Sonderkommando #12

The following document comes from Jim Olsen, 70th CIC. The original is on file in the National Archives. It is a very interesting document, detailing the prevalence of "Werewolf" Cells in the 70th zone of occupation. Areas marked with an "*" are items I could not decipher from the document.

70^TH COUNTER INTELLIGENCE CORPS DETACHMENT

APO 461, US ARMY

21 April 1945

Subject: Sabotage Ring (Sonderkommando W 12)

Re: Interrogations of 16 confessed saboteurs.

On 17 April 1945, Agents Jacob KALISH and Harvey GUTMAN arrested Hans MELKERS, SS Unterscharfuhrer, on information supplied by a Confidential Informant that MELKERS had returned to BAD KREUZNACH. After a detailed interrogation, subject stated that he had attended a course for auxiliary policemen at Wiesbaden and finally confessed that he had attended the Sabotage School conducted by the SS at TIEFENTHAL.

MELKERS gave the first leads which to date have culminated in the apprehension of 16 confessed saboteurs, 15 of whom attended the Wiesbaden Sabotage School. OF the six cell units investigated three had hidden large stores of food, ammunition and sabotage demolitions. The secret caches of the other three cells were found empty, only evidence such as empty cartons remained.

Two cells, previously discovered by this detachment, were found to be operated by this same organization. (See reports: Edward WAHLSTER, dated 26 March, and SS Sabotage Cell WALDALGESHEIM, dated 6 April.)

Recruits received orders to report to the Police & SS Commander in either Eltville or Wiesbaden to attend a course in connection with the "Notdienst Verordnung". These orders were usually delivered by the local police. Upon reporting, recruits were ordered to the Tiefenthal Monastary near Martinsthal, where the school was located until an Allied bombing destroyed the building in February 1945.

Courses of three weeks and three days were intended, but the actual length varied because of administrative technicalities and transportation difficulties.

Personnel attending the school represented a large area of Germany, extending from Saarbrucken to Freiburg in the Black Forest region. However, it can be assumed that the majority came from Wehrkreis XII, since the school was so named. Other nationalities, including Spaniards, Italians, French, Dutch and Slavs, also attended the school. Each nationality was kept separate and each had approximately ten enrolments, except the German group which varied from 20 to 70 persons each class.

The schedule included training in the following:

Weapons:

Sabotage and Demolitions:

The following is a list of members of the faculty and higher officials of the Sabotage Organization, who were at Wiesbaden:

The structure of this organization was very simple, based on the cell unit and having only one higher echelon. This was the leader of a region composed of three Abschnitte or sectors, which contained twelve cells. Liaison was maintained through personal contact via the Verbindungsmann. Theoretically, the cells were to be located approximately 12 km apart. However, this plan was not strictly adhered to because of a lack of time and training facilities.

It was intended that each cell contain four saboteurs, one of whom was the group leader. The cell was to be located in a cave, mineshaft, quarry or other well camouflaged or inaccessible place which would be a hideout for the personnel as well as the supplies.

Cells were to remain inactive until Allied troops had occupied the area and a German resistance line had been established. They were to wait until the area became quiet, and then hinder, disrupt the Allied armies in any possible way, concentrating on the sabotage of bridges, railroads, highways and command posts.

This last target called for a systematic infiltration into the CPs of army units as civilian employees, carpenters, painters, laborers, etc. Once inside, the act of sabotage was to be committed at the opportune time.

The leader of this region was KURT TESCH, SS Ostuf; residence was located at Langenlonsheim, near Bad Kreuznach. TESCH, prior to arrival of Allied troops, had personal contact with each of his cell units. He personally supervised the delivery of all sabotage supplies, and many times made the trip himself. Supply points were established throughout the region to facilitate delivery and Wehrmacht trucks as well as private vehicles transports the supplies from one depot to another in the following order: A large DAF (Deutches Arbeit Front – webmaster) supply base in Sch* (near Trier) Wildstein (near Trabach) Gonzerath, Rhaunen, Waldagesheim, and Mainz-Weisnau. The Gonzerath depot was located in the "Gorges Wirtschaft"; the Rhaunen depot was located in "Gasthaus Idar", owned by BERND.

