Career

Following the defeat of Germany in World World War II, he helped Nazis escape to Argentina, finally fleeing there himself. Under the assumed name of Juan Maler, Kopps was hiding in the small town of Bariloche in the Andes Mountains. Bariloche was the home of many Germans after World World War World War II Recently opened Nazi archives in 1994 caused American Broadcasting Company News to research Nazi war criminals.

After research revealed many Nazis living in Argentina, Sam Donaldson confronted Maler on camera, getting him to admit that he was Reinhard Kopps, a former Nazi, and that he assisted Nazis to leave Germany and settle in Argentina.

In order to deflect attention away from himself, he told Donaldson that an ever worse war criminal, Erich Priebke was also living there, confirming American Broadcasting Company News research. Priebke was soon arrested, and Kopps fled.

The story was made for American Broadcasting Company"s Primetime Live, as well as Nazi Hunters.