In 1986, Australian journalist Mark Aarons produced an explosive radio documentary series that drew attention to the number of former Nazi war criminals living in Australia. This led to a parliamentary enquiry that resulted in the formation of Australia’s first Special Investigations Unit, directed by Graham Blewitt from 1991-1992. Professor Konrad Kwiet served as the chief historian for this unit as they excavated killing fields in Ukraine, and sought to prosecute war criminals here in Australia.
On November 19, Mark Aarons, Graham Blewitt and Konrad Kwiet will be in conversation at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, speaking about the history of the Special Investigations Unit and their experience investigating Nazis in Australia.
This is in promotion of their new book, Nazis in Australia, which we will be selling on the night.
Mark is a former ABC investigative reporter. He is also the author of the definitive history War Criminals Welcome: Australia, a Sanctuary for War Criminals Since 1945.
Graham was the Special Investigations Unit’s deputy director (1988–1991) and director (1991–1992), and head of the War Crimes Prosecutions Support Unit (1992–1994). He was the deputy prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague (1994–2004).
Konrad is an historian of the Holocaust, currently serving as resident historian at the Sydney Jewish Museum. He was chief historical consultant to the Special Investigations Unit from 1988-1994.
