives by mixing fact and fiction. The 1955 CIA report, declassified in 2010, does not directly implicate Hitler’s presence in Colombia, but has been interpreted as evidence by those seeking to fuel these theories.
Other theories suggest that Hitler fled Germany in 1945
The Colombian hypothesis is not the only one that, throughout almost 80 years, has circulated around the world assuring that Hitler did not die in Berlin in 1945. In addition to Colombia, there are many other destinations that claim to have been the refuge of a supposed fugitive and clandestine Adolf Hitler.
One of the most mentioned destinations is Argentina, where many high-ranking Nazi commanders took refuge after the war. According to declassified FBI documents, there were reports of Hitler sightings in Patagonia. Some claim that he arrived in South America in a submarine and hid in a remote estate in Bariloche, an area known to harbor Nazi refugees.
Another theory suggests that Hitler would have traveled to Antarctica, a region where the Nazis would have established secret bases during the war. According to these accounts, advanced Nazi technology allowed them to create subway shelters, although there is no tangible evidence to support this idea.
There has also been speculation about a possible escape to Spain, a country ruled by dictator Francisco Franco, an ally of the Third Reich. According to his supporters, Hitler would have received protection and refuge in Spanish territory before moving to another location that has never been specified.
CIA declassified documents refuel controversy
Recently declassified CIA documents have reignited long-standing but unverified theories that Adolf Hitler did not die in Berlin in 1945 but instead fled to South America, eventually settling in Colombia. These documents, released by the U.S. National Archives on the order of President Donald Trump, are part of a larger trove of 2,182 previously classified files, including records related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Cuban efforts to support guerrilla movements in Latin America.
Among the CIA records is a report from the mid-1950s in which an agent, identified as Cimelody-3, claimed to have received secondhand information from former Nazi official Phillip Citroën Jr. Citroën alleged that Hitler had escaped Europe and was living in Colombia under the alias Adolf Schrittelmayor. He reportedly resided at Residencias Coloniales, a luxury boarding house in the city of Tunja, about 140 kilometers north of Bogota. Citroën even presented a photograph he said showed him alongside the man he claimed was Hitler.
Why does it lack historiographical foundation?
Despite the interest in these theories, historians have dismissed them altogether. The main arguments against them include:
Conclusive forensic evidence: In 1945, the Soviet Union recovered fragments of Hitler’s skull and teeth. In 2009, forensic analysis by U.S. scientists confirmed that the dental remains match Hitler’s historical dental records.
Inconsistencies in testimony: Most of the statements linking Hitler to Colombia are second-hand or come from unreliable sources. The 1955 CIA report provides no physical evidence or direct testimony to support the claim.
Logistical improbability: Escape from Berlin in April 1945 would have been extremely difficult due to the Soviet encirclement. In addition, the routes to South America were under close Allied surveillance, which would have made it significantly more difficult for such a well-known figure as Hitler to move.
Hitler and the fascinating power of evil
The hypothesis that Adolf Hitler fled to Colombia and lived there after World War II lacks solid historical foundation. While conspiracy theories have an undeniable appeal, historians have shown that there is no credible evidence to support this claim. Forensic evidence, historical records and inconsistencies in testimony indicate that Hitler died in his bunker in Berlin in 1945.
However, the interest in these theories reflects not only a fascination with historical mysteries, but also the human need to fill narrative gaps with stories that go against the grain. Moreover, Hitler, Nazism and the swastika perfectly embody a strange and perverse fascination that persists across generations.
Although unlikely, the idea of a Hitler hidden in the Colombian mountains will continue to be a topic of debate in the collective imagination, more as a cultural curiosity than as a historical fact.