Tscherim Soobzokov
Щэбзыхъуэ Чэрим
Born24 August 1924
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Union
Died6 September 1985 (aged 61)
Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Cause of deathInjures sustained from pipe bomb
OrganizationWaffen-SS
Political partyDemocratic

Tscherim Soobzokov (Adyghe: Щэбзыхъуэ Чэрим, romanized: Şəbzıxhwə Çərim; Russian: Черим Сообцоков, romanized: Cherim Soobtsokov) (24 August 1924 – 6 September 1985[1]) was a Circassian spy, politician, soldier, and Nazi collaborator. He rose to prominence in the New Jersey Democratic Party and the Circassian community in Paterson, New Jersey.[2] During the Cold War, Soobzokov served the CIA as an anti-Soviet operative.

He was accused of collaborating with Nazi Germany during the invasion of the Soviet Union's North Caucasus before coming to the United States, but denied these allegations and sued CBS and The New York Times, and won.[3]: 170–174  In 1985, Soobzokov was murdered by a pipe bomb at his house. He was publicly supported by Pat Buchanan[4] and Congressman Robert Roe.[3]: 113 

Biography

According to documents declassified by the CIA in 2006, Soobzokov was an officer in the Wehrmacht as early as 1942 during World War II.[5] Soobzokov recruited Circassians in 1943-1944 to the Wehrmacht, and in early 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant of the SS. During a CIA polygraph in 1953, a CIA official noted that Soobzokov had proncounced reactions to all questions regarding war crimes. Historian Richard Breitman also noted Soobzokov's SS activities and admission of war crimes.[5]Soobzokov had confidentially admitted to the CIA that he had indeed participated in an execution unit and hunted for Jews and Communists.[1] Witnesses said he actively participated in the rounding-up and mass executions of Jews and Communists. Soobzokov was admitted into the United States in 1955.[5][6]

In 1969, a man named Mahamet Perchich wrote letters to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, claiming Soobzokov had told a Palestinian refugee camp chief that he'd killed so many Jews during the war that if they were still alive, the blood of all Palestinians would not be enough for them to drink.[7]

In 1977 book called ″Wanted: The Search for Nazis in America″ by Howard Blum, accused Soobzokov of participating in the mass murder of Jews and Communists in the Caucasus region. Federal officials investigated this allegation. However, in 1979, a federal grand jury found no grounds to indict Soobzokov, then the chief purchasing inspector for Passaic County. He was also cleared of charges he hid his involvement with the Waffen-SS since the CIA had already know about his membership in the organization.[6][8]

Relationship with CIA

The declassified CIA documents revealed that the CIA recruited Soobzokov as an agent under the code name "Nostril" after he immigrated to Jordan in 1947. Soobzokov was sent on missoins to infiltrate the Soviet Caucasus.[5][9] This was part of a wider post-World War II CIA program.[10]

Breitman said that the CIA had "shown bad judgment" in employing and assisting Soobzokov, due to his past.[5]

Media lawsuit

Following the dismissal of his case, several Jewish groups urged violence against Soobzokov. On 15 August 1985, a pipe bomb was detonated outside Soobzokov's home in Paterson, New Jersey critically injuring him and destroying his right foot.[11][12] Soobzokov died of his wounds in the hospital on 9 September 1985.[13] Hours before the bombing, Soobzokov had reported that two people tried to run him over.[6] An anonymous caller claiming to represent the Jewish Defense League (JDL) said they had carried out the bombing. A spokesman for the JDL later denied responsibility.[14] No one was ever charged with leaving either bomb, but Aslan Soobzokov (Tscherim's son) has twice sued the federal government over its investigation. The bombing was linked by the FBI to a similar bomb attack on Elmārs Sproģis, that took place in Long Island on the day Soobzokov died.[3]: 179–180 

The Jewish Defense League denied having killed Soobzokov, but applauded his death as a "righteous act".[11] "I don't know who did it, we didn't do it, but we applaud the action 100 percent," their spokesperson said." We'll lose no sleep over it."[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Richard Breitman. "Tscherim Soobzokov" (PDF). Government Secrecy e-Prints. Federation of American Scientists.
  2. ↑ Shane, Scott (7 June 2006). "C.I.A. Knew Where Eichmann Was Hiding, Documents Show". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 Lichtblau, Eric (2014). The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler's Men. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-547-66919-9.
  4. ↑ Pat Buchanan (5 November 1999). "Response to Norman Podhoretz". letter to The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "CIA declassifies 27,000 Nazi files". The Washington Times. 6 June 2006.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Man Cleared Of Nazi War Crimes Loses Foot to Pipe Bomb". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Albanese, David. Anti-Soviet Nationalism and the Cold War.
  8. ↑ O'Toole, Thomas (10 July 1980). "CIA 1952 Files Save Ex-Nazi in Deportation Case". The Washington Post.
  9. ↑ "New Records Now Available as a Result of IWG Extension – CIA Agrees to Disclose Operational Materials". Press Release. National Archives and Records Administration. 6 June 2006.
  10. ↑ Toby Harnden (14 November 2010). "Secret papers reveal Nazis given 'safe haven' in US". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 November 2010.
  11. 1 2 Ralph Blumenthal (16 August 1985). "Man Accused of Nazi Past Injured by Bomb in Jersey". The New York Times: B2.
  12. ↑ "Bomb Victim on Critical List". The New York Times. AP. 17 August 1985.
  13. ↑ Eric Lichtblau (13 November 2010). "Nazis Were Given 'Safe Haven' in U.S., Report Says". The New York Times: A1.
  14. ↑ Judith Cummings (9 November 1985). "F.B.I. Says Jewish Defense League May Have Planted Fatal Bombs". The New York Times: A1.
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