KV-2/200-Ostro-Fidrmuc

Mr. Johnson began the interrogation by reminding the prisoner of numerous occasions during the war when he had seen F. (Paul Georg Fidrmuc) in Portugal. (AOB: was then Mr. Johnson stationed at the Legation of at M.I.6's offices there?) F. seemed not to recognise Mr. Johnson.

He then praised F's early reports expressing surprise, however, at his later denials of agent activity. He also expressed praise for F's ability to blend false and truth (Dichtung und Wahrheit) und thus fool the Central Office. F.'s reaction was one of feigned embarrassment.

Mr. J. (Johnson) assured him that everything is known about his activities since 1923, and that in his present predicament (dilemma) he had no Carnap to hold his hand as in Portugal. (Mr. Johnson apparently wasn't educated in the higher classes). F. was definitely startled by the latter remark.

Mr. J. then made reference to the letters F. had written after the war expressing disgust at democratic methods.

We ordered F. to prepare a full account of his activities with no omissions and no distortions. (the language used by those not being superior)

He reminded F. of his having ordered a town-plan of Coventry in 1939 and again invited him to reveal the whole truth, assuring him that Schellenberg, Kramer (Kraemer), Federici (Obst. d. L. Dr. Rolf Federici, Leiter KOP since late Spring 1944 towards the ultimate end) et all, were in our hands and had told all, and that the complete Abwehr files in Berlin were intact and available to us (AOB: an apparent/bluff, but, a lie!).

The subject of Mosberg was then brought up and F. denied having sent M. to USA as an agent. He admitted the payment of 73,000 Belgian francs for the purchase of minethrowers.

Mr. J. warned F. that his secretary Tiedke (Dr. Mss.) was also available for interrogation.

F. admitted knowledge of Carnap's cover-name but denied ever having been in the Johnstrasse in Berlin. (AOB: Fidrmuc was only once invited to visit Germany in spring 1944, to receive a K.v.K. II and to visit in Hamburg his parents-in-law)

When confronted with the evidence that he had written to the Chase Bank NY on 16 Oct. 39 instructing them to pay $500 a month to Mossberg and at that cablegram signed Fidrmuc was addressed to Mossberg saving that he continue to send his reports to F., he denied that the payments were ever made and requested to see the originals of the cable and letter.

Mr. J. then asked F. to list his real agents and his phony agents. In this connection Mr. J. mentioned Tin and Tyre but F. denied that they were ever his agents.

F. denied ever having more than one agent in England, Dr. Rudolf ~~Racisky~~ (Ratschitsky; KV 2/240 .. 241) (known as Tor).

He is asked if he knew Van der Vliet (Dutch pilot of KLM) F. denied ever having received from him. He denied knowing a Mr. Brown of the American Air Lines. He admitted knowing Stamoglu stating that he wanted to do business with him after the war.

F. denied having acted as a letter-box for South America of having agents to USA. An attempt to send Ender failed. He denied having Almeda as agent and suggested we ask Wolff (Wolf von Amerongen?) about him. he also denied having obtained intelligence from Knigge (Baron Wilhelm von) and stated that he did not get along with him.

F. admitted having obtained information from Wirth of Hispano-Suiza in Barcelona but denied ever having received intelligence→ via US airplanes.

via US airplanes. He also denied that Georges in Switzerland was aware of his I.S. (Intelligence Servive) work.

F. further having received enormous payments from the Abwehr insisting that he never received in six months' payment at the end of the war (Abfindungssumme). (AOB: what did happen, was, that in the last days of April 1945, Lisbon received a telegram from Germany (to be dealt with in KV 2/201); Berlin was already out of operation due to the Russians, a message sent by 'Reichs Security' I suppose meaning RSHA an allowance to receive 6 months payment, for future operation. However, Fidrmuc never got the money as it should be provided in Portugal; whereas he lived since mid March 1945 in Barcelona)

F. Stated that he knew Mme Hussey only after the war and that payments to her were made only for board and room and education of his adopted daughter (AOB: Esmaralda De Lacerda and her mother; whom lived with the Fidermucs at 'Chalet Igloo' in Estoril; the latter cheated the Fidrmucs - as she acted against him steered by British S.I.S.).

F. declared that he knew Braisky only slightly and never heard the name Gottlob of KOP (K.O. Portugal). adding that he usually knew only one man of the KOP at a time.

F. Denied that he was still hiding the name of any important agent and also that he ever had Allied informants Portugal. Lacerda, he stated, worked against him and was in the pay of the BIS (British Intelligence Service; = S.I.S.). He also denied ever having used W/T equipment himself.

When told that the Abwehr records show (AOB: purely bluff, as they had to rely upon their own RSS intercepts) that F. had cited Josephine and Hector as sources of intelligence on English ports, he denied it. Again he declared that Mosberg (Hans Rudolf) had nothing to do with IS work.

F. denied knowing Solange Metrier even when told by Mr. Johnson that photographs showing them together are available.

F. was again told to list his agents and to supply all details on the Mosberg case, on Widmann and on Paula Weimann the sister of Brücker in England and on Brucker. (Brucker was one of Fidrmuc's business partners, but had no relation to espionage whatsoever)

When asked why Brucker travelled from Lisbon to Paris with von Carnap on 26 Nov 1941, F. answered evasively insisting → that it was a business trip having nothing to do with Abwehr activity.

hat it was a business trip having nothing to do with Abwehr activity. Stated emphatically that Brucker had no intelligence dealing with Germany.

F. admitted that Paul Falusch (Hungarian Jew) was an informant on England (AOB: before entering Portugal Falusch lived in England) and also reported on West Africa. When asked about the address "At Home" in Copenhagen F stated that he had visited a certain Hansen there.

Mr. J. asked F. why he kept two accounts with the Chase Natl. Bank (failed to note F's answer AN). The large payments which Mr. J. told him had been made from his account on 26 Febr. 1938 were made according to F. in payment for a mine-thrower bought for Germany.

He denied that he was able to furnish Berlin with answers to questions on England in 3 to 4 days insisting that it took 4 to 6 weeks.

Mr. J. then referred to the Campbell case and F. repeated what he had already written on the subject.

When asked who the Baron was, F. gave the name of Dierstky(?), an Austrian and one of his informants. The names of Friessen and Rheinbaden were also mentioned in this connection F. reacted negatively to the name Ino and denied any knowledge → of Argentine,

F. further denied that he had been given the order to penetrate Allied IS in Portugal. He declared that the general opinion was that US and British Intelligence were too well informed.

When asked by Mr. J. whom he might consider to be his 'bête noir' in Allied Intelligence he gave the names of Murphy for the BIS (S.I.S.) and Fish of US Int. F. further declared that US Int. did nothing in Portugal prior to 1942.

The GIS (German Intelligence Service), F. stated, was successful in watching hotels and plane landings.

F. denied that he reported on the Yalta conference, but stated that he had reported on the Casablanca meeting.

When asked why he had not told the truth prior to Nov 1946 F. gave as the reason his fear of the Czechs. (AOB: Fidrmuc was born in Austrian Sudetenland, which territory became Czechoslovak territory after November 1918; since 1938 September up to 1945 May it was Germany territory again and since the end of WW II again Czech territory).

F. stated that Tor (Rudolf Ratschitsky; KV 2/240 - KV 2/241) worked for the Czech Gov, in London.

F. stated that he was never alone with Frau Krebs and never received any reports from her.

When asked about Otto ~~Wolff~~ (Otto Wolf von Amerongen) F. stated that Wolf brought him together with prominent people who he (Fidrmuc) pumped for information.

F. denied any contact with Lupi of AP (Associated Press?) He knew Kurt Szell whom he suspected of having gone over to the Allies. F. also→ admitted knowing Sokol, Klein, Mario.

admitted knowing Sokol, Klein, Mario. He denied having any contact with Portuguese journalists or having received intelligence from the Propaganda Ministry (AOB: which one, the German or Portuguese, thus Salazar's?)

J. I have used the two weeks that I have been away to consult our English and American friends on the basis of your statements and written declarations. We have had also considered the matters you mention in the last papers you have given to Mr. Newham. What you have said is a mixture of exaggerations and half-truths - you know exactly what I mean.

J. We will return to that. You have said a number of things which have been compared with the Ostro files at the German headquarters (AOB: a pure bluff, as they never got access to the remaining files in Berlin!) and to be untrue. I particularly want you to realise it would not repay at all to tell us half-truths.

J. I am convinced that is so. I believe you are convinced that we know a lot, but we know still more (inside British RSS), as I will show you.

J. The important thing is that you should realise that after the war all the files were discovered (AOB: a bluff and untrue) - your activities and statements, with dates - and I will show you that. What we learnt from others helped at the time of the war to clarify your activities, but now we can go into more detail; and again I ask you, in your own interest, to speak as if you were convinced (a great dead depends on that?) that all that you do not tell us ... you do not tell us.

J. yes. What you now say will be taken as your final ord. You, know yourself that you said you were journalist and nothing else ... then you came to a point when you said a lot. And then you did not know Mosberg - later you told us a lot of Mosberg. Now er are going to take your final word. We will question you no further. If you do not tell the truth today, it is enough, and it will be of no assistance to you not to tell the whole truth.

Now we will begin. By the way, if you want to do anything by way of homework, you can write it on this. You still have a typewriter? If you just make notes from time to time on what you could work out.

Right at the end of the war, when you were in Spain, who was it who contacted your mother-in-law at your request. (AOB: this particular message will be dealt with towards to closure of KV 2/201, but it likely went via K.d.M. Hamburg as we will see later)

F. My mother-in-law? I asked Carnap .... During the bombardment in March of February (1945) my wife (Ragmor) refers to it in her last letter - the rumour was that my mother was killed in Hamburg - in 1943 (late July 1943) this big raid (Operation Gomorrah?), she broke her arm falling down the stair case. But I had a wire sent to Carnap if he could enquire in Hamburg, because communications were interrupted.

F. No '45. We got a report that something had happened in Hamburg to my wife's mother,

F. No, she married again. Unfortunately it didn't prove true; we got the telegram that she was all right (AOB: see KV 2/201 towards its end) It was about the middle of April '45. (AOB: about this time, Berlin was encircled by the Russians and general communications were interrupted since)

F. Yes. (AOB: I am not so certain but it might be true, as by then the entire organisation changed and became part of Milamt/Amt Mil)

J. Who was Vasco? (AOB: likely von Carnap still) (AOB: more likely was it the: Portugal section, likely in Berlin Amt Mil/Milamt) (AOB: normally designated: Babette-Vasco; Babette-Mate was likely linked to Spain (Mate Leiter von Bohlen (KV 2/1975)

F. Vasco? Sometimes telegrams came from Berlin signed Vasco, but that must be the office (AOB: at Milamt/Amt Mil)

F. No. It must have be the office. It came on telegrams on all different people.

F. But that is the name of the office (at Milamt / Amt Mil) telegrams on all different subjects and different people. Telegrams from Carnap were signed Vasco, and from Obst. Hansen was also Vasco (before say, 18 July 1944)

J. You told us last time that you never saw the last final payment,, which I told you you had received. You told me you did not know what happened to the money (think of the last days of April 1945, payment in Lisbon, whereas Fidrmuc lived in Barcelona) the six months ahead (see KV 2/201 in due course)

F. Yes, I don't know. (AOB: To my understanding, it remained open whether it was a kind of Abfindungssumme; whilst I think it might have been a payment for operations to come in the future!)

J. Right. May I tell you that in the same telegram which was signed Vasco which I have seen a copy in Berlin (Bluffing), the following occurs.

J. Wait, The same telegram in which is said that Vasco has made contact with your parents in law it says" Addresses to Frederici" (Leiter KOP after Ludovico von Karsthoff) - to Forros you know his symbols (Frederici's alias) Forros.

J. Yes, I said the same telegram which was dated 30th April 1945. it said that he has paid six months salary in advance, and at your request it was paid - that it was paid on the 3rd May 1945 - it's all in the Zentral Akten (Lisbon, or apparent bluff?) - six months payment, that is third and fourth quarters of 1945, at your request handed over to (Frank) Camillo (one of Fidrmuc Business partners in Portugal; but he refused to guide it further)

J. Yes, with your instructions to keep it carefully in private. Also two new passports valid until April 1950. And then it→ ends that you be told that Vasco has established contact with "Rigmor's" parents.

ends that you be told that Vasco has established contact with "Rigmor's" parents.

F. But I haven't got the money. You see, Camillo Frank has not received the money. I can not communicate with Frank. He refused to accept the money, it was offered to him to take the money, but he refused. I have the letter still in Barcelona, and I can ask my wife to send them to me. He refused to take the money for me.

F. It should be six hundred thousand escudos My pay was 600,000 for half a year.

J. Which makes seven thousand eight hundred pounds a year. (AOB: far more, by the way, than Mr. Johnson would have earned annually)

J. And that again doesn't tally with the figures you gave Mr. Newham, because you said it included everything.

F. No, I am sorry I must contradict you. First, I have not received the money. With your permission, I can say that the files should be sent here with the letters, from Camillo Frank saying that he refused to accept the money, because it was already precarious situation, and I don't know now what has happened.

F. I was in Barcelona. Everything was falling down, at any moment the banks might be seized, what happened a few days after, all accounts were stepped (stopped?). It would have been lost. But Frank refused to take it.

J. Can you explain one thing: officially you had - and that refers to correspondence you had with Camillo Frank before you had broken off commercial relations with him -

F. But that is not true. I have the correspondence with him. Only about six months later I corresponded with Brucker, when we discussed the dissolution of the company, but we decided to keep it. I have given that it can be dissolved if necessary en of → '45; but then I withdrew and the company can be maintained.

F. Either he or somebody else, because Camillo Frank, if you will ask him, will confirm that he was approached by somebody from the Embassy (KOP?) to give him money for me and he refused because he said it was already in the last days and everything was topsy-turvy and he was afraid to keep the money in his house.

J. But you didn't tell us about your instructions last time. Why didn't you mention Camillo Frank?

J. You didn't tell us it has been offered to Camillo Frank on your instructions.

Second thing. You told us that when you were in Spain at the end of the war and a war which you knew was lost, that you never dreamt of suggesting any plans in connection with espionage and intelligence for the future.

J. You said it was lost and you didn't want to be connected with anything of that sort.

J. We are speaking about the end of the war. I said towards the end of the war did you make any plans, and you said do you think I'm mad.

