Argentina has released documents detailing the activities of Nazi fugitives who fled to the country after World War II. The files reveal information about a number of notorious Nazis such as Josef Mengele and Adolf Eichmann.

The 1,850 declassified documents published by the General Archive of the Nation (AGN) also include records of banking operations, secret intelligence files and previously confidential Defence Ministry reports. The files are available for public viewing on a government website, following an order by President Javier Milei.

The decision to publish the documents follows a formal request from United States Senator Steve Daines (Republican-Montana) and representatives from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre during meetings in February.

However, Argentina's government insists the move was part of its commitment to greater transparency about the country's history.

Historians hope to discover more information about past arms deals, the organisation of Argentina’s intelligence services and the fight against Communism during the Cold War.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which is investigating the Credit Suisse bank’s links to Nazism, has received copies of the files.

The files shed light on the movements and life of Josef Mengele, when he first arrived in Argentina.

Known as the "Angel of Death", Mengele conducted barbaric experiments on prisoners at the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

He initially lived openly and used his real name, after emigrating to Argentina in 1949.

Later he changed his name to "Gregor Helmut", and claimed he was from the Italian region of Trento.

Mengele married his deceased younger brother's wife Marta María Will, adopting his nephew Karl-Heinz.

The family applied for certificates of good conduct in 1956 so they could travel to Chile.

Argentine authorities at the time refused an extradition request by Germany on alleged technical and procedural grounds.

Intelligence reports show that no measures were taken against Mengele, who later fled to Paraguay and then Brazil, where he died in 1979 under an assumed identity.

Adolf Eichmann - one of the chief organisers of the Holocaust - also resided in Argentina after the war.

He lived undisturbed with his family until 1960, when he was captured by Israeli Mossad agents in a daring operation.