Peter Malkin: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Peter Zvi ("Zvika") Malkin was born in Pilgramshain, [[Weimar Germany]] (now [[Żółkiewka,_Lublin_Voivodeship|Żółkiewka]], [[Poland]]), to an observant Jewish family.<ref>Samuel Schafler, ''Hadassah Magazine'' October 1990, p. 37, review of ''Eichmann in My Hands'', Peter Malkin and Harry Stein</ref> In 1936, his family fled to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] to escape the rising tide of German [[anti-Semitism]]; his sister, Fruma, and her three children who remained behind with 150 other relatives, were murdered in the [[Holocaust]]. At the age of 12, Malkin was recruited into the [[Haganah]] as an explosives expert. He was |
Peter Zvi ("Zvika") Malkin was born in Pilgramshain, [[Weimar Germany]] (now [[Żółkiewka,_Lublin_Voivodeship|Żółkiewka]], [[Poland]]), to an observant Jewish family.<ref>Samuel Schafler, ''Hadassah Magazine'' October 1990, p. 37, review of ''Eichmann in My Hands'', Peter Malkin and Harry Stein</ref> In 1936, his family fled to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] to escape the rising tide of German [[anti-Semitism]]; his sister, Fruma, and her three children who remained behind with 150 other relatives, were murdered in the [[Holocaust]]. At the age of 12, Malkin was recruited into the [[Haganah]] as an explosives expert. He was an expert in martial arts and disguises.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2785-2005Mar2.html|title=Israeli Agent Peter Malkin Dies; Captured Nazi Fugitive |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2017-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-z-malkin-527099.html|title=Peter Z. Malkin|date=2005-03-04|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-04-27|language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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After retiring in 1976, Malkin devoted his time to painting, a profession he used as a cover during his Mossad years. His paintings from the 1960s until he died have won international acclaim in London, Paris, Brussels and Israel. He has also authored books, and served as a private international consultant on anti-terrorism methods. |
After retiring in 1976, Malkin devoted his time to painting, a profession he used as a cover during his Mossad years. His paintings from the 1960s until he died have won international acclaim in London, Paris, Brussels and Israel. He has also authored books, and served as a private international consultant on anti-terrorism methods. |
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Malkin spent 27 years in the Mossad, first as an agent and later as Chief of Operations. As Chief of Operations he played a major role in the capture of [[Israel Bar]], a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spy who had penetrated the highest levels of Israeli government. He also led an operation against [[Nazi]] [[nuclear rocket]] scientists who assisted an [[Egypt]]ian weapons development program after [[World War II]]. |
Malkin spent 27 years in the Mossad, first as an agent and later as Chief of Operations. As Chief of Operations he played a major role in the capture of [[Israel Bar]], a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spy who had penetrated the highest levels of Israeli government. He also led an operation against [[Nazi]] [[nuclear rocket]] scientists who assisted an [[Egypt]]ian weapons development program after [[World War II]]. |
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Malkin established a unit known as Keshet whose expertise was infiltrating airline offices, travel agencies, airports, seaports and foreign embassies.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-04-13/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/revealed-chaim-topols-secret-life-as-a-mossad-agent/00000187-7acb-d484-adef-facf860c0000 Revealed: Chaim Topol’s Secret Life as a Mossad Agent, [[Haaretz]]]</ref> |
Malkin established a unit known as Keshet whose expertise was infiltrating airline offices, travel agencies, airports, seaports and foreign embassies. On several occasions, he carried out wiretapping and other missions with Israeli actor [[Chaim Topol]] whose international fame diverted attention from Malkin.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-04-13/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/revealed-chaim-topols-secret-life-as-a-mossad-agent/00000187-7acb-d484-adef-facf860c0000 Revealed: Chaim Topol’s Secret Life as a Mossad Agent, [[Haaretz]]]</ref> |
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Malkin's most famous mission was on May 11, 1960,<ref name=":0" /> when he and a team of Mossad agents led by [[Rafi Eitan]] captured [[Adolf Eichmann]], then living and hiding in Argentina. A senior Nazi bureaucrat, Eichmann had played a key role in organizing the extermination of Jews during World War II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161425|title=Exclusive Interview: How Adolf Eichmann Was Caught|website=Israel National News|date=29 October 2012 |access-date=2017-04-27}}</ref> "Momentito, señor" (One moment, sir) were the words he uttered in Spanish as he approached Eichmann. Eichmann began to fear for his life and turned to flee, but several of Malkin's fellow agents blocked Eichmann's path. Then Malkin grabbed him in a neck-lock, wrestled him to the ground, and bundled him in the car that took them to a safe house outside Buenos Aires.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-z-malkin-527099.html|title=Peter Z. Malkin|date=2005-03-04|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-04-27|language=en-GB}}</ref> |
Malkin's most famous mission was on May 11, 1960,<ref name=":0" /> when he and a team of Mossad agents led by [[Rafi Eitan]] captured [[Adolf Eichmann]], then living and hiding in Argentina. A senior Nazi bureaucrat, Eichmann had played a key role in organizing the extermination of Jews during World War II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161425|title=Exclusive Interview: How Adolf Eichmann Was Caught|website=Israel National News|date=29 October 2012 |access-date=2017-04-27}}</ref> "Momentito, señor" (One moment, sir) were the words he uttered in Spanish as he approached Eichmann. Eichmann began to fear for his life and turned to flee, but several of Malkin's fellow agents blocked Eichmann's path. Then Malkin grabbed him in a neck-lock, wrestled him to the ground, and bundled him in the car that took them to a safe house outside Buenos Aires.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-z-malkin-527099.html|title=Peter Z. Malkin|date=2005-03-04|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-04-27|language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 18:41, 29 May 2023
Peter Zvi Malkin (Hebrew: פיטר צבי מלחין; Polish: Cywka Małchin, May 27, 1927 – March 1, 2005) was a Polish-born Israeli secret agent and member of the Mossad intelligence agency. He was part of the team that captured Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1960 and brought him to Israel to stand trial for crimes against humanity.[1]
Biography
Peter Zvi ("Zvika") Malkin was born in Pilgramshain, Weimar Germany (now Żółkiewka, Poland), to an observant Jewish family.[2] In 1936, his family fled to Palestine to escape the rising tide of German anti-Semitism; his sister, Fruma, and her three children who remained behind with 150 other relatives, were murdered in the Holocaust. At the age of 12, Malkin was recruited into the Haganah as an explosives expert. He was an expert in martial arts and disguises.[3][4]
After retiring in 1976, Malkin devoted his time to painting, a profession he used as a cover during his Mossad years. His paintings from the 1960s until he died have won international acclaim in London, Paris, Brussels and Israel. He has also authored books, and served as a private international consultant on anti-terrorism methods.
