Seeking records about Viljem Cecelja

Dear Mr. Karp,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the series Intelligence and Investigative Dossiers Personal Files, 1977-2004 in the Records of the Army Staff (Record Group 319) that include file units titled CECELJA, Wilhelm - XE006538, HUDAL, Alois - AC854314 and DRAGANOVIC, Krunoslav - AA766849WJ. We also located the series Second Release of Name Files Under the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Acts, ca. 1981 - ca. 2002 in the Records of the Central Intelligence Agency (Record Group 263) that included file unit titled DRAGANOVIC, KRUNOSLAV.  For access to and/or copies of these file units, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov and also inquire about other pertinent records.

We suggest that you review the book Unholy Trinity written by Mark Aarons and John Loftus that details the extensive smuggling operations (Ratlines) to evacuate Nazis out of Europe to resettle in various countries throughout Europe, South America, and North America. See Viljem Cecelja on page 91 in this book. The authors of Unholy Trinity researched numerous records held at the National Archives, other countries; and these records are cited in endnotes.

We also suggest that you review the Ratlines (World War II aftermath); The Ratline: The US-Ustasha Connection; The Nazi Ratlines: The system of escape routes for Nazis fleeing Europe at the end of WWII; and 'Operation Ratline' Was Barbie's Ticket Out for additional information.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!