The cells uncovered in this region were the following:

Waldalgesheim Cell (M 072505)

Reference is made to 70^th CIC report, Subject: "SS Sabotage Cell, Waldalgesheim". Two of the four saboteurs, ADRAD* and Wilhelm SCHMIDT were killed by American troops on 2 April 1945. Alfred SCHMIDT was arrested by American troops on 2 April 1945. Joseph FLECK was put at disposition of 12 A.G. CIC Detachment on 8 April 1945.

Weinsheim Cell (M026375)

Peter WEYL and Heinrich KNODEL were apprehended and confessed that they had attended the Wiesbaden Sabotage School. They had received food and sabotage supplies which were hidden in three different caches in a nearby fir forest. The total contents found include:

Johann REEB, Weinsheim, attended the Wiesbaden School for eight days and was sent home because of illness. He did not become a member of the Cell and is ignorant of its activity. REEB is at home in Weinsheim, ill.

Philip SCHWEICKERT attended the Wiesbaden school fro three days and returned home as a result of an accident to his hand. SCHWEICKERT did not become a member of this Cell and is ignorant of its activity.

Rhaunen Cell (L 720407)

Kaspar Erick BERND, Rhaunen, and Edward FUCHS, Hottenbach, were apprehended and confessed that they had attended the Wiesbaden school and were active members of the Cell. BERND, Cell leader at whose Inn a depot was located, distributed supplies to other cells in the area. For the operations of his own Cell, BERND had founded sabotage caches which were buried in a vegetable garden, badger hole, fir forest and side of cliff. The food hidden inside the grain chutes of his grain mill. The total contents of each include:

Karl Heinz JACOBS helped bury the supplies, but never attended the Wiesbaden school. JACOBS is under arrest.

Wolf Cell (L 546535)

Karl EMMERICH and Rudolf MICHELS were apprehended and confessed that they had attended the Wiesbaden School and were active members of the Cell. Kurt EMMERICH, father of Karl, was arrested by a CIC Detachment on 29 March 1945; he was the former Ortsgruppenleiter (local group leader). They received food and sabotage supplies which were hidden in three caches in a wood several kilometers from the town. The total contents of the caches include:

Kurt EMMERICH attended the Wiesbaden school and was the leader of the cell.

Bad Kreuznach Cell (M 090380)

This cell finally consisted of the following men, after much shifting of personel: Adolf DOHMANN, Hermann EGERT, Karl FORSTER, Hans MEYER?, Johann DRIBSANG, and Verbingdungsmann of the region, Hans MELKERS, all from Kreuznach. All of these men were apprehended and confessed that they had attended the Wiesbaden School and had received supplies.

The Kreuznach cache has not been located, but evidence of store rooms where it had once been kept was located in the basement of a barn on the premises of Adolf DOHMANN. It is known that part of the supplies had been transferred to the out-house of a school building located near DOHMANN’s home. This transfer took place the day before the Americans arrived. It is known that American troops billeted in the school removed the supplies.

Adolf DOHMANN, group leader for Kreuznach cell, was to have worked  with the Cell from Waldalgesheim.

Ehrang-Longwisch Cell (L 243350)

This cell consisted of Nikolaus HORSCH, Cell leader, Anton HORSCH, Mathias KLICKE, Ernst BINDORF, Werner HANDSCHUH, and Nikolaus BRITTEN, all of whom had attended the Wiesbaden School. All personnel except BRITTEN had left; he was arrested. This Cell had been supplied by TESCH and MELKERS; two caches were investigated but only 100 sticks of dynamite were found. Two caches have not yet been investigated; BRITTEN knows their locations.

Trier Cell (L 2130)

Peter FEITER, Cell leader, and Karl HERMANN attended the Wiesbaden School, and received sabotage supplies from Hans MELKERS. This cell has been investigated; the personnel had left, and only evidence of stores was found in the basement of a completely demolished house as well as in an air-raid shelter. On 3 March the two men joined the Ehrang-Longwisch group but returned after a few days; this was after American occupation. There is no evidence that acts of sabotage were committed during this period.

Rheinbollerhutte Cell (M 9775540)

Kurt STINNER was moved from Kreuznach and became cell leader at Rheinbollerthutte. He and his two assistants, Hitler Youths BECKER and HERTER attended the Wiesbaden School. Supplies were delivered to the Forsthaus in Rheinbollerhutte from the Rhaunen depot by Hans MEYER.

