A Deadly Nazi Cult in Chile

For nearly 40 years, a secretive colony in the Chilean countryside hid unspeakable horrors: child abuse, torture, and a twisted legacy of Nazism. Colonia Dignidad, led by ex-Nazi Paul Schäfer, thrived not just as a cult but as a brutal tool of oppression during Chile’s Pinochet regime. How did this enclave evade justice for so long—and why did the Chilean government turn a blind eye, or worse, offer its support? In a story that goes right to the heart of the German and Chilean governments, what justice can the victims themselves hope for? In this episode:  Winfried Hempel, (@WinfriedHempel), Lawyer and Colonia Dignidad Survivor Evelyn Hevia, (@evelynheviajordan), Colonia Dignidad Researcher Episode credits: This episode was written and produced by Anna Staufenberg and hosted by Halla Mohieddeen.  Executive Producer: Ney Alvarez. Production Managers: Bronte Baskin. Senior Producers: Marthe van der Wolf and Bronte Baskin. Post-Production Supervisor: Andrés Rivera Assistant Producers: Leo Danczak, Sophie McNulty, and Catherine Nouhan. Fact-checking by Ruby Zaman. Translation by Diana Larrea Maccise. Audio editing by Alan Leer. Music composition by Tom Biddle. Lead of Engagement: Aya Elmileik. Engagement Producers: Adam Abou-Gad, Munera AlDosari, and Vienna Maglio. Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio: Ney Alvarez. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube