Nazi Gold
Page 55
123 ‘One of the Americans told Veit’ Bungert and Walter: op. cit.
123 ‘Captain Rüger gave the order for the mine detectors to be switched on’ Katz: op. cit. – statement by Josef Veit
124 ‘Major Geiler in his subsequent report’ Major William R. Geiler: Report on Gold Recovery (HQ 7th Army, Augsburg, 9 June 1945)
124 ‘“I’d sure like to have just a little of it”’ Tiger’s Tales, vol. 4, no. 5 (10th Armored Division 23 June 1945)
125 The operation took one complete day Lois J. Graziano: Correspondence
126 Tiger’s Tales, vol. 4, no. 5 (10th Armored Division, Garmisch, 23 June 1945)
127 ‘“Regarding the ‘Ten Tons of Gold”’ Albert Singleton: Correspondence
127 ‘But in the course of two lengthy interviews’ Albert Singleton: Telephone interviews Cleveland, Ohio, 7 October 1977 and 28 April 1978
128 ‘Major Adolf “Adi” Weiss’ Obituary, Garmisch-Partenkirchner Tagblatt, 1979
131 ‘“When the Americans marched into Mittenwald”’ Col. L. Stautner: Letter to Melanie Bryan (Grainau, 19 March 1981)
131 ‘all were different’ So was the weather. Singleton’s recovery took place on ‘a damned hot day’ when the sun was shining brilliantly. But the weather forecast for 7 June (according to the 3rd Army Weekly Intelligence Report of 6 June) was ‘partly to mostly cloudy’ – and there is no sunshine in the photos
131 ‘“I’ll be honest with you”’ Singleton: Telephone interviews, op. cit.
135 ‘A secret gold hoard in the German Foreign Ministry’ Robert M. W. Kempner: Das Dritte Reich in Kreuzverhör
135 ‘Among the accused who were tried and sentenced’ Hans Dollinger: Deutschland unter den Besatzngsmächten 1945–9, p. 100 (Munich, 1967)
137 ‘a statement about the German Foreign Office Gold . . . three recoveries of Foreign Office gold’ Frank J. Roberts: Data re German Foreign Office Gold reflected by Records of Foreign Exchange Depository (FED, Frankfurt, 3 May 1949)
137 ‘the Goldzug’ Wiesenthal: Telephone interview with Antony Terry, Vienna, 4 July 1983
138 ‘in 1950 he decided to lobby the US Congress’ Wiesenthal: op. cit. Kempner: op. cit.
138 ‘Congressman Lindley Beckworth’ Lindley Beckworth: Letters to Congressional Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee (House of Representatives, Washington, DC, 6 and 21 June 1950)
138 ‘Sir Ronald Wingate’ Sir Ronald Wingate: Not in the Limelight (London, 1959)
Chapter 8
139 ‘“The crucial problem in the first month”’ Pfeiffer: Interview, Munich, September 1982
139 ‘“I was amazed how many people knew about it”’ Pfeiffer: op. cit., September 1982
140 ‘“I received a call from Colonel Oscar Koch”’ Col. William E. Eckles: Correspondence
141 ‘“In the morning, after the recovery of the money”’ Eckles: op. cit.
141 ‘Kenneth Asa McIntyre’ US Army Records – file on Major Kenneth A. McIntyre
142 ‘“He was a likeable guy” Eckles: op. cit.
142 ‘“no more than a million dollars”’ Sieglinde Odorfer: Correspondence (Munich, 14 August 1976)
142 ‘“The accused is charged with the 95th Article of War”’Lt-Col. Alexander A. Lafleur: Case of Kenneth A. McIntyre (Office of Division judge Advocate, HQ 10th Armored Division, Garmisch, 29 August 1945)
143 ‘“Major Kenneth A. McIntyre is not accountable” Major Ernest W. Posse: Re: Kenneth A. McIntyre (HQ 132nd Armored Ordnance Maintenance Depot, Garmisch, 30 August 1945)
144 ‘“With the Yanks at that time” Pfeiffer: Interview, op. cit., September 1982
145 ‘General Béthouart’ Obituary of General Béthouart (The Times, London, 20 October 1982)
145 ‘“Certain officers of my staff”’ General Antoine Béthouart: La Bataille pour l’Autriche (Paris, 1966)
145 ‘“My officers and I discussed the proposal” Pfeiffer: Interview, op. cit., September 1982
145 ‘Captain Sauteau’ William C. Wilson: Correspondence
146 ‘“I agreed to co-operate,” Pfeiffer stated afterwards’ Pfeiffer: op. cit., September 1982
146 ‘“It was all done by word of mouth” Pfeiffer: op. cit.
146 ‘“They came down individually from the mountains” Pfeiffer: op. cit.
147 ‘“After a period of some weeks” Béhouart: op. cit.
147 ‘“This accounts for my dislike of the Americans” Pfeiffer: op. cit.
Chapter 9
148 ‘As the days passed’ Katz: Unpublished notes – Neuhauser’s statement
150 ‘“türmte über Berg und Tal”’ Katz: Unpublished notes, op. cit.
150 ‘The report of the Battalion’s own intelligence officer’ Interrogation of Captain Hans Neuhauser by S-2 of 574th AAA Battalion (no date)
151 ‘In a statement to the Munich CID in 1952’ Munich CID Report
151 ‘member of the Hitler Youth’ Berlin Document Centre
152 ‘Karl Warth’ Berlin Document Centre and CIC file
152 ‘Helmut Schreiber’ Berlin Document Centre and CIC file
152 ‘“Kalanag had one of the finest magical shows I have seen”’ Francis White: Correspondence (London, 26 March 1980)
152 ‘“Approximately 5’ 8” tall”’ John B. Miles, Special Agent: Agent Report – Schreiber, Helmut (HQ 66th CIC Group, West Germany, 12 May 1953)
153 ‘his Party number’ Central Clearance Unit: Request for Records Check; Schreiber, Helmut alias Kalanag (American Consulate General, Stuttgart, 7 March 1955)
153 ‘“During the investigation of his background”’ Donald T. Shea: Letter re Helmut Schreiber (Intelligence Division, OMGB, Munich, 13 June 1949)
153 ‘Helmut Groeger’ Berlin Document Centre and CIC file
154 ‘“Captain Rockwell came to me”’ Major R. M. Allgeier: Report of Incident to Provost Marshal, 3rd US Army (HQ 512 MP Battalion, Bad Tölz, 29 June 1945)
155 ‘He declared, that he had considered it for some time’ Perera: op. cit.
155 ‘“He found that two of the gold caches had been uncovered”’ Perera: op. cit.
156 ‘It was barely light when Major Allgeier was called to the house’ Allgeier: Report
156 ‘“Civilians Groeger and Schreiber”’ Allgeier: Report
156 ‘“I was chagrined at my poor decision”’ Allgeier: Correspondence, 1979–80
156 ‘That would have saved me many interrogations . . . never wanted to see or hear of war” Allgeier: Correspondence
157 ‘“I hope you realise, Major,” Gay reprimanded him’ Ladislas Farago: The Last Days of Patton (New York, 1981)
157 ‘“in the hills south of Walchensee” Allgeier: Report
157 ‘“Actually one of my better Officers”’ Allgeier: Correspondence
158 ‘Due to loose handling by the civilians’ Allgeier: Correspondence
158 ‘the following dialogue ensued’ Quoted in Farago: op. cit.
159 ‘“I was unable to estimate the value”’ Farago: op. cit.
160 ‘“Gimme the sta-goddamn-tistics!”’ Farago: op. cit.
160 ‘“Documents attached represent available information.”’ Col. Roy L. Dalferes: Delivery of Treasure (HQ 3rd US Army G-5 Section, Bad Tölz, 6 July 1945)
164 ‘In the Forest House he was confronted by two American officers’ Katz: Unpublished notes – Neuhauser’s statement
164 ‘“You were in the HJ”’ Katz: op. cit., Neuhauser’s statement
165 ‘an English General of the “Royal Army” . . . lean and lanky (hager)’ Katz: op. cit., Neuhauser’s statement
165 ‘“Are you going to run off from here?. . .”’ Katz: op. cit., Neuhauser’s statement
Chapter 10
167 ‘broke into the house of Pfeiffer’s mother’ Pfeiffer: Interview, Munich, September 1982
167 ‘“I told them to check it out with Third Army” Pfeiffer: op. cit.
168 ‘“General Waring broke his word to me”’ Pfeiffer: op. ci
t.
168 ‘“Waring straightaway began to ask about gold”’ Pfeiffer: op. cit.
169 ‘“I suffered a lot of disappointment”’ Pfeiffer: op. cit.
169 ‘“Wohin jetzt”’ Katz: op. cit., Neuhauser’s statement
170 ‘Besides Neuhauser and Braun there was Colonel Pfeiffer’ Katz: op. cit., Neuhauser’s statement
170 ‘“Colonel Pfieiffer – had gone to the CIC.”’ Moss: op. cit. – Stinnes quoted
171 ‘punch him on the nose’ Ivar Buxell: Correspondence
171 ‘A very funny thing happened.’ Hubert von Blücher: op. cit., 17 April 1982
172 ‘Frederick Siegfried Neumann’ US Army 201 file – F. S. Neumann
173 ‘“Subject made an excellent impression”’ US Army 201 file – F. S. Neumann
173 ‘“Officer is well suited for interrogation”’ US Army 201 file – F. S. Neumann
173 ‘“He went about everywhere with a dog whip”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
175 ‘“The grotesqueness of the situation only struck me.”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
176 ‘“The general stayed for about two hours”’ Moss: op. cit.