Hundheim Cell (L 580375)

PHILIPPI (fnu), Cell Leader, worked with two SS men, one of whose name is KRIEGER from Idar Oberstein, the other is belived to be GENZEL 9fnu, from Pilmeroth, near Traben-Trabach). Supplies for thi scell were delivered to the Forsthaus in Hundheim by Hans MELKERS; other supplies were brought to the Elektrizitätswerk in Idar-Oberstein by Hans MERKERS on approximately 10 March 1945. PHILIPPI is belived to have returned to his home in Idar-Oberstein.

Philip SCHNORRBACH, believed to be in Strassenhaus, near Koblenz, attended the Wiesbaden School and had been the leader of the Neuwied Cell before being transferred here. His aides at the Neuwied Cell BECKER and HERTER, were later assigned to the Rheinbollerhutte Cell, which is headed by STINNER. SCHNORRBACH is a former member of the Schutzpolizei in Bad Kreuznach.

Bitburg Cell (L 132334)

VOIGT, fnu, BITBURG, Cell leader, and WEISENBACH, Peter attended the Wiesbaden School.

Wiltingen Cell (WL 1518)

Fritz KIMMEL, Cell Leader, and August BRUHL attended the Wiesbaden School. Hermann EGERT (apprehended in Kreuznach) worked for several months with the Cell, as did Karl FORSTER (apprehended in Kreuznach) who temporarily replaced KIMMEL who was ill. Supplies were delivered to this Cell by TESCH, MELKERS, and SCHNORRBACH; EGERT knows where they are hidden. This Cell is believed to have been disbanded at the time of the Allied advance.

The leader of this region was Hofman, fnu, 1^st Lt. in the Wehrmacht, who may have transferred to the SS as Sturmbannfuhrer. The whole area was to consist of 12 Cells, however, it is almost certain that not all of these cells were activated due to the lack of men and time. HOFMAN’S assistant was DUBONG (fnu), a Bannführer in the HJ.

Reference is made to the 70^th CIC report, Subject "Edward WAHLSTER", dated 26 March 1945. No active members of this Cell were apprehended at the time this Cell was discovered. DUPRE and DUBONG are believed to be the one and the same person.

Reimsbach Cell ("Gruppe LOUISE 8c")

Paul SEIBERT , Cell leader, and his assistants Helmuth MADES, EWALD (fnu) and HERBERT (fnu) attended the Wiesbaden School. This group received supplies from HOFMANN and from the Army arsenal in Britten. Hitler Youths EWALD and HERBERT stayed in this Cell only one week, when they had to report back to Wiesbaden. The other two remained in Reimsbach from 20 November until 18 March, when SEIBERT returned to Kreuznach and MADES returned to his home in Ingelheim. SEIBERT was apprehended in Kreuznach; MADES could not be located in Ingelheim. SEIBERT knows where the sabotage supplies are hidden in this area.

Britten Cell ("Gruppe CHRISTINE")

KOHLER, Cell leader, and his assistants SCHMACHER, WEINER and APPEL attended the Wiesbaden School. The Cell is believed to have disbanded when overrun by Allied forces; they were last seen by Paul SEIBERT in Britten on approximately 15 March. This Cell received sabotage supplies from HOFMANN and the Britten Wehrmacht arsenal. The area covered by this Cell includes Oppenheim, Lunkirchen, Losheim, Niederlosheim, Britten and Kreinrad.

FRIES (fnu) , Cell leader, attended the Wiesbaden School and received supplies which are probably hidden in the St. Ingbert mine. FRIES is supposed to have a good knowledge of the entire HOFMANN sector and contemplated operators. DUBONG (DUPRE), HOFMANN's assistant, is believed to be with this Cell.

WEYL, Peter: Weinsheim Cell

Subject was born 31 July 1902 in Weinsheim. He is a farmer and held no office in the NSDAP. Subject received orders and attended the Wiesbaden School for three weeks in November 1944, and returned for a refresher course in February 1945. Subject and KNODEL received two deliveries of sabotage supplies, one brought by TESCH, FORSTER, and STRUNOK(?), brother-in-law of TESCH; the other was delivered by TESCH and Hans MEYER, 3 days before the arrival of the Allies. TESCH'S last instructions were to find or construct a secret hideout from which they were to sabotage the Allies' rear area; Adolf DOHMANN was to act as liaison man. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

KNODEL, Heinrich: Weinsheim Cell-leader

Subject, simple party member, received orders and attended the Wiesbaden School in October 1944, for three weeks. one month later he returned to the School for a 10-day refresher course. Subject verified the information presented in WEYL's interrogation. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

