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Conversation about the reissue of the book:
El pintor de la Suiza argentina by Esteban Buch

Abstract

This text draws from a roundtable discussion at the symposium, “Germano-
parlantes en el Cono Sur: inmigración, impacto, legado,” at the University
of Buenos Aires in 2024. Led by Esteban Buch, Germán Friedmann, and
Robert Kelz, the conversation focuses on the reissue of El pintor de la Sui-
za argentina (2024), Buch’s expanded exploration of the Nazi presence in
Bariloche. Originally published in 1991, Buch’s book provided the fi rst ac-
tionable evidence of Erich Priebke’s role in the 1944 Ardeatine Massacre in
Rome. Priebke’s interview with Buch in El pintor de la Suiza argentina played
a crucial role in his eventual extradition and conviction.
Buch, Friedmann, and Kelz delve into the book’s trajectory from 1991 to
2024, discussing how Buch’s perspective has evolved over the years. They
consider the changing profi les of various fi gures between the two editions,
including the fascist artist, Toon Maes, Priebke, and Buch’s family, as well
as the role of other entities who investigated the Nazi presence in Bariloche,
such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the US—American media group,
ABC News. Broader ethical questions about the pace and selectivity of jus-
tice are also addressed.
The conversation includes Regula Rohland (Centro DIHA), Yaki Set-
ton (Editorial Bajolaluna), Marcia Ras (Museo del Holocausto), and Marilyn
Miller (Tulane University), who explore themes like collective memory, the
“pacto de silencio” surrounding Nazis in Bariloche, and ethical responsibi-
lities in documenting history. The group debates how Nazi legacies and ar-
tistic contributions, such as Maes’, should be remembered. Buch’s work is
now recognized for its role in uncovering Priebke’s crimes and challenging
historical silences in Argentina.
Keywords: German speakers; Investigative literature; Nazis; Justice;
Memory; Silence; Painting, Bariloche.

Gespräch über die neue Ausgabe des Buches El pintor de la
Suiza argentina (Der Maler der argentinischen Schweiz)
von Esteban Buch

Zusammenfassung

Der Text dokumentiert die Gesprächsrunde zwischen Esteban Buch,
Germán Friedmann und Robert Kelz beim Symposium „Germanoparlantes