F. Of course, I didn't want to continue with the intelligence for a period after the collapse of Germany.

J. Yes. Now you've made a plan and you will admit that this plan started being put into action and provided for that sort of work after the war, and the plan which you made originally you made as late as the 6th September, when you were already (temporarily) in Barcelona.

J. But you returned to Spain later. The plan was worked out in order to work from Spain.

J. And you know these are official documents which I have seen. (AOB: S.I.S. Lisbon might have got access to some of these documents, or only by interrogation of someone of the former KO Portugal office) You know that these plans provision is made from employing Ruf (France). You know that.

J. For employing him for the same purpose for which he had been employed before, as your agent.

F. Ruf? No, I would like to see this report. (AOB: this report likely is not existing, but bluff; considering the next line this was a bluff)

J. Well you suggested on the 6th December 1944 - "RU is meant to be a link in the important economical espionage set-up to work from Lisbon into Belgium as soon as mail between Northern France and Belgium has been established. RU will then move to Northern France. The Portuguese firm involved "- you use the word Milidadada for the Soviedade Portuguese de Carburantes -

J. "The Portuguese firm involved is Carburantes as a cover for the firm Brucker-Traus. The Belgium codes address included the firm Electro Spril - "is it Spril?

F. It was going bad, but it was not over. At this time I was still continuing for the Abwehr. I continued for the Abwehr up to the end of the war.

J. Let us not split hairs. You told us last time that you were not mad, - that you knew the war was lost and would never have dreamt - there is some more to come. You see, there are rooms and rooms of stuff which nobody has yet had sufficient time to go through and which nobody has yet had sufficient time to go through and which show up your whole past in facts and not in other things.

F. But you see in December I worked for the Abwehr up to the end of the war. I only say I slowed down, particularly in Spain I did very little. But of course I worked for the Abwehr I say I would have been mad to work for them after the war. But I worked at dozens of other plans. The Abwehr asked me, and at that time France was occupied (liberated, though occupied from the German perspective).

F. Yes, I made a plan how to start again an intelligence service from France in favour of Germany. But that was my task. I did not realise these plans, but -

J. I want to show you what is known about all your friends. "Firm Brucker-Traus in connection with RU (Ruf). Acting as a cover in Switzerland for the espionage network Portugal - Switzerland-France-Belgium. As you know the branch in Zürich was in the Hotel Waldhaus.

J. I want to ask you about one report. Do try to remember. One report. One report there which you sent you have received from Ru (Ruf) quotes as sub-source of Ru Colonel Hartmant, French Liaison Officer of SHAEF.

F. That is impossible, because I have never mentioned to Berlin any names of my sources.

J. Look here, it is here in your own Ostro report. It says Ruf's source is Colonel Harmant who is French Liaison Officer with SHAEF.

F. No, I wanted to establish - I knew this Colonel Hartmant from contact of another source. He was in SHAEF and came once to Lisbon, and I wanted to get him for a new agent.

J. But isn't it strange that in your telegram the Colonel Hhartmant should be mentioned and you remember meeting him, and you quoted him in you telegram this Colonel Hartmant and as a sub-spource of Ruf's, and you say it came to nothing. Now did you invent that?

F. No, it must have been misquoted. I gave the report to the KOP and they condensed it.

F. I met Colonel Hartmant and wanted to get him as a source. But have not contacted RUF after, but I wanted to get him back again. Immediately after August/September '44 (AOB: please bear in mind, that Paris had been liberated about 25th August 1944, and not earlier) when it was occupied I wanted to contact him again.

F. Then it must have been some impostor who gave this name. I was introduced to Colonel Hartmant, but it is the same as Camoes and Ostro and so on, it could be a cover-name. I said that I knew Villeneuve.

J. You suppose that he was there? Your telegram at the beginning of October 1944 was Ï have successfully established contact with Ruf".

KV 2/201-2, page 39xxpertially (AOB: NIX piles of documents captured in Berlin; the Germans destroyed most essential papers before the Russians arrived, but instead: RSS/Bletchley Park's (Isk) translated intercepts! These intercepts known internally as: MSS or Most Secret Sources) (Z2042 ↓↓↓↓ Z2042return)

Crown Copyright

4.10.44. Isk serial 118371 Lisbon → Berlin. 773 (temporary message number). To HIOB (= Heer I Ost Berlin) for Skarupa (= von Carnap's office) Caxias (?) of 2/10. As executive company for all affairs Portugal Belgium (17 corrupt = lacking, due to atmospheric QSB or interference = QRM) etc the firm Sociedade Portuguesa de Carburantes LDA (Ltd). Largo de Carm? 18/1 will appear in such a way that this firm will only sign while the work is done (handled) Gebrucker (Germain Brucker - one of Fidrmuc's business partners) . This Soc. is not on the (Allied) Black List has good connections with (19 characters corrupt) for new business to obtain Navicerts (ship insurance certificates). Firm participates in business dealings as commission agent. Please inform Gino (?) of this at once. As soon as it is known which firm in Belgium correspondence is to be commenced, in place of Lies Fils D'Alfred which probably no longer exists, it can begin. As already reported this is of great importance to me for establishment of camouflage correspondence with Ruf. Establishing contact with the latter has been successful (not true) , is still in Annency with SA Ugine. For continuance of cover traffic here it is very necessary to take up at least correspondence with Huette (Hütte) (= Switzerland) (There should have been restored mail services between France and Switzerland). Concerning the firm which is conducting correspondence in French about new business with Duvens I have so far not heard anything from Huette (Hütte) (= Switzerland). We urgently point out the necessity of commencing this general business correspondence at once.

Harostro (= most likely one of Fidrmuc's designations)

AOB: We, Deo volente, will deal with the entire KV 2/201 collection; of course, for practical reasons a selection; in due course

J. Why do you suppose now-either this is a lie or what are you telling us now is a lie. It is no use, I tell you.

J. I have got it here. The telegram is signed Camoes again, and it is in the files of the Zentrale. (AOB: purely bluff, as all W/T sites had been ruled by the Russians even before Germany surrendered) (AOB: in this entire period (KV 2/201-2) there doesn't exist a decrypted copy singed by Camoes, but Harostro only) Speaking about the Zentrale, you never told me one thing. (AOB: Fidrmuc had no connection with the means of transmission or preparing and conveying messages from Portugal to Berlin, of whatever colure) You mentioned Brück alias Peters being in contact with Mos, you remember?

J. Why did you never mention - and this is very important - Obstlt. Scholz (Scholtz)? (X2040 X2040return)

F. I did mention him. He visited me in Lisbon and I gave a detailed description of him.

F. But I told you I met a lot of people, but I don't know the names. The name of Kniebis I have never heard. They must have told me other names.

F. Peters I did not know that was Major Pruck (in Piekenbrock's time, for some time Fidrmuc's case officer at Referat I in Berlin). Only in 1938 or something I knew a Major Pruck. And Piekenbrock (Leiter I Berlin before 1943) in the beginning was Dr. Schmidt or something else for me.

J. Yes, but Kniebis you must know he was one of your earliest chiefs. And do you know why the name Ostro was given to you?

J. Isn't it extraordinary that we should have to tell you - this name that you have born proudly for years.

F. Ostro is a wind in the Asiatic Sea or it might be because I used the name "Gote" = (Ostrogote)

J. It is quite simple, because you were first contacted by one of I H Ost (Bingo: HIOB) - you never mentioned that - AOB: how could he, as he never knew about this aspect?

J. But it was a strange thing that you were in the West, but because the German system provided that it is a personal relationship and because the first officer who contacted you was an officer of I H Ost you were kept in that department for the rest of your career. (AOB: similarly happened with Dr. Karl Heinz Kraemer, for example).

F. The first officer I had before Peters was a Dr. Stolze (please consider the foregoing X2040 hyperlink). It might be that it was Hauptmann Kniebis.

F. He came first as Wernicke, but he introduced himself as Dr. Beck. But Ostro, of course, I don't know the connection (the origin of the cover-name Ostro).

J. He was a chef de service of the Aimants Ugine and Soras, that was the same, Director of the Ugine Infra.

F. But in my reports you 'll find hundreds of different names, and I can't remember one single one.

J. I mentioned Electro Spril in Brussels. (AOB: connected in some way with Germain Brucker) It occupies the premises previously held by Les Fils d'Alfred Traus, 65 Avenue Jean Jaures in Brussels.

F. It was in connection with the firm - they supplied electric wire, but that was only as a manufacturer (in Bilbao Spain).

J. And the firm was owned by George Traus and Brucker. You might remember the name of the Director, He called Louis Bielmar.

F. It might be. I can't tell for certain, because you see there were so many names.

J. You know that it had been suggested - where were you on the 14th September 1944?

J. The two passports - they go till 1950. (AOB: utmost favourable, as most passports expired and obtaining a new one being hardly possible in those days)

J. According to a report in the Zentralstelle (KO Portugal), you say - Camoes says - "It is of special importance to restore the connection between Lissabon and Brussels - you know what?

J. " - that is, compensation goods (Clearing?) and payment traffic of the Limidada with the Gino firm - you know what that is?

J. But you see the fact that I know, and I hope it sounds genuine to you. I'am not lying to you, not bluffing you.

J. Yes, but it was later that you yourself announced that you had taken up contact with Ruf. (again repeating: Z2042 Z2042return) It was just about that time. I was perhaps wrong about the date. But there is a telegram where you have accounted that contact has been established with Ruf, Do you remember. ↕↕↕. ......

F. For definite, no. I wanted to try hard, that was my plan. The Allied Army were on the West Wall and it was very important to re-establish a system of intelligence in France and Belgium.

J. Yes. "The firm has already been organised here that will carry on the goods traffic with Belgium on behalf of and under the control the Limidada (a Portuguese Ltd.) Naturally it must not be on the Black List.

J. "It must not bee the same firm as the one for Switzerland." That all makes sense to you?

J. "This is important, because of the journeys, permis de sejour etc, especially for the cover of my connection at this end it is indispensable that the passive condition of the Limitada business be soon terminates. ..

J. "As this is impossible with Germany, asubstitute can be found in Switzerland and Belgium. In this connection it is urgently necessary (a) that Gino now radios through with which firm in Switzerland negotiations about all new business are to be opened in France, (b) Circles in Belgium to be approached for winding up Limitada and start new business. Care must be taken that banks authorities tec. are informed that the Limitada is behind this new business. The Limitada will therefore not appear openly.. .

J. You told us last time that the firm of Brucker-Traus is in no way connected with your espionage activities.

F. It is true. I will explain the situation. Firms in business with Germany had been stopped. Business had to be done otherwise I should be expelled from Portugal.

J. I quite understand. You want to suggest that your partners did not know. But I tell you it is quite impossible to start that sort of plan with telegrams without partners knowing about it.

F. Suppose Brucker-Traus was doing business with Belgium; at this time it was enemy country; suppose he does business with Belgium and they learn that Iám doing business with Belgium or France without informing Berlin, that would put me in a nasty position. I have never done anything which could make me suspect. The other reason was, of course, once business is established and correspondence is passing, I can find some way to smuggle my intelligence.

J. But you tried, amongst other things, to circumvent the Black List in September 1944 by substituting one form for another.

F. For instance, if Brucker-Traus would correspond - as a matter of fact the firm was closed and the proprietors arrested - but suppose it had, not one letter would have been passed the censorship, so we had to put a company up in Lisbon which was not on the Black List.

J. More. On the 7th September '44 you ordered according to the documents, that the correspondence with the Limitada should be suspended and future letters should only be written to Enrico Douvers, importers and exporters, Rua de S...5. All correspondence should be conducted in French. Georges - that is Georges Brucker? - to be send radio messages via berlin to which firm in Zürich the telegram should be directed from the Limitada.

KV 2/201-2, page 24yy-part quoting from RSS / Bletchley Park Isk decrypt serial (114652) and according translation.

7.9.44 Lisbon → Berlin. Temporally message serial number 556. To HIOB for Skapura. Inform Skapura (Oblt. von Carnap's office) at once that correspondence with LDA (Limitada) at this end (Lisbon) is to be suspended and is in future only to be sent to Enrico Douwens, Import and Export, Rua Ba, Rua dos Lusiadas 5, 1st left (esquerdo), i.e. all correspondence in French. Georges is to radio via Palais (= Berlin), to which firm in Zürich telegrams are to be directed from LDA. Correspondence with Georges must cease at once. Camoes. = Ostro = Harastro.

F. Douwens was our bookkeeper - From August to September all the planes - France is occupied - were landing in Marseilles and all the mail was censored, and it was absolutely necessary that the business correspondence would not be detained or stopped, because Black List forms' correspondence were not handed over. So I had to reorganise the whole intercourse. But such plans as you have read to me I have made the war fifty or a hundred different ones.

F. Ballhorn? (AOB: Ballhorn was the cover-name of Hans Brandes a half-Jew cooperating with the Abwehr throughout the war). (KV 2/3295, PF 307718) + (https://www.cdvandt.org/kv-2-560-wrede-artist.htm) (Fidrmuc might not have known Hans Brandes' cover-name)

J. Just Ballhorn. I'll tell you afterwards. Now we'll just go a little further. This is now a very serious question, and it concerns Tor (Ratschitsky KV 2/240 .. KV 2/241 PF PF 603516 a fellow Sudeten -Austrian/German; AOB: I don't trust this entire story) Don't forget again that this is your last word on that subject. If that is found not to right, you are responsible yourself. You have told us a number of → things about Tor.

KV 2/200-1, page 20L I would like to skip, as I do not trust Fidrmuc's Tor case and statements.

J. I have, in the meantime, read quite a number of your letters which you had addressed to Mr. Newham, and complaints and so on. Of course, I suppose you realise that a great deal of your complaints have to be attributed to your own behaviour, and that if you had told the truth from the beginning, probably the situation would be much simpler. You admit that.

J. between your first appearance and now you have told the truth in instalments.

J. But at the same time you started by saying in writing, with your signature, word of honour etc, you gave that you never had any agents in your life, and that you were an innocent abroad, a poor journalist on economic affairs who handed his journalistic reports to the Embassy (KO Portugal in the adjacent building) in Portugal, and you must admit that it must have seemed very - tp say the least - funny to us when we read these reports for the first time. You see that?

J. There is one similarity between you and Hitler, you underestimate the other side, at least you did so. I am telling this to put everything in the right perspective. I can see that by the remarks you make about the Allied - The American and British Intelligence service, you don't seem to realise, that you have been watched ever since 1936, and that when people who saw you in Lisbon and met you, let us say at the Pusada de Porhaho, when they saw you there and you didn't even notice them, they said to themselves, "So that's the man who ordered the map of Coventry from George Philip and Son in May 1939." You didn't realise all that?

J. It is not that these reports have been collected now. The report of the Chase National Bank was in Allied hands as early as 1940, just to know what you were doing.

J. It is easy, but it has to be done, asked for. What I mean → is that we showed interest in you already then.

is that we showed interest in you already then. And there's another important point. I don't know if you realise that if the was had lasted another year you would probably have ended by a German bullet. Shall I tell you why? You might not know it. It is because - and we will have to talk that over to see what the reason was, you might remember the name. It was because your reports, many of them, and I don't forget I told you we had very good connections with the Abwehr (not directly valid; indirectly only by means of double-cross agents) and there is no doubt about it, they were partly so bad and so misleading and so wrong that in the end even the Germans, even the Abwehr, and the Auswertungstellen of the different things noticed something. (AOB: great deal of bluffing) And as you know there was a conference, I saw the files myself the other day in Berlin about you. (AOB: 99.999% bluffing; but they interrogated Dewitz and Ohletz) Do you know the name Zetscher Hauptmann Zetscher?

J. Well, they were people of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (R.S.H.A.) who were Liaison with von Dewitz and all those people. They had a conference - this is to explain to you why why we were quite happy about your existence. You say the Allied intelligence service was very bad, because they never tried to interfere with your work or ask Salazar to send you out. (AOB: the British applied for Fidrmuc's expelling, in vain by the way) (AOB: I suppose bluffing again) As a matter of fact there were quite a number of people on our side who said "For God's Sake leave that men in Portugal. (AOB: nonsense, as in June, Autumn 1944 and February 1945 - the XX-Committee considered to let kill Fidrmuc. (J2061 J2061return) and (G2050 G2050return) (AOB: the two foregoing links will bring the definite proof, that Mr. Johnson is apparently bluffing and lying!) ...skipping some ... I will tell you something. I have seen also, and you'd love to see it, a huge map as big as that, showing only England, France and the Kiel Canal and that part of Europe which concerned the invasion. It was covered with flags marking various nationalities and units and the headquarters.

F. Nothing. It was the initials of myself's grandfather which I used as a journalist before the war occasionally.

J. And a colonel in London was showing me that, because I was interested, looking through files - there were even a few which were taken by Jodl (by then already dead after his execution in Neurnberg 1946) to Hitler, there were your colleague in Stockholm also, Kraemer.

J. And there are a hew reports, strangely enough wrong ones (KV 2/144 ... KV 2/156) (available on our website), which were taken by Jodl to Hitler. They were considered so important and Hitler had made his markings on them. And your description was description was very best, you know, it was "Manchmal Zuverlässiger Agent." Anyhow, there was the map with quite a number of CHB on it. And that Colonel, who himself was engaged during the invasion in all that sort of work, took a stick and said "Would it interest you just for your knowledge of that man from the purely military point of view - wrong .... wrong. And that good there." There were perhaps two percent of the things right. (AOB: Mister Johnson is putting up a great show which actually was a great lie!) (I also doubt the story of the Map, because at the moment of the Invasion Hitler was at the Wolfschanze in Eastern Prussia. The map likely was destroyed at the assassination attempt on Hitler on 20th July 1944. There might have existed one at Hitler's house at the Obersalzberg, in Bavaria; but Hitler wasn't there during D-day).

HW 19-177; Isk 100313 Please digest this Isk (= decrypted machine code) message yourself. (AOB: the first line indicates "Group XIV/38" (XIV indicated Milamt/Amt Mil line, likely Havelinstitut or otherwise Belzig)

(AOB: in my perception a show commenced by someone whom never accomplished striking happenings himself, more like a regular Servant)

The British weren't amused at all, they were shocked and they called for a special XX- Committee meeting where it had been discussed whether Fidrmuc (Ostro) should be killed (eliminated)

The proposition for the liquidation of Ostro in Lisbon has been considered several times at the XX Committee (double-cross Committee), on the bases of what appears to me to be a sound plan put up by Captain Gwyer (M.I.6); both this office and the XX-Committee have always been in favour of carrying out the plan.

(AOB: sorry, this is pointing at a severe lack of smartness, maybe name it - deficit in under-laying intelligence) of carrying out the plan. We because of the reasons mentioned in the last paragraph of Mr. Hart's not and the XX-Committee because, although Ostro's information is universally bad, there is evidence that he is believed in by the Abwehr and in consequence competes against the flow of information from our controlled (deception) source (Fortitude) AOB: in our modern understanding these men, then were severely suffering from what became known as: "tunnel-vision".)

We because of the reasons mentioned in the last paragraph of Mr. Hart's note and the XX-Committee because, although Ostro's information is universally bad, there is evidence (Isk 100131) that he is believed in by the Abwehr and in consequence competes against the flow of information from our controlled sources (Fortitude, for all what it ultimately was worth it).

So far no action has been taken (AOB: for striking sound reasons!) because of objections raised by C. (= Sir Steward Menzies) on the grounds of the risks which might be created by such a course of action for the security of the Isk (= Most Secret Source; material think of the entire Bletchley Park endeavour!).

I think, if this proposition is to be raised again (and that will be about February 1945), it would be probably be required to be raised at a higher level than the XX-Committee, (whom they think they are?) either by direct approach to C (Sir Steward Menzies) by yourself or by raising it on the J.I.C. (Joined Intelligence Committee?) or W. Board. (These men being severely hampered by the opinion about their own intellect; culminating in an ill blocking name it a 'tunnel-vision') (But, don't worry, they will fail also next time!)

The reason which caused us to propose the liquidation of Ostro previously are still valid, though the strategic circumstances in which we now find ourselves do not appear to me to make so imperative a demand that it should be carried out. A.D.B.'s views on the extent to which it would assist Garbo and the other controlled sources will be important in this connection.

With reference enclosure at 111a, and minute 115, I should be glad if you would look at the observations of both Mr. Marriott and Mr. Masterman at 116a.

The general feeling of these two-which I agree - that this is not the best moment for advocating the liquidation by whatever means of Ostro. I am inclined to agree rather more with Masterman than with Marriott in the view that if it comes to a conflict between Garbo and Ostro, greater credence might possibly be given to the patter's information than to the former's. I know it is true to say that Garbo's stock is at the moment very high, but we have no regarded by the Germans as equally good, if not better than, Garbo's.

Finally. with the situation as it is at present, I think that Ostro has probably shot his bolt insofar as doing any damage to forthcoming operations is concerned. There is, however, no knowing that future operational plans may be being thought out at the moment, and if by any chance it is decided to launch another attack on the lines of → Overlord against the Continent from this country,

With reference to your Minute 113, would you please see Minutes 115, 117, and the note at 116a by Mr. Marriott. I think we shall have to accept the view of the deception experts that the position since D-Day is not such a favourable one for the liquidating Ostro as it might have been before. (AOB: the Allied situation was indeed far from favourable. Due to ill training in England in combating in the Normandy Bocage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocage) this caused enormous troubles for quite a while, as it provided for the Germans nearly optimal camouflage covers and tactical advantages). I can quite see the he does not constitute so grave a danger as he did when the two simple facts. time and place, were at stake and, in these weigh against C's (Sir Stewart Menzie's) natural objection to endangerment of his special sources. (Oh, poor children)

AOB: The Isk 100131 had been removed, or never had been part of this PF 64447 file series.

Please notice, that what you see next is a, I suppose, post-war reconstruction; based upon recollected Isk decrypts based on particular keywords.

We will go into details when we have reached the according chapter of the KV 2/201 ... serials

Maybe, some of you have already noticed that the Isk decrypted serials possess strange irregular successions. The reason is being caused by the very fact, that some messages were taking more time to decrypt.

Please consider now the red line and the dates connected foregoing and thereafter: It is quite understandable that the message of 27.5.44 did take more effort to decrypt than it took for the earlier message of 30.5.44 Isk 99248 versus Isk 99617. These aspects will, Deo volente, be dealt with, in due course.

J. It has nothing to do with us here, nothing to do with our conversation, but I just want you to know that you must not be so impatient, because you've been saved a great deal of trouble by the Allies.

Now we come back to another thing. Do tell us quite frankly - you want to tell the truth -

J. Now that you need not to be afraid that Zetscher or Powadowsky or Jodl (executed already at the Neurnberg trial) von Dewitz or any of them will put you before a tribunal. Have you sometimes concocted messages, from newspapers, and then made a story?

F. No, but I told you that a great part, more than 50% of what I sent to Berlin, was gathered from people, and a very great part was gathered in Lisbon from various sources - It is in them - the mistake could not be excluded, because so much was → unlikely; but of course I tried my best to exclude what possibly was wrong,

unlikely; but of course I tried my best to exclude what possibly was wrong, and I always asked Berlin to tell me if something was received that was wrong, and very often I got replies - this can be true - this can't be true - and this is absolutely wrong. (AOB: the OKW gathered information from various sources, not only via agents abroad, but also via other channels such as the Kriegsmarine Skl. 3 (Skl. III) and that like) But such an impression that from Tor I got deliberately false news I had not. Of course, there were always a certain percentage, I think, but not more than 15-20-25% which is not correct. In the Abwehr intelligence it is a lottery whether you got a good agent or not. But always a certain percentage, even with the best V-Mann you cannot avoid. But I had been surprised, it is the first time I hear it, but on the contrary, when visitors came to Lisbon and I myself asked to stop it - you told me you heard of a conversation in Galamaresh when I was ?persuaded, and I said I wouldn't continue any more, and in February 1945 I went to the Military Attaché -

F. Yes, because the Russians were already near to Lündenburg, and I said I'm sitting here and my home is in danger, let me go back.

J. Before we go on, speaking of Lündenburg, what do you think is the reason why the Czechs are interested in you?

F. There can be various reasons. One can be that in 1935 I was arrested by the Gestapo in connection with Dr. Beit.

F. I wrote a statement. It was the Dr. Beit (the Jewish Lawyer whom was facilitated to escape on a legal way to England facilitated by the Abwehr in Berlin) affair, because he went away from Germany and I was - and the Gestapo did not communicate with the Abwehr, and the Abwehr from out only when a Fregatten-Kapitän Burchhart in Hamburg found that I had been arrested, and you know how slowly official things go. I was released by the intervention of the Abwehr, because they proved to the Gestapo that what I did was by their orders in their interests. But in the Gestapo in the Prinz Albert Strasse (Headquarters in Berlin) a protocol was written out in my connection with the Abwehr, and the Russians have possibly found all the papers now (AOB: quite likely true). Because even the SAD papers of Berlin, we? (they the Russians?) have read, Gestapo protocols of the year 1935 were found. So if they see my name there and communicate with the Czechs, of course that at once are interested in me. The Russians have communicated with the Czechs because I was described as a Czechoslovakian (genuinely Sudeten Austrian born far before the end of WW I) subject. Because at this time, of course, I was a Czech subject (due to the aftermath of WW I). Because at this time, of course, I was a Czech subject, and though I did not work against Czechoslovakia, my working for Germany was also a crime (AOB: as were, for instance, the Alsatians and Lotharingeninans versus France!) - a minor crime but still punishable.

F. It can be. Or perhaps something may have happened to Raschitski or Lobek?witz or to connections they had in London or England, and that something has penetrated from this cause. The third and that something has penetrated from this cause. The third reason is nothing else than, you see, the Czech must identify the Germans, must pay the onus of what they have taken away. But there is a stipulation that all those people that are found guilty of a crime against the state, they can take it without.

And so it is very easy to put someone in prison and find 20 or 30 testimonies against him.

J. But when you say something has penetrated from Lobkowicz and Ratschitsky, in what sense penetrated?

F. Well, they found out that I have done espionage work. Not Lobkowitz?, because his name I have read two months ago. he was in Belgrade at at a Pan-Slavic conference.

J. But you don't think it's possible that Ratschitski (KV 2/240 .. KV 2/241), in order to save himself, has accused you?

J. Because one or both my think that you are much safer in Czech hands, from their point of view, than you could be in British or - as you are - in American hands.

F. It is a possibility of which I have been thinking. I don't believe it personally.

J. It often happens that people find different interpretations in different situations.

F. And there is a fourth possibility. You say yourself that so many officers of the OKW were either during the war or after - were working for the Allies, or now after the war they told everything. (AOB: the US controlled "Organisation Gehlen" later known as "Bundesnachrichtendienst" in Pullach)

J. I must tell you, there is no exception. Whatever you hear from them personally, every single German officer, professional or not, tells everything.

J. Why? They are intelligent, because they say to themselves, if I don't tell it somebodyelse tell it.

F. You didn't quite understand. I mean to accuse somebody who, by this accusation may come into peril. For instance, somebody in Berlin who knew me and knew I had been working in 1937 or 1938 already. They they may be taken prisoner by the Russians, because I am a lot of them have. For instance, ?Karsthoff (Ludivico one Leiter KO Portugal). I have now heard that he has died.

J. But may I interrupt? Things you hear - in your report to Mr. Newham you have mentioned things which you can't believe yourself. You must know that is complete rubbish to think→ that a man like Reinbaben has returned to Portugal. You know it's nonsense. (AOB: really no prove). (Mr. Johnson didn't was aware as most of his country men, Britain no longer rule the world)

that a man like Reinbaben has returned to Portugal. You know it's nonsense. (Mr. Johnson wasn't aware, as most of his country men, Britain no longer rule the world)

F. Because This (?my) wife, you see - (AOB, no British contrary proof being brought).

J. He'd never be allowed either by the Allies - because although he's an old man and gaga - he'd never be allowed to go to Portugal. (were these according Allies God?). Secondly, the Portuguese Salazar would never like him there. He knows quite well that he has been working for the Gestapo (no jurisdiction there) and so on. Thirdly, you say about Abwehr officers who have returned to Spain..

J. You can't believe it yourself. You know the spaniards are in a very difficult mess, because they don't know how decently to get rid of them all, and now Franco is wobbling, he would be the last man to admit a man who is smelly. (AOB: Mr. Johnson is dreaming as Britain would have wanted it to be; but the true situation was quite different. Those supporting Spain from the Revolutionary episode onwards, could under circumstances, against fear British resistance remain living in Spain. Think of Kuehlenthal KV 2/102 (PF 600733).

F. He was in Barcelona. He was not an officer, a small man. He just worked in the office.

F. No he was in Asberg. She heard he was released in June. He is in Barcelona and his wife is here. They got a letter from Spain that "Treter is back, that's only what I hear. But Bracun certainly came to see my wife - but he was a small man, a poor fellow, very small fly??. He earned his living after the little wood carving which he sold from house to house.

J. But that is beside the point. I just wanted to make it clear to your that there is no use indulging in the thoughts that you are a particular martyr, because you're not. (one looser is predicting towards the other) And the main thing is you to tell the whole truth, and then see what happens.

F. I don't believe Karsthoff, but certainly a dozen or more officers taken by the Russians who knew me may have made statements mentioning my name, and of course they would be sent to the Czechs.

J. But the Czechs know you as I read to you - and these were from information conveyed in 1940 from the Czech - they know the Fidrmuc clan mainly as fervent, hot Nazis, and of course they knew the rest too, because I mean about you, because the Czechs had their own people in Lisbon during the whole war. You know some of them probably.

F. I didn't mix - (AOB: Fidrmuc prevented to mix-up with Germans, as well as Czechs in Lisbon during the war.)

J. I am asking you asked, for instance, you mentioned a Abwehr officer and you called him Svoboda or something similar, and I noticed bt that that you must speak Czech, because you mixed up two Czech names. The man you meant is Sokol (Hans I-M), the successor of Bendixen (@ DIAZ) (Leiter I-M KOP)

F. I would say, about my complaint. It is that I have been one year shut up. Your mind is not the same.

J. I have nothing to do with it, but Mr. Newham. out of courtesy, showed me your letters, and I have used it a peg and hang a few remarks about your luck in escaping being hanged by the Germans.... (He is bluffing again!)

F. That must be from tghe KOP. You see, I have no idea of the agents cover names, with the exception of one or two, the KOP did not tell me.

F. There is nothing to learn. you put it under a microscope and look through it.

F. No, and I think it is very difficult for an agent to use it. It is far more useful from Berlin to the agent; for the agent to microphoto requires in the house which would be very dangerous.

J. Yes, I see ... You said again in your statement that you don't know who Ballhorn is? (AOB: it was the alias of Hans Brandes a half Jewish German, towards the end of the war)

J. He is the man who was maintaining the link with Switzerland. and going to do it with you together.

F. I had nothing to do with Switzerland/ There was a plan at the end of 1944 that I should transfer to Switzerland, and that was proposed by Berlin, and I said that is nonsense, because what can I do in Switzerland? To build up the relay of communications in 1944 was absolutely impossible.

J. Tell me - on 5th September 1944 according to the Berlin records (actually meant the British RSS decrypted Bletchley Park intercepts), Madrid sent a note to Frederici (Leiter K.d.M./KOP) and Schreiber (Leiter I K.d.M./KOP) for you asking the Madrid Embassy has been instructed to assist Ostro to the most utmost in connection with Reichsstelle Chemikalien. (AOB: as this message cannot be traced in the KV 2/201-2 serials; it might be subject in Hans Brandes file series (KV 2/3295)

F. Again, you see, I wanted to go to Spain. I applied for a visa in August. (AOB: granted on 11.9.1944; see Isk 115673 of 14.9.1944)

F. I went far later than I wanted, I went only in December. The Reichsstelle Chemikalien is this. Because Dr. Beck (L2063 L2063return) was this office, and he was Wirtschaftsführer in the Industrie Chemikalien and when I was in Spain I had, of course, to justify my staying in Spain. So I had to do some business, and so it was planned that the Reichsstelle Chemikalien should give me the job to give these various chemical companies - because import and export was ceased with France when it was occupied (liberated by the Allies), but there was quite a lot of business transacted in Spain. And that was to be my camouflage. But it was not realised. (AOB: likely because there, for various reasons, were no transport routes left open)

J. Now, I have something else, but I don't want to leave anything out. Could you make, please, for tomorrow, a similar detailed report about Mos (Near East) as you have about Tor.

F. Not to Taormina (Sicily), to Rome. I was there for 6 days in 1944 (not 1943 and then before July 1943???). At that time I stayed in Taormina for 6 days.

J. I'll tell you why. There are different things. We found in Berlin a message (AOB: most likely bluff or a cover-story; no RSS trace found in the September 1944 ??) sent to you from Egypt.

J. Lisbon sent it on to Berlin on the 11th September 1944. (AOB: no trace found in the RSS intercept collection)

J. It left Egypt on the 1st September 1942. I'm just giving you that for your article on it. In other words, it took ten days from Egypt to Lisbon. Could you explain exactly how these messages were sent, also to which addresses? They can't have been sent to the Centro Turismo.

Without transcribing these lines, please consider the lines: Berlin-Taormina we can notice that information about Egypt being dealt with.

7.9.42 Berlin→Lisbon. For Ludovico (von Karsthoff his alias) (Leiter KO Portugal) for Heribert (= Oblt. Otto Kamler) for Skapura (von Carnap?). Company contact not understood at this end (Berlin) owing to lack of supplementary information.. We have not received any advice as to settlement of most urgent Ostro (Fidrmuc) questions as W/T message no 280 (not to hand) (nicht vorhanden) HIOB (sender) Andreas.

24.9.42 Lisbon→Berlin. To Andreas (likely Referat I in Berlin) for Wernik. I acknowledge receipt of No. 85 Report of remittance via AGK received here impossible form. Reported in detail in our courier letter. Confirm receipt with sincere thanks of Senior (= Admiral Canaris heading OKW Amt Ausland/Abwehr) letter and yours of 8 and 17/9. Will be submitted to Ostro in Kanzlei (Chancellery) (Legation?) in the course of the next few days. In better sprits and recovered in health. Work taken up again energetically. Skapura. Ludovico (alias of Leiter KO Portugal). Heribert (= Oblt. Otto Kamler)

28.9.42 Berlin→Lisbon. For Ludovico. Pay 3200 escudos to Ostro. Make adjustment ZF I 1 (Zahlmeister = Paymaster) HIOB (= Heer I Ost Berlin)

J. Now, you said they were not forwarded to Toarmina (I have found some messages forwarded to Taomina. But not matching exactly to the given date of 28th of 1942); perhaps not for you but for whom?

F. In '42 I was in Italy. (AOB: as well as in 1940 when he lived there to a while.)

J. But I am speaking of 1942. Who sent that on to Taormina? Because it's a note on that message "Nach Taormina weiter befördert" (AOB: for a while Kesselring's HQ was located about Taormina)

J. But did you send on from Lisbon - it was not. this particular message, it was not very hot. Did you send it on by courier?

F. No, why should I? I sent all my reports. to berlin. from wherever I was. But it is quite possible that from KOP they sent to other places, I don't know.

F. Yes, but not exactly from West Africa. Because one case Falus (the Hungarian Jew) told me - you know the Portuguese colony Pasao - some principality of Portuguese Guinea, and there was dense traffic between these colonies. People going there and they came to Lisbon and spoke with Lisbon people, and once Falus → told me what he had heard about Freetown and Sierra Leone,

told me what he had heard about Freetown and Sierra Leone, how the convoys arrived and were composed; and that is not the only one I heard.

F. He had business - he was in the company - Afrique Occidentale - supplying cognac to Freetown.

F. Not directly, but Mos had all over the Near east, he had representatives of the Iman of Yemen, and I think I even mentioned it in my report. I had once a report on the Royal Air Force stationed and squadrons in Khartoum.

F. No, that would be very far out - they went to Eritrea before Abyssinia was occupied by the English.

J. Yes. Do you remember a special message. I want to know if you got that from Tor or not. When you said it was on the - you sent it, according to these Berlin files, from Lisbon, on the 16th October '42, and you had received, on the 16th October 1942, and you had received, on the 13th October, and that was that there would be a repetition of the Dieppe raid.

F. I never reported a repetition, only the contrary. But that must be that I said there would be no raid on Dieppe any more. I know very well that Berlin asked me once, gave me instructions to communicate with England whether there was a possibility of another raid on Dieppe.

J. Now. did you get that from Mos? A long report which we saw there, sent in August 1942 - a very long report on Egypt. ?????

F. Yes, but that I reported quite often. It can be that there was a report in August 1942.

F. Yes. For instance, he sent samples in sample packs of half-kilos - coffee or something. It was in double packing with straw, white paper. This was excellent writing paper, you could easily put 7 - 8 - 900 words on it.

J. You never put diplomatic luggage? (AOB: omitting here the fact of German diplomatic bags directed from Lisbon towards Berlin v.v.)

F. No, that told us everything in this report about secret writing. Have you nothing to add to it?

F. Yes, that was a very big company, very important. If I am not mistaken, the pulp from Canada and they had a big paper mill.

F. No, but I bought her paper. You can see in the water mark, it was on sale in Lisbon.

F. The only case was when I got in Copenhagen in connection with Ruf (French contact). And points were not yet cut out

F. They took it, but they didn't show it to me, but I am quite sure they developed it.

F. No, I got it from Berlin to hand it over to Ruf, who intended to pass through Copenhagen.

AOB: I would like to skip some pages, as its content is becoming boring currently.

J. Have you ever had anything to do with Brandes, Hans Brandes? (alias Ballhorn) (KV 2/3295, PF 607718)

F. No, but I knew him. You mean the gentleman who has a Maschinenfabrik, armaments supply. (actually owned by his Christian mother)

J. He was Ast Berlin, fat, young and half-jew. (in such a case, he likely would not be called up for military service)

J. He didn't want to do military service. (AOB: The reason for being a member of Ast Berlin, was that he could travel frequently by plane, between Lisbon and Berlin v.v., up to the final weeks of the war)

F. Yes, I think so, and also he had very good relations with the Portuguese armaments officials. He was at Asperg (AOB: a bit north of Stuttgart, in the Hohen Asperg; where Fidrmuc and his wife spent some time skiing) in the Hohen Asperg. He came with Schreiber in October, by the same 'plane and when we came to Asperg in February last year he was there. (AOB: it was Fidrmuc's first time, since July 1940, that he visited Germany again. The occasion was the invitation by Obst. Hansen to come Berlin and receive his K.v.K. (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) decoration, for his contribution to the German war effort).

J. I see, you found him there. Do you know a man in Lisbon, think hard, called Peterman?

J. Now, once you said to an Abwehr officer that your key-man worked in the Portuguese Diplomatic Service.

F. Because I had no relations with him. He never gave me any news. I met him socially. I met him once or twice in the street and we exchanged greetings, but no more.

J. You said in one of your statements that you never transmitted any money to Canada at all.

J. On the 3rd November 1939 the Privat Bank Copenhagen transmitted two letters for you to the Chase National Bank of New York.

J. The one letter arranged the transfer of $500 to a man called Roberts in Canada. Who was that?

J. And the other letter concerned the journal about wire production. In this letter the Privatbank sent the bank in new York, stating that they would not in future transmit similar letters for these people.

F. 20-25 dollars was they had for me. They asked the Privatbank whether they would not cash it, and that they did, but they said they wouldn't do it in future. But $500 I never remitted. It is impossible. Could you show me the original? I had a bank account with the Dominion Bank of Canada, and that contained $9 at the outbreak of the war, and these were sequestered. But this account I used for my contribution fees from MacGill Publishing Corporation of Toronto, and I wrote for it with Canadian machinery, and they invited me to go to Canada in 1940 - before the war - to lecture, but the war out.

J. I want to give you three addresses which you know. This goes back to August '42, and first of all I mentioned already Dr. Irmgard Tiedtke (gives address) Hamburg.

J. Yes, you told me. Do you know Mrs. Margareth Bensch, Luitpoldstr. 1 Berlin, W.30?

F. There is no such person existing. When I went to Copenhagen in 1939 I was told that in case, for instance, there would be a postal address in Berlin.

F. But the person not really existing, just arrangement with the post and I could write there.

F. Certainly not. She died in November last year. My wife corresponded with her from Copenhagen, from wherever she was.

J. Well, on the 2nd October 1939 you sent a telegram, to Mosberg, Allerter House 193, East 30 Street, Room 1025 New York. You said you had absolutely nothing to do with this man. On the 16th October you sent ... (gives both telegram addresses).

F. That is possible. Mosberg I didn't know him first of all, I never met him. I did not know these details.

J. But you admit that for a man whom you don't remember at all and with whom you said never had anything to do, this is quite a lot to send him these telegrams and arrange for $500 to be transferred to his account?

J. But that is not quite convincing. Why should you be saddled - why shouldn't DAZ pay him direct?

F. Without the Abwehr, yes, but with the Abwehr no. You know what conditions were in Germany. For instance, if you wanted to send money for a journalist, you had to pay into a special Journalists' account. It was the same in Portugal. You know how long they had to wait till they got their money.

J. This means that in order to avoid this the Abwehr asked you to advance the money from your Abwehr money, in order that this man should not go without, and the moment the DAZ paid him, you got your money back. That's what it mounts to.

F. Because if I do it through the bank and through me it must become out. If I pay through the Chase bank to an Abwehr agent.

F. because it was very good for me. because I would have got the money to Denmark, to clearing took only a week or ten days, and from Denmark it took about the same, say a fortnight from Berlin to New York, instead of six or eight weeks.

F. Because when he is there I should have got interesting reports with the right to use it.

F. No, but I supported Dr. Six of the DAZ proposed this to me. He said "You get reports from the USA for which I give you the copyright for the Giradedet Press in west Germany. You don't use your money on it, because we send you the money, will you do this favour?" I said "Yes." But say, if the Abwehr had proposed to me to use Mosberg, I certainly would not have used him in wartime, when all letters are opened. Every letter to the Chase Bank is opened. by the English, because all the mail from Copenhagen was controlled.. The name would have been known immediately. It would have been most foolish thing to do. And always correspond with open letters.

J. We'll leave it for the moment. You mention Dr. Six. You know quite well that Dr. Six later on had his own intelligence service.

F. I'm sorry, I have not been in communication with him since the outbreak of war.

J. You know he was head of what was called the Büro Six. He was in Portugal during the war, and ran his intelligence under Himmler. (AOB: likely meant Amt VI headed by Schellenberg) (KV 2/94...KV 2/99; PF 600651)

F. Perhaps later on, but at my time - if he had any time, why us me to adopt what was a foolish way from the intelligence view to contact Mosberg with everything open?

J. You know that Schellenberg himself has given a very long account of the whole Büro Six. He had one of the diplomatic services.

F. You could read my report on the DAZ, every week I wrote the Wirtschaftsreport. I knew Dr. Six from the journalistic point of view.

J. Do you mean Silex? (It was eventually decided that he did mean Silex). Does Silex know you well?

F. He knows me personally not well. You yourself probably know me better. He knew me only as a contributer to his (DAZ) paper.

J. You pronounce the name Schlosler, He owned a factory in Paris called Production of Machinery part for motor cars and aeroplanes.

F. Because immediately that war broke out Sweden got most of the business from the German market, and there were quite a lot of French subjects going.

J. Why did you try and help Mrs. Saberfeld,? Falus' fiancée - you declared yourself prepared to get a visa. Why?

F. By doing her a favour I did a great favour to Falus. It costs me nothing, I only said to Schreiber (Leiter I KO Portugal) or Garsthoff (Leiter KOPortugal) "Please see that Miss Sabbelfeld gets the visa.

No. Falus wanted to get his finance to Portugal. He said she was crying. You know Falus is half-Jew (but an Hungarian) and didn't want anything to do with the German authorities, and asked me to go to the Legation; and then he was very grateful to me when she came.

F. Miss Saberfeld got engaged in London, and she went to Sweden and he to Portugal - the sister, no.

F. That may be, but he told me, for instance, just that there came a gentleman from London and he said this and that. Of course, he had connections with the Allied people.

J. He was friendly, Falus (Hungarian), with certain officials from Messrs. Thomas Cook.

J. You know that. Now were they concerned with your letters. Did they help with your letters?

F. No. but Cook in Lisbon, I had a Portuguese/Spanish called Martinez, but he was in the ticket office in Lisbon.

F. I asked him to give me letters and propaganda material, but I never told him I was in the Abwehr - gave him little presents.

F. No, quite certain. I knew I had one in Italy, called Wessely. He went for the Abwehr to the US later on. I contacted him in Italy, and he was sent eventually to America.He was the man who spoke the most languages I ever heard, he spoke thirteen. He was from my home-town, Lündenburg.

J. You won't forget - you have for the moment nothing for tomorrow? I'll tell you later. You mentioned an agent called Sir. You remember.

J. Now is that man - there was a famous Czech in Russia who was a revolutionary, a professor Nejedly 70 years old. This man was younger?

F. Yes, he sent reports - got the permission, which I have explained, - reports to Ironmonger, London.

F. Yes, and Ironmonger in London cut out - they used what they → wanted for their own files, and put in a paragraph - that the steel production in June was so much. There were only six or seven or eight lines, and then they sent me the report to Hamburg, because there was far more in the report which perhaps was not interesting for their publication, but perhaps interesting for the journal. And on the back was written secret information, in secret ink.

wanted for their own files, and put in a paragraph - that the steel production in June was so much. There were only six or seven or eight lines, and then they sent me the report to Hamburg, because there was far more in the report which perhaps was not interesting for their publication, but perhaps interesting for the journal. And on the back was written secret information, in secret ink.

J. And you don't know if he was run by the SD later? (AOB: quite stupid still, that even in 1947, they weren't educated that it did not concern the SD (Amt III and/or Amt IV) - though Amt VI or later Amt Mil / Mil Amt)

F. No, but one thing is certain, that this name was not known in Berlin. I haven't given his name to anybody in Berlin.

F. I don't know, I'm sorry. At least, I mean not heard any connection. I may have heard his name years ago, but I don't know in what connection.

J. Now ~~Kammler~~ (Kamler). Kamler received American papers from a friend in Pan-American Airways.

F. Kamler did not tell me from whom he got papers. He sometimes told me things about his work, but not of his friend. You mean newspapers? I never heard of that.

F. He is an importer, German-born who was later (Portuguese?) naturalised. He was married to a Portuguese and worked for G. Brucker-Traus and was our agent in Portugal for buying fish. I knew him personally. He is an elderly gentleman about 60.

J. Now you mention in a report to Mr. Newham that restaurant and a Russian; you mean Dimitri Wolff.

F. Yes. She lived in Parete. But I couldn't remember her name. Wolff certainly, Dimitri I don't know.

J. Now, an important thing in the business and the Abwehr work - you have never mentioned Poehner(?).

F. But he had nothing to do with Abwehr work. He was annoyed, because there was a scandal. You know, he ran away with the wife of Herr ?Harten - he was a good friend of mine. I also didn't mention him because he had nothing to do with the Abwehr work and neither did Boener. You see, I've never - also for the Abwehr - small reports from dozens of different people, I never used one German. But Poener (?) was there, and I was buying fish oil and other oils, and he was a very nice chap, only afterwards this scandal/ He ran always with Herr Harding's wife.

J. He was Portuguese Legão and of the Navi Brigade. He had a W/T set in his villa near Lagos.

F. I never was in his villa. He was of the Jeunesse Doree (fashionable, wealthy young people).

F. But he never went anywhere, If you knew him you know what his life was. He never went to Lisbon was always in → Estoril half-drunk.

Estoril half-drunk. He was always sailing and had ridiculous misfortunes. One day I used him as a model in one of my stories (tells story of Ferreira saying he had swallowed a coin which turned out to be an April fool (Aprilschertz).

J. Hair light brown, neck not shaved, slim build, clean-shaven, wore grey suits, well dressed, spoke excellent English with Yankee accent, slight dragging of left foot as if he had rheumatism.

F. No, I didn't notice it. I don't think his hair was light brown, but dark brown. To me it seemed so.

J. Stood very erect and usually his hands were in his pockets; hoisted his trousers and cold rather unfriendly attitude.

J. He was Sonderführer (Sdf.) of Ast Hamburg. he was used very often to represent Englishmen.

J. You know why I'm telling you that. We have honestly never made and attempt to recruit you. So I was wondering if it wasn't your old friend Kraemer (Stockholm).

J. But it was the time when they suspected you in Berlin. That was summer 1944, (AOB: likely bluff so shortly after Isk 100131!), just when these people, Posasowski and so on got together and we have never sent anybody to recruit you. A pure lie! (see further down) (O2070 ↓↓↓ O2070return)

KV 2/197, page 74b + 75c Please use for transcription the above hyperlink. ↑↑↑ (Z2092 2 pages ↓↓↓↓↓ Z2092return)

..Posadowski and and so on got together and we have never sent anybody to recruit you - We have, in the meantime, found out the Fullards office never dreamt of it. - They don't know anything about you. !!

J. They might have got hold of it early in Copenhagen. One never knows In any case.. a truly trustworthy Britain!

J. Anyhow, I wanted to tell you that it wasn't we (A great Lie!) Let us quit this great British bullshit!

Konsul Fritz Rüggeberg. Barcelona I cannot remember anyone, if I have reported on him already. Age about 72-73, a very nice old man. I liked him very much. He has a Villa in the Cale Vico, where we both were 2-3 invited. He had a son, Capt (Hptm) in the German general staff. Was at the end of the war in Prague, thereafter PW (Prisoner of War), got free end of 1945 and returned to Spain through France with false papers. Arrived in Barcelona in January 1946. The father was in the first world war camouflaged as Turkish Consul in Palma and later on Barcelona. For the German I.S. (Intelligence Service). He was before 1914 and after 1919 at the I.G. Farben, but stopped working 1936m fled to Germany entered the Spanish General Staff in 1937 as I.S. Officer against the Reds (Communists). Speciality: Russian officers in Barcelona. I know nothing of his Civil war activities, but he got 2 high Spanish medals (The Isabella and Fernando Gold medal and another). He is an old naval officer. Another son was leader of a Submarine Flotilla end of the war operating from Norway, I think he is now PW in England. During the 2nd world war, mainly in I.S. work. One of his helpers was Bacun, who was with me together as Hohenasperg (like was Hans Brandes) and returned to Spain in October (1944). Rüggebergs nome-de-guerre was Frederico. I think he was a very capable I.S. man. Broad minded, very well educated, excellent manners and in his younger years a great "man-about-town". Knew the whole world. His extradition (1945+) to Germany was refused by the Spanish. He was a personal friend of General Moscardo, Martinez Campos, Orgaz and others. Knew Franco quite well. Of his (probably many) V.Leute I doo not know any except the following: Baldur of Calle Valencia. A born Turk. had worked for "Frederico" already in first world war. Did business with France. If I am not mistaken, I mentioned him before. Baldur is probably a Russian agent now. Frederico suspected this already end of the war and warned me against him. Baldur approached me, when I was in March 1945 in the Riz Hotel (1945) and proposed business. some insignificant details made me cautious. I spoke to Frederico about him, and then came the warning. - Perhaps the one interesting fact amongst the whole Rüggeberg-complex is the following : During the war was a Russian Officer at Barcelona. In the past weeks I tried to remember his name, but could not. Only now, when I started to think of Frederico, it came back to me. It is either Piotr Gorsekev of Piotr Gorshkzew, or Gorhkov. This Russian Officer has been probably a man, whom Frederico won for Franco in 1938, or early 1939. The rank I do not know, but I suppose at that time a Capt, or Major. This Russian officer was during the war not in Russia but abroad and was "geführt" by Kühlenthal (KV 2/102) of Madrid. He is supposed to have been a very good man. In any case he was not under Frederico's orders, but under Kühlenthals. Frederico "handed him over" to Kühlenthal. Why, I don't know. I also do not know, where the Russian was. I suppose in one of the English speaking countries.

I will explain, how I came to know. A complete list of all Russian officers, who had served in 1936-39 at Barcelona was shown to my by Obst. Hansen in 1944. The reason was this : It was supposed by Obst, Hansen, that amongst these officers was one who had been in Rome in 1940, had lived in the Pension Milton under another name. The list showed photos and names. I could not find that I had seen one of them before. Amongst them was also an officer with the above name. One of the last days before the capitulation of Germany I went to Frederico. Inquired whether → he had direct news,

or something for me and so on. Of course everybody was very exited. The consulate like a bee-lysine Frederico was very depressed, I too. He was packing and destroying all he had in his coffre-fort (Tresor) . Burning papers etc. etc. he said to me : Well I hope my agents will get through somehow and not be caught. He took one envelope after the other destroyed it and said Nothing important in it, but better is better. Than he showed me a group Russian officers standing in front on the Plaza Cataluna near the Hotel Colon, before it was destroyed. I recognized one face and asked him (Frederico), who it was, told him wasn't Obst. Hansen has said to me. He mentioned the name. I replied : Yes, that is the same. How does it come in your files? He never had spoken to me before of anything, what concerned his network, but now, the capitulation is inevitable and ? so existed, he said ; "ein ausgezeichneter V. Mann, aber nicht für mich gewesen. Habe ihn kurz vor Zusammenbruch Kataloniens ergattert. Er was eine große Nummer bei Kühlenthal (KV 2/102). "After a while he said " Ein Jammer, daß er so schlecht englisch spricht." I did not ask any questions. I am certain, that Frederico is now cooperating with the Spanish in anti-Russian C.I. (Central Intelligence)

(AOB: this might have been the very reason why Spain did refuse against strong US pressure to expel Frederico)

Dr. Wißmann. Newspapers report, that Dr. W. Presseattaché in Lissabon committed suicide in Portugal. He had fled from an internee Camp and was hiding. I do not think, that Dr. W. was connected with the Abwehr, but he was very great friend of von Breisky and Nassenstein (Adolf, Chief SD Portugal). I did not know him personally except I think once I was presented to him through Dr. Eckert, when I was in the Legation.

Felipe. I have reported on a meeting in the Posada of Elvas with Obstlt. von Engelhorn (Karl Heinz; murdered after the assassination attempt on Hitler on 20 July 1944). I remember the following incident there. TOR (AOB: a source I do not trust) had sent a report on a new type of airports. Extremely long, I think 2 1/4 or 2 ½ English miles, but rather narrow and with side connections (Zufahrtstrassen) 4, or 5 on the whole length Anglia counties. Berlins opinion was that those were not airports but "Startbahnen" for some sort of V1 rockets, which the Allied of my reports were constantly "supervised" (überprüft) through Felipe. Felipe - so said "ein Roter") in good position. Not all of them, but those which were doubtful. Von E, said, that Felipes had wireless communication with his man. He told me also the nome de guerre of this man, but try as I will, I cannot remember. He told me: "your report on the extra long airfields has now been fully confirmed by Felipes London man. Your man was correct. We also have now other confirmation by our reconnaissance aeroplane photos." I do not know who Felipe was. Naturally somebody in the Madrid Abwehr. I am certain, that name? will be known here.

Tor. I have (AOB, As I don't trust the Tor aspect, I prefer to skip this section.

Diplomatic mail. I never used it (but it might have been employed by KOP as to convey some of Fidrmuc's reports). Perhaps the following incident is of interest. In Spring 1944 the diplomatic mail service between England and abroad was stopped (about mid April 1944). Ordinary air-mail greatly delayed, or at certain intervals entirely hold back. Reviews, newspapers, parcels, printing material continued (if there was nothing written on it). Just before Ludovico (von Karsthof(f) (was an alias) left Portugal (AOB: meant was replaced by Obstlt Dr. Rudolf. Frederici; however due to difficulties caused by the Allied landings in Brittany; he left somewhere in August 1944) he commented on the stoppage of diplomatic mail with England very angrily and said: this is a great nuisance. Now, in this moment! The diplomatic mail with Brazaville still works, but what do I get out of these bags? Insignificant things ! Rubbish ! .."

Sir (?). It is improbable, that Sir entered the German I.S. later on again. Anyhow his wide, living in Hodonin had no news from her husband in spring 1944. Now it will be different.

In this connection I remember the following incident : In October 1939 I went from Kopenhagen to Berlin. Discussed situation etc. amply with (Major) Pruck, Piekenbrock, Canaris. Major Pruck proposed the following : He had an excellent man in Poland. He had been in the Staff of the X. Polish Army Corps. he had fled to Romany, as so many other Polish officers. Pruck wanted to use him against Russia The name was Dombrovski, Christian name and rank I cannot remember, but I think Lt.Col. I can remember the name so well, because my Commander 1918 of the 44th Sturm-Battalion, in which I commanded the 2nd Company was a Capt. Dombrovski, also a Pole. However they were not identical. This man of Pruck had served in an Austrian Ulan Regiment 1914-16, later on in the Polish Legion under Austrian Command. His nome- de - guerre was "Ossip". He had been in communication with the German Abwehr by wireless, also during the (German) September Campaign. Pruck proposed, that I should "führen" Ossip from Kopenhagen. Wireless was of course was excluded, h asked me, whether I could prepare a plan, how to work with him together. I should but submit the plan for approval and than a meeting could be arranged with Ossip in Germany in November, or December. I agreed to it under the condition, that I could 100% as I chose and nobody else should have to mix in it. Back at Kopenhagen I worked out a plan, submitted it. It was accepted. I should have met Ossip end of November at Rostock. However I was arrested and the whole scheme came to nothing. I never heard again of Ossip and what has become of him. from Italy and Portugal of course- impossible to lead the man, from Kopenhagen it would have been possible.

False statement summer 1946. I wish to say one more the following : (P2071 P2071return) On February 10th (1944) we arrived at Asperg.. I was ill. Had high fever (Malta fever) stayed three weeks in Hospital. Two days after arrival were had to dictate to other internees our Questionnaire. Those internees who had been connected with the Abwehr were instructed (Befohlen) to write an annex to the Qustionnaire, in which they should tell their activities. I refused this. I had mentioned to my fellow interneed in the 'plane and at Asperg, that I knew nothing of Abwehr matters. I did not wish to broadcast my work - as most did. Writing the annexe would mean to inform all the other internees of what I was and what I did. Everything leaked through. So - inspite of high fever and the doctors warning - I dressed and was after much waiting admitted to the C.I. Officer Lt. Rosalinski. I told him the following :

1.) I was connected with the Abwehr but did not wish to write about it in an annexe, which would go to my files and be read by everybody.

2.) I would make a statement in writing and also speaking, on condition, that it would be kept confidential by the Interrogating officers and not be put into my files.

But I was not. 6 weeks later I was sent to the War Crimes Camp, with extradition pending.

I do not want to go in more details, but I must state only this : If I would have been interrogated one year ago, I would have said, what I knew, always under condition, that I would be kept secret and my agents not be molested. Also I would have had the faculty of remembering far more, than now. The month of strain have shaken me and also the treatment here. (AOB: apparently talking on the actual state of affairs in the US Camp 076)

For example. On June 4th a prisoner fled.* Only because in my cell No 24 the wall paper was damaged*, I was awakened during 10 days every ½ hour, day and night. Guards coming in, looking at me, going out. I was half crazy after that period. The windows were shut completely, the air suffocating. It was a typical third degree. I thought it was ordered by the Interrogation. After 10 days I fainted. Only by interference of the doctor it was ordered that the window be opened and that I was not to be awakened every half hour. Sergeant Chaves said "this man can stand this no longer anymore.

I was expecting extradition at any moment. My thoughts focussed on the only idea: If the Czecks read my statement regarding Abwehr activity I am lost with 100% certainty. If I deny it, there is still a chance. I did not think of anything else. I have seen my files in hand of the Czeck Liaison Officer Ludwigsburg when he was at Zuffenhausen in April (1946?).

Reports. I have never wilfully (or purposely) made any "fabricated" reports to Berlin. That a certain percentage was incorrect was known to me. It could not be avoided. This percentage was far greater in reports collected from local (Lisbon) sources than from agents. Perhaps the following is known from found material (RSS intercepts?) " I have various time informed Berlin, that I kept a great deal back, what I get to learn from local sources, because it seemed to me too doubtful. Berlin replied : report everything, even if it is gossip, rumours and doubtful. But I did not→follow this suggestion, partially because it would have been too much extra work.

Major Paul. Barcelona. He was at Asperg, same time I was and refused there to tell anything (names of V. Leute etc). I don't know when he was released. I think in August (1944) (AOB: not yet noticed in the context of Fidrmuc's vagueness - that he should have been released maximally say one week before the 20th April 1944, as he received his K.V.K. Class 2 at Obst. Hansen's private house, at Rangsdorf on the south border of Berlin) (by the way: Hitler's birthday)

From Berlin I got the following instructions, before leaving for Barcelona (December 1944 and/or 16th March 1945) : Under no case whatsoever I must meet Major Paul, or even bbe seen with him, or speak with him. Von Carnap (then Vasco?) signed this letter personally and made the following P.s. ink (approx wording) : Major P. had informed the Abwehr (unsere Stelle) daß Obst. Hansen verraten wollte (but Obst. Hansen had been hung in early September 144 at Plötzensee Prison already)

Prinz Ernst Ratibor. Died in December 1945. Married to Anna Grace (niece of F. Grace, founder of Grace Shipping Lina California). Millionaire. In the Grace Trust Fund doted with approx 2 Million Dollars. Was blacklisted, though being related to President of Peru who intervened in her favour in Washington. My wife (Ragmor) is a third cousin of her. Her mother comes from Ireland with Danish ancestors. She did not get any money from the USA since 1943. They had to sell Jewellery, made debts. He was very well connected with the Baron Hühne-Hoyingen (Höhne?), the German Minister. He acted for him as a diplomatic informant. He had friend particularly amongst the Latin American Ministers, I mention this case for the following reasons. The Ratibors were one of our best personal friends in Estoril. I lend him money in 1944, total approx 15,000 Escudos, repayable after the war, he died. I asked my wife to communicate with her and to ask her to send my sister Care packets from the USA. As all my private → affairs are known,

affairs are known, it may rise suspicion, if I do not tell this, though it has absolutely nothing to do with Abwehr- matters. Ratibor was also a close friend of Baron Friesen, but he had nothing to do at all with the Abwehr.

Ludovico (von Karshof(f) alias of Obstlt.Wilhelm Cremer/Craemer von Auenrode, Leiter KO Portugal until April/May 1944) I knew of the following agents of him by talks, advices etc.

5.) was in Legation, with great probability (I explained the reason) in Yugoslavia.

c.) Ivan (Iwan I) in England. I did not know that it was Jebsen. (AOB: it wasn't - as 'Iwan I' was Popov (Tricycle) KV 2/847..KV 2/866; PF 55032)(notice https://www.cdvandt.org/kv-2-560-wrede-artist.htm) d.) Maco, or Makko, or Mago in Malta (La Valette). Communication was maintained via Gibraltar, but I do not know any more details. I remember this name now in connection with the question as regards Taormina. If I remember well, I have heard that once Ludovico was in touch with the German Luftwaffe H.Q. in Sicily, because a very important report had come from Malta and to avoid delay, he communicated directly with the H.Q. If I am not mistaken the H.Q. was at Taormina. (Was it Kesselring's H.Q.?) Therefore the circumstance, that a report from Lisbon to Taormina was intercepted in 1942, can be such a communication between Ludovico and the Luftwaffen H.Q. mentioned to me, that an attack on Malta was planed, or in stage of execution and later on that Hitler had abandoned the plan.

e.) an air pilot on the Lisbon Tanger- Casablanca route, of which the nome-de-guerre was either Sabini, or Sabiniani, or similar.

I know that amongst others, he has written down also some details of the Italian S.I.M. (Italian Military Security Service) (in his manuscript still in Portugal). Once he told me the following : Italy had up to 1942 an air(line) service between Rome-Algier-Dakar (or Canary Islands), Pernambuco- Rio de Janeiro. Italy got Mica (Glimmer) from Brazil. (AOB: I get the strong impression, that this text was genuinely written by Fidrmuc himself) This Mica was used for communicating I.S. reports from Brazil and other South American States to Italy. But he did not tell me, how and in what way this was done and I have no idea, how the Mica could serve such a purpose. (AOB: In peacetime days the bulk of mica (Glimmer) originated from India; during the war lower quality mica was obtained from Yugoslavia)

Mail England. The following is absolutely private. Mentioned only in case to avoid suspicion. On June 22nd 1941 (The German invasion into Russia, known as "Unternehmen Barbarossa") I saved the life of Mrs. Mary Johnson. It was on the Pria da Adraga. She got badly hurt, but recovered, I was also hurt. Not necessary to go into details. She was American borne, married to a Mr. Johnson in Glagow, Scotland employed in a ship yard (Barrow). At that time Capt of the Glyde Patrol Guards (Coastal patrol service) or something similar. Mrs. J. stayed about three weeks in Hospital. End of July (1941) I got a letter from Glascow to my address (Chalet Igloo) in which her husband wrote at length and expressed his thanks and usual things. I replied a short note. In August a parcel arrived from Glasgow containing a Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. J. with 2 children and greetings. I acknowledged receipt. That ended the correspondence. I would not have mentioned this. But as apparently everything is known, I do not want to bring Mrs. J. in undue suspicion.

Ruf. If it is not known, that Max Gruber was an agent of mine and lived in Annecy in 1943, this can mean only one thing. Ruf has been arrested by the French and perhaps executed. As the Abwehr did not know who Ruf was and where he lived and I myself had never told anybody, except now, there is only one conclusion : 1.) either he volunteered to the French after 1943/44 and somehow managed to explain his activity by misleading tales to the Deuxieme Bureau (French Secret Service), or made himself suspicious and was caught and told everything. Shosler did not know from me, that Ruf was an agent, but I cannot say, whether Ruf had not told Shosler and was betrayed by him. This would explain also the fact that I could not contact Ruf in 1944.

Tutein. I mention the following by the same reason as Ratibor/Johnson. A. Tutein had an import business in New York. Knew him since 1931. Twice acted as assistance for him, when he wanted to buy charcoal iron in Sweden for the USA. He knew me through the 'Iron Age' (an American Industrial periodical fore which Fidrmuc contributed on iron industrial matters). In the war he was in the OPA. I read once in a review, that he was head of the iron steel section of the OPA in Washington. In 1940 he wrote to me to Lisbon. Wanted to know details on the proposed construction of the tinplate mill near Port (Portugal) (on which I had reported in the 'Iron Age'). Correspondence stopped in 1941. We were on good personal relations, because in 1936 he came to the Olympic Games and I was skiing with him in March 1936 in the Silvretta Mountains, Tyrol (Austria), after the Winter Olympiade of Garmisch (south of Munich / München). An adventure there in a snow storm in night I mentioned in an evening lecture at Hohenasperg and was subsequently asked for more details on it by the local C.I. officer Lt. Rosalinski. Tutein had nothing to do whatsoever with Abwehr and I never used him for any information. I maintain correspondence all the years through. He often asked my advice about the 'pig iron market' conditions and similar points in Europe.

Mosberg. If Mosberg was really an Abwehr man and Silex of the DAZ also, it shows only how stupid the Abwehr sometimes acted, when they permitted that I remained in contact with him. because I mentioned to the Abwehr in writing, that I would probably get Newspaper reports from Mosberg, but the Abwehr never reacted. It seems to me now, that the whole world was nothing else than Abwehr people. I would mention only the following circumstance as illustration, how curiously sometimes Abwehr officials behaved. Early in October 1939 I went from Kopenhagen to Berlin for 2-3 days only. I asked Berlin for the following: I will take all reports in typewriting with me, instead of deliver it to the Legation. Instruct the Custom officer cautiously on the Danish-German Ferry boat, that they should not visitate my luggage too carefully. I do not want, that some custom official takes the papers and makes a fuss over it. On the Ferry boat was the joint Danish German passport officers. I stood in the files. When I approached the German Officer (at which side the Danish Police officer sat), he took my passport and said loud : you are Mr. P.F. step by side, not necessary for you to pass through the custom. Everybody looked at me. The Danish Police officer made a note. Everybody thought, of course, that something curious was going in me and interest focussed on me. I learned, that the Danish Officer reported this case to Kopenhagen and this aggravated the suspicion against me.

The KOP (= KO Portugal) used as agent the proprietor of the Lojas das Meias, Rocio Lisbon, an Austrian emigrant. The name is on my tongue, but I cannot remember it. I know this from Kamler (Oblt. Otto Kurrer @ Heribert; KV 2/1962 PF 305470) He worked in the Emigrant community (Czechs, Austrian, Belgians etc.).

Hotels. I know from Kamler's talks, that the following Concierges were on his pay-roll : Avenida Palace (a Swiss), Hotel Atlantico Monte Estoril, Hotel Victoria Lisbon and Hotel Miramar Monte Estoril. I know that efforts failed with Aviz and Palacio (Estoril). The work demanded from the Concierges were the usual (mail telefone (AOB: likely proving that this was directly derived from Fidrmuc's statement), luggage inspection etc.). (AOB: as did at least a room-maid, in Hotel du Parque in Estoril, on order of British S.I.S.) How far Ludovico gained access in the reports all Concierges gave the P.V.D.E., I do not know.

Invisible ink. I was shown also a system called "Citron". But I never used it. I cannot remember anymore how it worked. I know, that it was used in Turkey Balkans. Some drops of an ordinary Cotron fruit in water. I cannot remember how it was developed.

Kamler told me once, that they had a new system with matches. A match with red of yellow head, exactly alike an ordinary match was used for writing. Of course "dry" writing. I do not know how it was developed. This could be used only with an office, where complicated means of developing existed, i.e. not from Germany or KOP to any agent abroad. Kamler told me, that the Russians had found about it and - as probably they might have communicated existence of this system to their Allied - it was dropped in 1943.

~~Wolff~~ Wolf (Otto Wolf von Amerongen). He did big business in Portugal. His partner was Amado, as reported already. Wolf was called by the Abwehr "Erbprinz" - Kamler told me that. He was a very great personal friend of Kamler. We were often together with Wolf, for example also at Arrabida. He did not work for me, or gave me any indirect informations. His specialty was the Minister of Finance and the War Office. besides this he maintained close to Vichy-French persons and the Swiss community. In 1944/45 I had the impression, that he was working not so much for the Abwehr, but the S.S., or the S.D. (AOB: likely pointing at Amt VI / Amt Mil) The "Transport-Schmidt" was a close friend of him and also Nassenstein (AOB: Sturmbannführer / representing the Gestapo at the German Legation; and representing Amt IV).

Of Dr. Ender (in Wolf's his office) I wrote already. I remember now, that his nome-de-guerre was "Oelmann".

Mos. Tonight suddenly I hit his name. I put it on a slip of paper, lest it would slip me again. It was Ahmed Ibrahim Saruk.

Ironmonger. (letter- Carter- suspicion against me). (link to Ironmonger reference: (Q2074 Q2074return) and (R2075 R2075return) Somehow the the things don't (AOB: due to Mr. Johnson's apparent lies!) I beg to draw attention to the circumstance, that I have been asked about my letter to the Ironmonger of Sept. 3rd 1939 by the Gentleman from Portugal, before he had read my report, that this letter played a rôle in 1944

(Please digest again R2075) that I had mentioned this letter in one of my statements) (all due to a lying M.I.5 Mr. Johnson). This shows that the letter (or a copy) must have been in the hands of the Anglo/American C.I. would used the same letter is so strange, that it does not enter my mind. I could think of the following solution. Undoubtedly Ludovico had luggage, rooms etc. of English I.S. searched by his police connections. He himself hinted something one day. Perhaps he got hold of this letter, or had it copied - together with other finds. The latter was than sent to Berlin and used - later on - in the described sense. (AOB: the truth is being given mainly at R2075) In this connection I remember the following. Once, I believe → it was early in 1944,

it was early in 1944, or- if my memory for dates does not fail me - to be more exact between the 15 and 20 January 1944 he showed me "a find of the luggage of an RAF Officer, in transit through Lisbon, who stayed in the Avenida Palace Hotel and whose papers were photocopied. It is this find, which brings me on the idea, that also the Ironmonger letter might have come in the hands of Berlin the same way. (AOB: not true)

Ludovico (alias of Leiter KOP) asked me of my opinion on this Avenida Palace copy. It was as follows:

A map of : a.) Scotland appeared numerous little marks such as flags, squares, circles, hexagonal figures etc. Each containing a letter and a Figure. For example a circle and in it the Number 3 attached to "K". Below each of such marks were grouped, for example 22 Jan.44 etc. These marks were grouped very densly in the Glasgow port and the Loch of Clyde, Belfast and the Loch of Lynhe, Carlisle and 2, or 3 other smaller ports of which I forgot the names.

map b.) exactly the same ?? squares, circles etc.) red again in the Mediterranean, such as Malta, or Oran, or Casablanca, Algiers, Alexandria etc etc.

The idea of Ludovico was, that this must be ships carrying goods to the Mediterranean Theatre of war. But the dates did not fit. For example a square in Glasgow appeared at Algier only 5 days later, and a circle from Belfast in Oran 30 days later etc. The differences were most diversified.

My idea was the following (of course I do not know, whether this was correct.) : England had war material stores in Scottish - Ulster ports. Each sign unit of war material, not to troops or ships or planes. For example artillery, ammunition, supplies etc etc. The map would show the H.Q. in Malta, or elsewhere at what time this war material, needed by the British H.Q. would arrive in the ports of destination. It was a time schedule for shipment of war material and not referring to any convoys. The marks with short delivery dates were urgently required material, part of which would go by aeroplanes (Transport Command), and could not be material in bulk. To know exactly what it was would need a key. But the key was not found.

It was the only case, in which Ludovico showed me something of material "found" in luggage of English Officers in transit through Lisbon.

Abwehr-address. Except Margarethe Bensch also the following: Henriette Tanzer Berlin Fassanenstrasse (No. ?). To be used in case of need. For experimental purpose I wrote once there from Italy.

Air-Line-pilots etc. Perhaps the following may interest. The Count Schuvalow (V-Mann of Ludovico-Kamler), was a friend of a young Englishman. I forgot his name. But I can give the following details : 22-22, mother French, father was in Port- wine export trade somehow connected with Burmester of Porto. Fair complexion. about 5'9", white skinned, left arm crippled (shorter and could use it only with difficulty). His nick-name in Estoril was "bel ami". Always at the beach and with girls/ Lived for 1 - 2 years in the house adjoining the →Pensao Oceana in Cascais.

Pensao Oceana in Cascais. His mother was a friend of the Baroness (von) Friesen.

The "bel ami" was a close friend of the Dutch Airpilot Van den Vliet (the name has been mentioned frequently to me during interrogations), of whom the nickname known all over Estoril was "lobster". Whenever Lobster was in the Tamariz, or one of the Bars of Estoril with KLM, BOAC, Clipper or other allied air-line- personnel, so sooner or later "bel ami" joined them. I remember that both Lobster and bel ami and 2 Dutch airmen spent 1 night in prison in Estoril for rioting during drunkedness. It was talked all over Estoril.. Bel amie met Schowalow in his Chalet (Igloo; Ostro's residence), or elsewhere. Kamler hinted to me once? - when we were together on the beach - that bel ami was "a crack" in his "team".

Both Van den Vliet and Bel Amie were very befriended with the German emigrant Basch, or Bartsch. who was a naturalized Portuguese and curiously enough a member of the Legiao. He became well known when he made a sailing trip with the Habig girl (married to an American) and 2 other friends and disappeared near the coast of Caparica. His body was never found.

I am aware of the fact, that this gossip in part and I do not therefore want to repeat the rumours connected with this Basch-affair. but that Bel amie worked for the Abwehr (probably as sub-agent of Schuwalow) I am certain.

Erika Fischa-Grachowa. This person under this name must exist. I have read in a Spanish paper (when exactly I do not remember anymore in autumn 1945 the following notice: The UNRA has appointed Mr. Fischowa-Grachowa as her representative in the Central European Commission (or similar). Of course this sort notice interested me. It was not said, of what nationality the Lady was and where she had been during the war. Also her Christian name was not given and instead of Fischa Fischowa. However this is not unfamiliar with the Czecks.

A Czeck girl with the double name, when she marries will put the "owa" to both her names- as long as she is in Czechoslovakia, but might omit the "owa" from her first name, when she lives elsewhere. The proper reading would be "Erika Fischa, wife of Grachow".

As regards the retirement of parcels it is quite easy. Letters more difficult. But if I were in England in war time in a Hotel and tell the porter, that a small parcel (unregistered) under such and such name would arrive, nothing easier than to get it. I myself have done this a hundred times with letters in Cook agencies and elsewhere. Used a a simple "Visitenkarte". Not only that. It is not necessary for the Lady to stay at all in the Hotel. For example :

Mrs. F.G. knows that the parcel will arrive in such and such hotel/ Must she register there? not at all. She goes to the Concierge and tips him. Says I wanted to come here, but I see that all rooms are occupied (which they probably really were), I have asked my friends to send me mail here. Has something arrived? The concierge looks for the mail and hands it over. Without any slightest hesiation.

In this way I have myself obtained letters for example in the Hotel d'Angleterre in Kopenhagen and elsewhere. It is very simple.

As regards he relation with Jonouschek. Tor wrote once, that she was "very closely attached to J." the meaning must not be with absolute necessity be, that she was his mistress. There can be other explanations too. In any case age and beauty are not always essential to close relations.

In my believe, the name of E.F.-G, is not a fake name, but a real and I am sure, that when re-reading reports etc, it will be found. Another hint : In German newspapers lists of all UNRA officials, Men and females were published, I suppose autumn (1945) and summer 1946. I have not read them myself, but by going through the files, the name might be found of the European UNRA leading officials.

Nikolsburg. A contact might be established Vielguth of Lündenburg (Breslav Czech town equivalent name?) who was one of the few remaining in Lündenburg also in 1939-40 and was still there in 1944-

Leamington Spa etc. I have most carefully considered every possible explanation and beg to give the results as follows:

a.) The letter have been sent, as stated. I did not send them to other names. I beg to consider the case from the following point of view : If I would have desired to avoid explaining, how I paid Tor, or to shift any suspicion from Lobkowitz, I could thing of much simpler tales, than one, which is so easily to control. Naturally I am aware of the circumstance, that all → my statements will be checked.

AOB: As I have my doubts in respect to the Tor aspect, I will skip transcription.

Alexander. The following has nothing to do with Abwehr. I mention this, as perhaps it is known and a question may be asked.

At Barcelona we met a Lady, whom we knew from Lübeck and Hamburg, just when we got married (1923). She was born Cohn, first name Ruth,. She had married 1923 an English Officer. She was baptized Jewess. Later on lived in England and OLverseas. We had friendly meeting at Barcelona and learned, that her daughter was the famous Yvonne Alexander, 20 years old star of Ballet dances in Madrid and Barcelona. her husband was also living in Barcelona and her three other daughters too, 2 of them (twins) already married. Mr. Alexander was a Colonel, retired. He worked in an Insurance Company, had lived at Barcelona since 1939. Before he was in the English delegation of the International Control Commission of Spanish war neutrality agreement and had stayed in North of Portugal. Inspite of the circumstances, that he was English, he said, that he did not mind to meet us and we met a few times, more frequent after the collapse of Germany (8th May 1945) Our adopted daughter (Esmeralda) (her mother was Mme De Lacerda (Delacerda); Fidrmuc's great enemy and traitor; living with them in his rented house 'Chalet Igloo' in Estoril)' took some dancing and gymnastic lessons with Yvonne. They have a house at Tamariu and we went to them. Also in winter 1945-46. Yvonne was engaged to be married to the first dancer of the Paris Opera Paul Goubin. Alexander had very good relations with the British General Consulate. In winter 45-46 he told me, that he could help me. if I wished, to interfere in my favour, if an extradition should be pending to Germany, demanded by England (AOB: actually it were the Americans who commenced it). I answered, thanking him, but said, that did not want it. Mr. A. and I and also the Ladies got on very well, but we never discussed the war. They dwelled very near to our flat of 4 Jalle de Monterolas.

Garcia Bermudes de Castro. Was one of the closest helpers of Bernard (Sofinus .. Sofindus!). (AOB: KV 2/2949, Johannes Eberhard Franz Bernhardt (Bernhard) (Sofindus !) PF 602735) (He was not being expelled from Spain, albeit against strong Allied pressure, in post war days), → Lawyer.

Member of the Spanish-Port, Economic Commission. In summer 1945, when trying to establish business between Portugal and Spain (Mais- Canary Islands) I conferred with him on Clearing (AOB: concerning transactions between states and valutas (local currencies) and their mutual business. Without payment goods or services were interchanged by compensating accumulated values. Think, for example, of technical good versus foodstuff, or raw materials or other means) etc transactions. He was known to meas the man who helped Germany to get wolfram (Tungsten) from Spain, after Spain, under pressure from London had conceded to drop exports to mere 40 t monthly. He has a Finca near Irun (Spanish border town with France and Henday). The Finca borders French territories. Lorries with Wolfram arrived on a farm and were smuggled over where German Transport Columns waited for the wolfram. He did it together with Bernhard (Bernhardt). He must be know by the Spanish Abwehr people. I do not believe however that he was advisor? to the Abwehr and cooperated in money transactions, gold purchases etc. Bernhard (Bernhardt) used him widely. I do not consider him a very honest man and privately to be touched only with gloves. Made a fortune in war, spent it, gambles, has debts and is a lady-killer. He told me in summer 1945 some of his exploits on the economic field during the war, for example smuggling of mules to France for the German Army. Smuggling of merchandise out of Gibraltar to Spain and vice versa, the well known cheating of the British Embassy Madrid by Millions with a big bluff and similar things. Nothing really very interesting. He somehow had his hands also in the blockade running for the German fortress in the mouth of the Gironde (AOB: I know of, until the end of the war: Saint-Nazaires and Lorient; Brest surrendered quite quickly, due to technical problems) in spring 1945 and cooperated with the naval men of the German Embassy. He was running some boats from San Sebastian.

North-Africa. I have mentioned, that I have been asked various times by Berlin to work out plans, how to contact agents in some countries. However, always without any clues, as regards to the personality etc. I the following case however it was different.

When (he was) in Berlin March 1944, Obst. Hansen asked the following . The Abwehr Berlin was leading a good agent in North Africa. Hansen said, that he was not "geführt" by any organisation abroad, but directly in contact with Berlin. He had - according to Hansen- reported very well during and before the Invasion of North Africa (9th November 1942 at Oran) by the the Allies in November ~~1943~~ 1942. Thereafter communication became more and more difficult and stopped early in the year (1943? or 1944?). Could I think of a plan how to renew the relations? We talked this over in presence of von Engelhorn (murdered after the failed assassination attempt on Hitler of 20 July 1944 as was Obst. Hansen) (not ~~Kybarth~~ Kuebart), whose name I forgot. Hansen gave me the following details :

b.) he had been 1937-38 in the Staff of General Faucher (or Fauché), Head of the French Military Mission in prague. He had worked for Berlin (directly) in this time already. Later on in France.

c.) he had not been in the Vichey Forces in North Africa, but with the de Gaulle Forces and apparently in a good position in England and in direct communication from there- though in great intervals - with Berlin.

I said, I would think this over. About 1 month later I submitted (from Estoril) a detailed plan, how to contact him. I could repeat the more important parts, if desired. I do not know, whether something has been done with it or not. I was only thanked for the work.

Now, in my opinion, it cannot be very difficult to find out, who this French Officer was, because of:

1.) the list of French officers of the Military mission in CSR 1938 must certainly be available. There were 30 - 40 officers.

It is highly improbable, that all these 4 points will coincide on more than 1 man. This possibility is so small, that - in my opinion - it can be excluded by logical reasoning.

A. General. Practically all I know of German activities in Post war time is based on talks, hearsay and conversation in the one year of Internment in Germany (at US Custody at Camp 076)

1.) Funds. According to my knowledge the KOP and the KO Spain ceased to exist after the 8th of May (1945). Members scattered and the funds, such as were not distributed have been traced by the Spanish, and/or the Allied Powers. mainly by treason of such persons who hid the money. Members (of the Legation and Services in Madrid) got 6 months of pay ahead. But it is more probable, that such members, as avoided repatriation to Germany had considerable funds. This I know from overhearing conversations between two Interness : "K has left us stranded, with debts etc, but he himself saved 300.000 Ptas". However I do not think, that any of the member of the organisation (KO Spain/K.d.M. Madrid) saved this money for net-work organisation. Only for himself. The same has happened in Portugal. I know for example that Dr. Eckert has taken hold of the sardines in stock in 1945. This must be a considerable amount and probably exceed 4-5 Million Escudos. Of this he must have however give a fair part to the Portuguese, who protected him. Others were left poor behind, for example Breisky. The Abwehr members interned at Caldas da Maravella were all more or less broke.