BERND, Kasper Erich: Rhaunen Cell-leader

Subject was born at Bad Kreuznach on 28 October 1901. He is a farmer and innkeeper in Rhaunen and never held office in the NSDAP. He received orders and attended the Wiesbaden School in November 1944. In January 1945 he returned to the School for a recapitulation of the course. His inn was used as a supply depot for the Cells in this area, and several meetings were held there, at which time TESCH and an SS leader from Berlin gave instructions to those present. The meeting was attended by: STRUNCK, DRISANG, BERND, SCHMIDT (Waldalgesheim), ADRADT, FUCHS, TESCH, MEYER, Hans. MEYER remained at the inn for three weeks, dividing the sabotage supplies into units for each Cell drawing from BERND'S s depot. The sabotage supplies for this Cell were hidden by BERND and his nephew Karl Heins JACOBS. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

FUCHS Edouard: Rhaunen Cell

Subject was born in Hottenbach 6 Dec 94. He is a farmer and innkeeper at Hottenbach and has never held office in the NSDAP. He received orders and attended the Wiesbaden School for three weeks in November 1944. A 4-5 day refresher course at Wiesbaden was attended by subject in January 1945.FUCHS attended the meeting at the inn of BERND at which time the saboteurs received orders from TESCH and the visiting SS officials from Berlin. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

EMMERICH, Karl: Wolf Cell

Subject was born in Wolf 21 Sept 22 and is a grape farmer there. He was discharged from the German Army because of wounds he received on the Russian front. Never a party member, subject received orders and attended the Wiesbaden School from 4 Feb 45 until 4 March 45. Subject's father, Kurt EMMERICH, former Ortsgruppenleiter, was leader of this Cell, but was apprehended by another CIC Detachment 29 March. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

MEYER, Hans: Kreuznach Cell

Subject was born in Kreuznach on 18 April 21. He became a member of the NSDAP after having been a member of the HJ since 1933. He received orders and went to the Wiesbaden Sabotage School in November, but was confined to the hospital there because of an injury which he received in the Army. In January, subject attended a refresher course at Wiesbaden, but was again confined to the hospital. Subject was ordered by TESCH to help in the distribution of sabotage material, and remained at the depot in Rhaunen for three weeks. He accompanied loads of sabotage material and equipment to cells at Wiesbaden, Rhaunen, Wolf and Kreuznach.

MEYER is well informed because of his frequent contacts with TESCH and because of his connections with the distribution of sabotage supplies. His interrogation furnished several of the names to be found under "Undeveloped Leads" in this report. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

Subject is the nephew of BERND and helped bury the sabotage equipment for this Cell. He had never been mentioned as having attended the Wiesbeden Sabotage School. Interrogators: Agents Brown and Hoebel.

SCHWEICKERT, Phillip: Weinshein Cell

Subject was born in Weinsheim on 16 March 1908. He is a farmer. In 1934 he joined the SA and subsequently was transferred to the SS. Subject reported to the Tiefenthal Sabotage School on 2 Nov 44. On 4 Nov 44 he had to report to the Ostuf GOSS who accused him of having dealings with the French PW's in Kreuznach and immediately dismissed subject from School. It could not be established that subject had any further connection with the Sabotage Ring. Interrogators: Agents Balish and Gutman.