Malkin spent his last years in New York City with his wife and four children. He died on March 1, 2005.
Intelligence career
Malkin spent 27 years in the Mossad, first as an agent and later as Chief of Operations. As Chief of Operations he played a major role in the capture of Israel Bar, a Soviet spy who had penetrated the highest levels of Israeli government. He also led an operation against Nazi nuclear rocket scientists who assisted an Egyptian weapons development program after World War II.
Malkin established a unit known as Keshet whose expertise was infiltrating airline offices, travel agencies, airports, seaports and foreign embassies. On several occasions, he carried out wiretapping and other missions with Israeli actor Chaim Topol whose international fame diverted attention from Malkin.[5]
Malkin's most famous mission was on May 11, 1960,[3] when he and a team of Mossad agents led by Rafi Eitan captured Adolf Eichmann, then living and hiding in Argentina. A senior Nazi bureaucrat, Eichmann had played a key role in organizing the extermination of Jews during World War II.[6] "Momentito, señor" (One moment, sir) were the words he uttered in Spanish as he approached Eichmann. Eichmann began to fear for his life and turned to flee, but several of Malkin's fellow agents blocked Eichmann's path. Then Malkin grabbed him in a neck-lock, wrestled him to the ground, and bundled him in the car that took them to a safe house outside Buenos Aires.[7]
In the mid 1980s, Malkin was recruited to go after former SS doctor Josef Mengele. Malkin and the team of ex-Mossad agents that he put together did not know at the time that Mengele was already dead. At the last minute, Malkin and the team called off the operation when they realized that it was a trap.[8][9]
In 1989, Israeli newspaper Maariv cited him as "one of the greatest figures ever in the history of the Mossad." Israeli journalist Uri Dan called him "an extraordinary secret warrior."
Malkin is said to have been involved in the search for Yossele Schumacher in the 1960s.[10]
Cultural references
The movie, The Man Who Captured Eichmann (1996) starring Robert Duvall as Adolf Eichmann, was based on his book Eichmann in My Hands. Arliss Howard played Malkin. Evan M. Wiener's play Captors was also inspired by the book.[11] Malkin was also portrayed by Oscar Isaac in the 2018 movie Operation Finale (with Ben Kingsley as Eichmann) and by Chaim Topol (as a character named Michael) in the 1979 film The House on Garibaldi Street.
Published works
- Malkin, Peter Z.; Stein, Harry (1990). Eichmann in My Hands: A Compelling First-Person Account by the Israeli Agent Who Captured Hitler's Chief Executioner. Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-51418-7.
References
- ^ Fox, Margalit (3 March 2005). "Peter Zvi Malkin, Israeli Agent Who Captured Adolf Eichmann, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ Samuel Schafler, Hadassah Magazine October 1990, p. 37, review of Eichmann in My Hands, Peter Malkin and Harry Stein
- ^ a b "Israeli Agent Peter Malkin Dies; Captured Nazi Fugitive". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Peter Z. Malkin". The Independent. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ Revealed: Chaim Topol’s Secret Life as a Mossad Agent, Haaretz
- ^ "Exclusive Interview: How Adolf Eichmann Was Caught". Israel National News. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Peter Z. Malkin". The Independent. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "CANADIAN WAS PART OF PLAN TO CAPTURE MENGELE". CJN News. CJN News. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ "Now Ethan Rubinstein is a Winnipeg professor, but 30 years ago he on-a-secret-mission-to-hunt-down-the-nazi known as the angel of death". National Post. National Post. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ Black, Ian; Morris, Benny (1991). Israel's Secret Wars: A History of Israel's Intelligence Services. Grove Press. p. 193. ISBN 0-8021-3286-3.
- ^ Captors at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia Archived 2012-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
External links
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