Herberts Cukurs: The “Butcher of Riga” Hunted by Mossad

Herberts Albert Cukurs, a Latvian aviator, became infamous as a Nazi collaborator during World War II, earning the chilling moniker “the Butcher of Riga” for his extreme brutality. Responsible for the murder of thousands of Jews, Cukurs evaded justice for nearly two decades before being tracked down and assassinated by Mossad agents in Uruguay in 1965.

From Aviation Pioneer to Nazi Collaborator

Before the war, Cukurs was a celebrated figure in Latvia, known for his pioneering achievements in aviation. After being dismissed from the Latvian Air Force due to disciplinary issues, he dedicated himself to building and flying aircraft, achieving fame for long-distance flights, often utilizing planes he constructed from salvaged materials.¹ He flew to destinations across the globe, including China, Japan, Russia, India, and even Mandatory Palestine, expressing admiration for the Zionist enterprise.

The Soviet annexation of Latvia in 1940 and the subsequent Nazi invasion in 1941 dramatically altered Cukurs’ path. He joined the Arajs Kommando, a Latvian unit operating under the command of the Nazi SS.¹ He quickly established a reputation as one of the most sadistic killers in Nazi-occupied Latvia.

Atrocities During the Holocaust

Survivor testimonies and Latvian witnesses implicate Cukurs in central roles during mass killings at the Riga Ghetto and the Rumbula forest massacre, where approximately 25,000 Jews were murdered.¹ Accounts describe him randomly shooting Jews although riding through the streets of Riga, burning synagogues with worshippers inside, and throwing Jewish children from rooftops before shooting them.¹ Investigations later concluded he was directly responsible for the murder of around 13,000 Jews and oversaw the killing of roughly 30,000 more.¹ He was similarly accused of sexually assaulting Jewish women.¹

Escape and Life in Exile

As Soviet forces advanced towards the end of the war, Cukurs fled to Berlin and, reportedly after paying a bribe, secured a visa to escape to Brazil.¹ His name surfaced during the Nuremberg trials, but he remained at large and was never formally charged.

Initially living in Rio de Janeiro under the guise of a Latvian refugee fleeing communism, Cukurs was eventually recognized by Holocaust survivors. Facing legal and physical pursuit, he relocated to a fortified neighborhood in São Paulo, where he established a slight tourism business offering sightseeing flights and boat tours.¹

Mossad’s Operation and Cukurs’ Assassination

In 1965, as Europe debated the possibility of a statute of limitations on Nazi crimes, Israel decided to take action, fearing it would allow unpunished Nazi criminals to go free.¹ Cukurs, already on Mossad’s wanted list, was selected as a target to demonstrate that the world would not forget the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Mossad agent Yaakov Meidad, who had previously participated in the capture of Adolf Eichmann, was assigned to lure Cukurs. Posing as an Austrian businessman, Meidad gained Cukurs’ trust over several weeks, eventually convincing him to travel to Montevideo, Uruguay, for potential investment opportunities.¹

Upon entering a villa in Montevideo, Cukurs was ambushed by a Mossad assassination team. A fierce struggle ensued, during which Cukurs attempted to draw a weapon and even bit an agent. He was ultimately shot and killed.¹

Aftermath and Legacy

The agents placed Cukurs’ body in a crate, along with a document detailing his crimes, signed by a previously unknown organization called “Those Who Will Never Forget.”¹ The crate was left in a villa, and its discovery led to international attention.¹

Herberts Cukurs’ case remains a controversial example of vigilante justice and a stark reminder of the enduring pursuit of Nazi war criminals.¹