I do not think, that any noteworthy funds exist anymore in cash. It might be different with property. In Spain it is mainly the Sonfindus. The manager Bernhard (Bernhardt) was SS general and the Sofinus (Sofindus) had wolfram (Tungsten), lead and copper or mines, transport organisation and numerous other enterprises. I have heard that Bernhard (Bernhardt) had negotiated with the Americans in autumn 1945 and that he came to an agreement with the American Embassy. It is impossible to say, whether Sofindus has saved a part of her property and how much. (AOB: Bernhard (Bernhardt) had never been extradited towards the Allies) The possibility exists however.

The KOP, respectively KO Madrid were "open shops". Their members were diplomats, had diplomatic passports and were duly registered as members of the Legation. It was different with the SD. The Sofindus, both in Portugal and Spain were largely infiltrated with SD personnel. So far as I know very few of them have returned to Germany and stay still there.

a.) Germans. From the Abwehr most have been sent to Germany. The only of which I have heard, that his organisation existed for some time after the war was Major Paul of Barcelona (was repatriated in March 1946) known as the "border- king". He had an excellent organisation on the Pyrenean border. he acted for some time for the Spanish in the anti-maquis- communists raids to Spain and has given over his organisation the Spaniars afterwards. Some other items:

Schellenberg. (KV 2/94 ... KV 2/99 PF 600561) One or two days before the collapse of Germany a telegram arrived with Frederico of about the following content: "try to up keep network for at 1 year if possible". Frederico told me, that a similar telegram had also arrived at Madrid. But I do not know whether also in Lisbon. Frederico said however, that would be quite impossible.

Tichauer - Prieger. In the same airplane from Madrid (February 1946) with me. Both from Spain. Tichauer was SD man, 50% Jew, was sent to Spain 1942, was at Camp 76 released in summer 1946. Prieger was from Schering, up to 1941 in Japan (AOB: as long as Germany, Russia and Japan weren't at war with Russia, a convenient travel route between Europe and Japan and China was to travel by means of the Trans-Siberian Railways), thereafter Spain also for the SD, and main ??? after 1943?. Also at Camp 76 and discussed freely the SD for hours. I gathered the following impression: The majority of all SD men will not leave Spain. They "arranged" things either with the Spanish, or the Anglo-Americans. Prieger was in negotiations with the American Embassy and was arrested by the Spanish Police, which was afraid he would talk too much and sent to Germany, he was some time in prison in Spain. Both were of the opinion, that the SD as an organisation was in full collapse, but that the single members arranged things for themselves successfully. Both were of the opinion, that as body (SD?) it could not be moved anymore. Nobody had any money anymore and most were in poor condition. The circumstance that the SD was "illegal" in Spain, i??. not? registered but members in different professions and that it got orders directly from Berlin, was a sever hindrance in Post war years for direct relations between the single members.

Graf Seefried (or Deefritz)??. Schering director, SS Officer, Austrian. Immediately after 8th of May 1945 started a wild Austrian Campaign. Tichauer - Prieger knew him intimately. He tried to rally the Austrians and expected to become Austrian Minister. Met however with great opposition, mainly due to personal affairs. I have heard from Prieger - Tichauer, as well as Frederico (Konsul von Rüggenberg), that Seefried tried starting something like an Austrian organisation of SD type (chische?? Demonkratische Wehr??). He had very good connections with the French, but the Spanish suspected him and early in 1946 relations with the Spaniards got stranged. It is possible, that he rallied the Austrian SD personnel (Members of the German SD) behind him. At least in one case it is certain. He had a bodyguard called F. Manstein a former Austrian SD man.

Makoff. A Pole, presumably in French Service, expulsed from Spain 1944 was in contact with some German in 1945. He lived in France, but I do not know what kind of contact this was.

Kiekenbusch - Kühlenthal. and other members of the Portuguese and Spanish Abwehr. Furthermore the Military Attachés, such as Kraemer (Stockholm) (or KOP, section I or III) and others, who remained in Portugal Spain. I know very little about them. That they have arranged their things with the natives is certain. But these arrangements concerned - in my firm (Brücker-Traus Ltda.) belief not a network, only their personal safety and contuance of being able to stay in Portugal/Spain unmolested. The means by which they achieved it was not so much money, but "knowledge". The know so much of Spanish/Portuguese negotiations with Germany, that the Spanish are afraid les?? they should go to Germany and be interrogated -

Baron von Knigge. Portugal. Had his hand in the 1942 negotiations between Germany and Portugal and in my opinion this is the main reason, why the Portuguese were ? afraid to let go to Germany I have heard he obtains even a pension. As these negotiations were very much adverse to the spirit of the Anglo-Portuguese treaty, it is paramount, that he will remain in Portugal. Canaris was ?????? simehow (somehow?) ald also von Below (Bülow??) These 1942 negotiations have some bearings on his fight with Berlin 1944/45 and the desire to call him (Baron von Knigge) back. But he was shielded also in Berlin. I am positive however, that has no organisation to back him.

R-Organisation (Stay-behind). This "Rückzug-organisation" ceased to exist with the Capitulation. Of that I am positive. (AOB: my best friend Rudolf Staritz was designated to act as an R-Agent at Lübeck after say early May 1945; after Lübeck had been occupied by British Forces. Rudi told me, that he tried to contact the German R-Organisation shortly after the Germans did surrender unconditionally to the Allied Forces. It proved impossible to contact any station. After a few tries over some days time, they (AOB: Rudi and his brother Karl, concluded that all had collapsed definitely. At the same time, British Occupants announced drastic punishment against those being caught with wireless gear and weaponry and that like, leading to the "death penalty"! Rudi and his brother dropped their gear (wireless gear and pistols), packed in suitcases, into the river Trave. They panicked, because their suitcases did not sink instantly but remained floating; finally it did so and they recovered from this deathly panics.) I was told by Obst. Hansen and von Carnap, and by Kleyenstüber (Leiter KO / K.d.M. Madrid) that this was a planed organisation "in the case of an Allied invasion in Portugal/Spain". In Barcelona the plan was in the hands of Frederico and Major Paul. It concerned mainly a system of wireless operators behind Allied lines and planed sabotage, but had nothing to do with Post - war work, or net-organisations. I know this also from wireless man of the KO Madrid, ~~whi was in Asberg~~ (when I was in Asberg (February/March 1944) , and who was a designated R-Funker in prospect but not for post-war.

b.) natives. I am positive, that no native net organisation exists. The hundreds of V. Leute in Portugal/Spain of the KOP/KO Spain were single men in the KOP/KO Spain, not together did not know each other (with rare exceptions) and certainly did not form a net. Their main object was money. The source of money stopped, their interest in continuing of work came to a sudden end.

In the contrary most of them have been very much afraid. Their chief aim was to save their skin and to be forgotten as quickly as possible. Particularly those, who tried to sell their knowledge to the Anglo- American I.S. (Intelligence Services) or to get protection by them due to their free talking of the cooperation with the German Abwehr officers. Other is might have bargained with the Spanish Police. But I am firmly convinced, that not even a trace of a network organisation exists between them.

c. others. The only, of which I think has still a rather well organised system are the Vichy-French. They were sticking together, in close contact and quite well organized. For example approx 30 stayed in Summer in Hotel Figaro (Montsench Mountains) expenses paid by the Governor of Barcelona. They were well organized and a firm body and hold contact with those in the Concentration Camp of Meridoa (Merida or similar) and those of other small places. They had been close contact up to May 1945 with K.O. and SD (= K.d.M. Milamt controlled) Later on were partially used in fighting raids by Maquis, but this stopped end of 1945. I think it was their main desire to get as mercenaries, or in some other was in contact with other Powers, excluding of course communistic. I do not think the Spanish interfered. On time I know negotiations were started either with Argentine, or Peru, or both, but I know nothing what came out of it.

The Italians were scattered, all the former Fascists either true Democrats, or to meddle through single handed.

3. cells. The German schools of Lissabon, San Sebastian and Madrid were closed down in May 45, all property seized by Spanish. The school at Barcelona was closes in July 1945.

The German religious Protestant communities were stopped and Pastor Klöss of Barcelona arrested, later on released on basis of not returning to Barcelona. reason: strong catholic opposition. German catholic communities in Lissabon, Madrid and Barcelona (rather small) continued under their German priests. The Leader in Barcelona Pfarrer Bose from Cologne is a great personal friend of mine.

The different other associations fared the same fate as official representation, the Kulturinstitut Madrid and Lissabon were closed down and taken over by the Spanish.

The various clubs "Deutsches Haus" of Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona etc. immediately closed. All inventory sold by public auction. All typewriters, office equipment etc. for example of the German House at Barcelona was sold end of 1945 at a price of 230.000 Ptas and the money handed over to the Anglo-American Commission.

The German Instituted attached to Universities of Coimbra, Barcelona and Madrid dissolved in June 1945.

As regards business : All German property was put under sequestion, bank accounts and bank safes blockaded. Individuals were allowed to draw a certain amount mensually.

Both Portugal and Spain seized the opportunity quickly to gain something and the ex-German Company were rapidly nationalized. End of 1945 practically all German business enterprised? in Barcelona were in Spanish hands, some of them employed the former owners as directors for example Boehringer (Chemicals), whilst others such as I.G. Farben was in state liquidation, when I left Spain (Febr. 1946) The Anglo-American Pripert Commission had agents with the Spanish Authorities and the financial state of each Company was carefully supervised. I have read summer 1946 how much business property was seized by the Allied Powers, but I forgot the figure.

I don't believe that any of the ex-organisations still exists, same as business enterprises. (AOB: towards the end of the 1940s the situation step-by-step normalised) I had in Asperg (February-March 1944) a long talk with Konsul Reuschelbach of Barcelona, whose wife was a daughter of an I.G. Farben director. He told me, that every little organisation of the Consulate was dissolved, even the saving club of the members.

B. Conclusion. In my form believe no organisation exists in Spain-Portugal in which the German Abwehr has a footing anymore, or which could be derived.

Besides this: what fort? All the former members were thinking mainly to wrangle? somehow through the dark future. They know very well, that they cannot expect anything from the New Democratic Germany. (AOB: matters went far smoother than expected towards the end of 1949, as what counted, particularly in the US perception that Germany should stand on their own foots as soon as possible) Even if they still desired to carry on, there is no money and there is nobody for whom they care. That members had the idea of "Wieder-erweckung Deutschlands" in the next 10-20 years I do not think. (AOB: progress engendered in the early 1950s and towards about 1957 the expression "Wirtschaftswunder" (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirtschaftswunder) and EN (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirtschaftswunder) ~~In the contrary~~, ~~everybody to whom I spoke in my interments camps and in 1945 in Spain was convinced, that least for the next 50 years~~.

C. Jesuits. in 1941 after outbreak of war against Russia, I made a plane how to use the Vatican and Jesuits organisation for the Abwehr. I know the Padre Provincial of Port-Spain very well (Jesuit General). But Berlin was horrified. Nothing doing with Catholics. It would have been an excellent thing. A very efficient organisation existed (think alone of Latin America etc.). The Jesuits did not work for the Abwehr, but they were good propagandists for Germany in 1941/42 hoping that Hitler would entrust them mission in Russia. In 1943 the good relations came to an end. The Jesuit organisation of course is intact and offers now as before the same opportunities. But No German - so far as I know- had thought after May 1945 to get in contact with them. They hated the Gestapo- SD (Sipo) and of the Abwehr organisation nothing was left, besides this 90%of the members were Protestants.

Graft. The following has only indirect bearing on I.S. activity. During the war numerous cases of graft occurs on both sides at Lisbon. I have collected a vast material. It interested me from the point of view as an observer. Except what I have written on it already, I wanted to write a book "Schwarze Listen" (Blacklist) or a similar title. I have notes of some 7--80 pages on it in Spain.

My Company (Brucker-Traus Ltda. in Portugal) was engaged three times in "arranging" things with the English.

1. ) Out of a shipment of canned fish worth 670.000 Escudos from Madeira to Portugal, in spite of navycerts (naval certificates) etc, bought by the Reichsstelle für Fische a quantity worth approx. 73.000 Escudos had been seized by the English and carried to Gibraltar. This was end of 1941. In spring 1942 I managed to get a lot from Gibraltar to Lisbon and eventually Germany by paying 24.000 Escudos to the English (through Bartolomeo de Nagy (AOB: an associate in the Brucker-Traus Ltda.)

2. ) 200 t of sisal from Mozambique (then still a Portuguese Colony) to Lisbon, to Germany. The Navycert was bought through Almeida and Co. by "arranging" things wit the English Consulat (Legation).

3. ) 20.000 woollen blankets from Argentine to Germany. This was a diplomatic affair in which both the British and German Legation interfered, eventually also this was "squared" with the money-loving individuals in the British Embassy.

Except Navycert purchase, and similar clandestine negotiations with the English the following was on :

export of wolfram ores (Tungsten) and tin from English controlled Companies to Germany.

Same after export had been stopped by the Government Coffee, Cacao, tea, spices etc. from Oversea and custum dutz bonded warehouses with English permits to Germany, and similar items, of which I have many details down.

Furthermore : Banking. The English Embassy partook actively in Pound notes export to England. In 1945 in March a syndicate of -5-6 English partook in a colossal transaction. Germany had sent some Billion of French Franc notes to Tanger (Tangier) and Portugal and most of it was bought by an English syndicate.

The Americans were engaged mainly in smuggling with Clipper (stockings, cosmetics etc. and to America Jewellery watches etc. For example more than 500 watches in one case of which I know)

They partook also in "Black list trading". Here I think more than English/ When a Neutral Company got into Black list troubles, it was possible to "arrange" things. There were special taxes. 1941 approx. 20-30.000 Escudos, 1044 however mote than 50.000. For example Paul Falusch got off the List in this way. Many others too. I have names of approx. 25 Companies and the sums they paid.

In this connection the English Repatriation Office should be mentioned. It was a centre of this trading. Early 1942 I wrote an exposé for the benefit of Berlin and the KOP on possibilities to make use of the E.R.O. for I.S. work. It was an ideal "mail box" and for experimental purposes I tried it once myself. I do not know, whether the KOP made use of these possibilities.

Mail has been tempered with by both sides. For example all the mail of Mrs. Campbell of British red Cross (niece of Duke of Argyll) was controlled by the KOP in 1942.

Its purpose only is, to notice his quite stable and proper hand-writing. Compared with most M.I.5. hand-writings - this truly is "a haven"!

There does not exist a necessity to go deeper into this type of reference as the subject has been dealt with already extensively.

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