176 ‘“It was just as if you were digging up an Easter egg”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
176 On Friday 3 August 1945 Major Melvin W. Nitz: Military Government Annual Report (Garmisch, June 1946)
177 ‘“The most fantastic search”’ then started Moss: op. cit., quoting statement by Klaus Bremme, 28 March 1956, pp. 150–54
178 ‘TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN’ Moss: op. cit. Lüder von Blücher: Correspondence Ivar Buxell: CIC dossier
179 ‘He has consistently denied’ Pfeiffer: op. cit., September 1982
179 ‘“My signature was refused by Captain Neumann”’ Moss: op. cit., quoting Klaus Bremme, p. 153
Chapter 11
180 ‘“Of course, saying we were confined to the house”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
181 ‘“Everything . . . was black-market”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
181 ‘“they flashed slowly and intermittently like the revolving lamp”’ Moss: op. cit. (Preface)
183 ‘Were you ever told later’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
184 ‘“You were with the American newsreel company”’ von Blücher: Interview with Antony Terry, op. cit.
185 ‘“These parties were the most harmless things”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
Chapter 12
187 ‘“I want those civilian bastards handed over”’ Farago: op. cit.
187 ‘the nature of the American Occupation’ For broad accounts of the Allied occupation of Germany in general and American Military Government in particular see, inter alia Michael Balfour and John Muir: Four-Power Control in Germany and Austria, 1945–6 (London, 1956) F. 8. V. Donnison: Civil Affairs and Military Government in North-West Europe. 1944–6 (London, 1961) Klaus-Jörg Ruhl: Die Besatzer und die Deutschen-Amerikanische Zone, 1945–8 (Düsseldorf, 1980) Ziemke: The US Army in the Occupation of Germany, 1944–6 Harold Zink: The United States in Germany, 1944–55 (New York, 1959) General Lucius D. Clay: Decision in Germany (London, 1950) Edward N. Peterson: The American Occupation of Germany (Detroit, 1977) Eugene Davidson: The Death and Life of Germany (New York, 1959) Oliver Fredericksen: American Military Occupation of Germany, 1945–53 (Darmstadt, 1953) Franklin Davis: Come as a Conqueror (New York, 1967)
188 ‘“The apparently unanimous judgment of contemporary critics”’ Peterson: op. cit., pp. 84–5
189 ‘“a variety of feudal kingdoms”’ Harold Zink: American Military Government in Germany (New York, 1967)
189 ‘“Germany was deluged with intelligence teams”’ Quoted in Peterson: p. 110
189 ‘the intelligence agencies were not functioning well’ Peterson: p. 89
190 ‘they lacked really first-class men’ Alfred Grosser: Germany in Our Time (New York, 1971)
190 ‘a top salary of $10,000 per annum’ Peterson: op. cit., p. 90
190 ‘“the wine, women and song boys”’ Zink: The United States in Germany, p. 76.
190 ‘“The background checks of some of the people”’ William C. Wilson: Correspondence
190 ‘a series of pen portraits’ William C. Wilson: op. cit.
191 ‘“Brigadier-General George H. ‘Pappy’ Weems”’ William C. Wilson: Correspondence, 17 August 1979 Lt-Col. Lester J. Zucker, former Executive Officer of CID HQ at Eucom, formed a rather more charitable view of General Weems: ‘I liked General Weems,’ he wrote to the authors on 29 May 1979. ‘He was always nice to me. He had no real knowledge of Military Police or CID, but he managed.’ Born in 1891 Weems was promoted to Brigadier-General in 1942 and served on Special Missions to the Philippines as well as Hungary. He was Provost Marshal, European Command, 1947–9.
192 ‘There were two main categories of Jews’ Wilson: op. cit.
192 ‘“I tried to stay away from the CIC”’ Buck Wardle: 6 May 1978
192 ‘“I have nothing to add to this statement.”’ Robert B. Shaw, Agent 13th CID: Report to Office of the Provost Marshal, Criminal Investigation Division, EUCOM, 27 June 1947
193 ‘“It was a fucked-up mess!”’ Wilson: op. cit.
193 ‘“Too many fingers in the pie Wilson:”’ op. cit.
194 ‘“They had considerable testimony”’ Wilson: op. cit.
194 ‘At a subsequent inquiry’ Lt-Col. Leonard H. Smith: Testimony before the Inspector General into Allegations by Guenther Reinhardt. Exhibit ‘B-3’ (Berlin, 20 January 1948)
195 ‘two gold shipments down to Mittenwald’ Wilson: op. cit.
195 ‘near Füssen’ Wilson: op. cit.