BRITTEN, Nikolaus: Ehrang-Longwisch Cell 

Subject was born 4 May 1910 in Roncourt, Lorraine, from where the family moved to Trier in 1920. He was employed by the postal dept as a guard and as such taken over into the SS with the rank of Trupp leader.  Subject attended the sabotage course at Tiefenthal from Jan 10-20 after which he returned to Trier and was assigned to the Ehrang-Longwisch Cell. On Feb 3 he reported back to Tiefenthal and on Feb 10 was sent to Berlin with three more men to pick up weapons and uniforms at the SS barracks in Oranienburg Concentration Camp. He returned after Tiefenthal had been destroyed and immediately was sent with three more men to pick up uniforms and clothing in Hanover after which he was released and returned home on 1 Mar 45. At this time Allied forces were about to occupy the Trier area and the entire group went into hiding in the woods near Foehren on 3 Mar 45. There they were joined by FEITER and HERMANN of the Trier Cell. The plan was to stay in the woods for 3-4 weeks until the situation had been stabilized and the signal to commence working had been received by TESCH. Four caches had been established by subject’s group, two of which were located within 100 yards of bridge targets. The main supply base was located in a quarry near Foehren. FEITER and HERMANN returned  to Trier for five days after the occupation but upon their return made no mention of any sabotage work. On the morning of 17 Mar 45 the group discovered that the cache in the quarry had been stolen during the previous night and driven away by horse drawn cart. Deprived of their principal sabotage and food supplies, the whole group (8 men) left for Rhaunen under the command of FEITER. The group traveled exclusively on secondary roads and through woods and arrived in the vicinity of Rhaunen 3 days later. Subject and DIENDORF were sent into the village to contact BERND. On their way they met a stranger who informed them that BERND had been arrested by US troops. DIENDORF returned to FEITER while subject contacted BERND’s wife. The latter told subject that everything was lost, the whole plan was futile and advised subject to return home to his family. When leaving the place, subject was arrested by MG civilian police but released after he had properly identified himself. This incident made it impossible for BRITTEN to return to the group at the specified time and assuming that the group had given him up he returned to Gonzrath to his wife. On 19 Apr subject went to his former home in Trier-Zewen where he was apprehended on 20 Apr 45 by Agents of this detachment. Subject is fairly well informed about developments after the school had been transferred from Tiefenthal to Wiesbaden. He states that when he first arrived in Tiefenthal he saw approximately 45 foreigners each in Waffen SS uniforms which were referred to as “SS Jagdkommandos”. BRITTEN can point out the location of the two remaining caches in the Ehrang-Longwisch area. 

NOTE: In regard to the further fate of the group after subject left them in Rhaunen, subject states that FEITER had intended to go to Wiesbaden at all costs but wanted to split up into two groups and merge again in Wiesbaden. FEITER knew how to contact the organization in Wiesbaden notwithstanding to occupation by Allied forces. Interrogators: Agents Kalish, Colombo and Gutman. 

FORSTER. Karl: Bad Kreuznach Cell 

Subject was born in Bad Kreuznach on 7 Aug 94. He became a member of the NSDAP and was SA Trupp leader. Subject attended the Wiesbaden School for eight days in December, after  which he was assigned to the DOHMANN Group in Kreuznach; he returned for a six-day refresher course in January. In early February, subject was transferred to Wiltingen for temporary duty during KIMMEL’s sickness. On 12 February, subject returned to Kreuznach without permission and after a lengthy argument with TESCH was re-assigned to DOHMANN’s Group and took part in their operations. Subject, in conjunction with EGERT, should be able to locate 3 caches in Wiltingen area. Interrogators: Agents Gutman, Kalish and Colombo. 

DRISANG, Johann: Bad Kreuznach Cell 

Subject, a brick layer, was born in Kreuznach on 18 June 1894. He attended the Tiefenthal School for three weeks in November, to weeks of which were spent in the hospital. On his return, subject was assigned to the DOHMANN Cell. On 2 January, subject was wounded in the Allied raid on Kreuznach and was hospitalized four weeks. TESCH ordered him to report to Qiwabaden on 2 March for a medical examination, and then sent him with a supply transport to Rhaunen, Gasthaus Bernd, as no doctor was available. Subject returned to Kreuznach and participated in the March operatins of the DOHMANN Cell. Interrogators: Gutman, Kalish, Colombo and Olsen. 

EGERT, Hermann: Wiltingen Cell 

Subject was born in Kreuznach on 21 Sept 1898. he became a member of the NSDAP and was Trupp leader in the SA. EGERT attended the Tiefenthal School for three weeks in November, after which he was assigned to the Wiltingen Cell. His Cell lived at the Huesgen Weingut, where they received three truckloads of supplies from TESCH, MELKERS and SCHNORRBACH. From 10-16 January, subject attended a refresher course at Tiefenthal and then returned to Wiltingen where he stayed until the group disbanded on approximately 19 February when the front advanced. After his return to Kreuznach, subject worked with the DOHMANN Cell and helped distribute supplies. Subject, in conjunction with FORSTER, can locate three caches near Wiltingen. TESCH paid subject 215 RM per month over a period of three months. Interrogators: Agents Gutman, Olsen and Kalish. 