195 ‘Goering’s palace at Valhalla’ Wilson: op. cit.
195 ‘As for the rumours’ Wilson: op. cit.
195 ‘“I had all this stuff in the safe”’ Charles 1. Bradley: Telephone interview (Redondo Beach, California, 19 January 1980)
196 ‘“Ketcham and I were there”’ Ward Atherton: Telephone interviews (Lafayetteville, North Carolina 4 and 27 March, 26 April and 2 May, 1978)
196 ‘“It was an awful lot”’ John L. Ketcham: Telephone interviews (Concrete, Washington State, 28 March and 29 April 1978)
196 ‘“These things had taken place in June or July of 45”’ Atherton: op. cit.
197 ‘“I was asked whether I would mind going to a place in Garmisch”’ Leo de Gar Kulka: Correspondence, taped statements and telephone, interviews (San Francisco, 1978)
198 ‘“Utter piffle. Pure nonsense”’ von Blücher: op. cit., 27 April 1982
198 ‘“I wish to Christ I had gotten some – if there had been some”’ Melvin Nitz: Interview with Colin Simpson, Sunday Times (Fresno, California, January 1982)
Chapter 13
199 ‘the first recovery, totalling $251,374’ Major Melvin W. Nitz: Military Government Annual Report, Detachment E-236. I May 1945–30 June 1946. Section I): Finance and Property Control, p. 92.
199 ‘The second recovery worth “about $50,000”’ ibid.
199 I believe that it was one of Oscar Koch’s officers Charles W. Snedeker: Correspondence, 4 October 1977
199 ‘Captain Snedeker received an official receipt’ Receipt signed Lt-Col. William A. Brown, Fiscal Section Officer. Military Government Detachment E-205, Munich, 27. August 1945 (in the private papers of Charles W. Snedeker)
199 ‘The third and final recovery – the $104,956’ Nitz: op. cit.
199 ‘Third Army Weekly Intelligence Report’ Col. Oscar W. Koch: G-2 Secret Weekly Intelligence Report No. 14 for week ending 29 August 1945, p. 4 (Third US Army, Bad Tölz)
200 ‘Deposit No. 18’ Consolidation of Reports of’ Deposit of Foreign Exchange (OMGB, Munich, 2 May 1947)
200 ‘The correct procedure for the handling and shipment of recovered funds’ Lt-Col. F. S. McFadzean: Seized Enemy Funds (SHAEF Financial Branch, 10 March 1945)
200 ‘a wooden box containing £35,00
0’ Nitz: op. cit.
200 ‘$4000 found by Lt Roger Ernst’ Captain Benjamin S. Schilling: Reference Shipment No. 60 – Receipt for $4000 (HQ USFET G-5 Financial Branch, Currency Section, Frankfurt, 11 August 1945)
201 ‘The detailed gold and currency inventories of the FED’ Register of Valuables in the Custody of the Foreign Ex change Depository, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 15 April 1945 to 29 November 1950
201 ‘and the Federal Reserve Bank’ Office of Alien Property, US Department of Justice: Vesting Orders for US currency recovered in Germany (Washington, DC, letters dated 7 December 1978 and 18 April 1979) Federal Reserve Bank in New York: Letters dated 11 April 1977 and 15 December 1978
201 ‘Depot No. 10’ Reports of Deposits: op. cit.
202 ‘in a handwritten reply’ Albert Thoms: Memo – Gold Stocks, Reichsbank Berlin (no date)
202 ‘the FED seems to have lain almost completely dormant’ McCarroll: op. cit.
203 ‘The purpose of the visit, according to Rona Geib’ Rona L. Geib: Liaison Visit to G-2 – List of Germans Connected with Seized Valuables in FED (Frankfurt, 13 August 1946)
204 ‘the final inventory of Shipment 52A’ FED Currency Section: Inventory of Shipment 52A (Frankfurt, 22 July 1946)
204 ‘On 12 September the Deputy Director’ Col. William G. Brey: Memo – Serial Numbers of US Bills (Frankfurt, 12 September 1946)
204 ‘“Breywas the ‘picture’ at the FED . . . and I was the ‘works’”’ Frank C. Gabell: Letter from Bentonville, Arizona, 13 September 1982
205/6 ‘“in connection with an investigation”’ Frank Roberts: Report on Finance Division Meeting, Berlin, 4 November 1946
205/6 ‘“for the purpose of gathering information from G-2 files”’ Geib: op. cit.
206? ‘shipment of dollar currency . . . to the Federal Reserve Bank in New York’ Office of Alien Property Vesting Orders: op. cit.
207 ‘deposits accepted by the FED right up to 29 November 1950’ FED Register of Valuables: op. cit.
207 ‘further shipments to the United States in 1951’ Federal Reserve Bank: op. cit.