DOHMANN, Adolf: Bad Kreuznach Cell 

Subject was born in Luchtingen/Westphalia on 27 March 1900. He joined the party on 1 Jan 1933. Subject received oral orders from TESCH to report to Tiefenthal on 17 February. On arrival he found 18 men, 13 of whom left the following day to pick up supplies and arms in Berlin and Hanover. Subject remained pending his release as a farmer. On 21 February Tiefenthal was destroyed by our air force and the 5 men were transferred to Wiesbaden, “Unter den Eichen”, where they were joined by other men who had returned from Berlin and Hanover. Subject was sent home on 24 February when the 13 men left again on another supply mission. Upon arrival in Bad Kreuznach subject was contacted by TESCH who made him “Verbingungsmann” and leader of the local group. Subject either accompanied TESCH or acted as his agent on trips to Weinsheim and Waldalgesheim and received supplies for his own group from TESCH on the night of 14 Feb. The supplies were stored in subject’s farm yard. TESCH wanted to transfer them inot the woods on 15 March but did not come back. The first Allied patrols entered Bad Kreuznach on 16 March and subject together with EGERT and FORSTER transferred the supplies across the street to a school building where they were found by US troops. Interrogators: Agents Gutman, Kalish. 

MELKERS, Hans: Liaison Officer for TESCH 

Subject was born 10 January 1907 in Bad Kreuznach. He went to Gymnasium, worked then for SEITZ, lived in Sweden 1934-1937 and returned to SEITZ.  He speaks Swedish well and some French and English. He joined the party and SS in 1933 and held the rank of SS Uschaf.  His frim obtained an “UK” (occupational deferment) classification for him for the duration. Subject received orders to report to Tiefenthal on 3 November and completed the course on 20 November. He was then appointed “Verbindungsmann” by TESCH. In this capacity he knows most of the Cells in TESCH’s region and made several trips to all groups which actively operated. On 5 January subject should have gone to Austria for his firm and discontinue his V-mann assignment by order of Berlin. Subject had to remaining Bad Kreuznach due to the Allied Raid of 2 January. On 10 January subject reported back to Tiefenthal where he had to be transferred to the hospital 3 days later. Upon his release in late February subject was sent to the Westwall. He worked as a driver for the DAF supply dump in Schweig. Subject had to deliver food to various DAF points and by order of TESCH, who knew Gauboman DOERNER (in charge of DAF supplies) on his delivery route also brought supplies to almost all cells in the region. When the front advanced in the middle of March he returned to his wife in Daubach near Bad Kreuznach by order of TESCH, who promised to send subject’s military papers to Daubach. Subject waited in vain for word from TESCH. On 17 April subject went to Bad Kreuznach to obtain MG permission to move his family back to Bad Kreuznach. Due to his position and close connection with TESCH, subject is very well informed and his confession supplied many leads culminating in the arrest of other saboteurs and the uncovering of caches and cells. Interrogators: Kalish, Gutman, Colombo. 

SEIBERT, Paul: Reimsbach Cell. (“Gruppe Louise 8c”) 

Subject was born in Bad Kreuznach in 1908. He joined the NSDAP and the SA in 1933. On 2 November subject reported to Tiefenthal and upon graduation was sent to Reimsbach as leader of group “CHRISTINE” under Lt. HOFMANN. He received 240RM/month and 100RM to cover travel and building materials for caves.  His group received  supplies and arms which they buried at 4 different places. Subject was frequently contacted by HOFMANN and if necessary used Wehrmacht Signal channels for communication with HOFMANN. All communications were funneled through the “Hoehere SS and Polizei Fuehrer” Wiesbaden; subject identified himself as “Leader Group LOUISE 8c”. After the arrival of Allied troops subject and MADES hid in the woods and after several days made their way to their homes in Bad Kreuznach and Ingelheim. SEIBERT is well informed on the entire organization and besides being able to locate 4 caches of his own group he has leads which should be helpful in rounding up the Cells and caches in Abschnitt HOFMANN. Interrogators: Gutman, Kalish, Colombo.

UNDEVELOPED LEADS

Weinsheim:                   REEB,  Johann, Hauptstrasse; carpenter, attended Wiesbaden School in November 1944. Subject is at home; was to ill to be moved when this detachment went to apprehend him. 

Saarbrucken:                GERHARDT, fnu, miner, attended Wiesbaden School in October 1944. 

Nuhlheim:                    KOCH, fnu, R.R. worker, age 51; attended Wiesbaden School in Oct. 44. 

Sprendling:                   STRUNCK, Hans, coal deal in Sprendling; brother-in-law of TESCH. Driver of vehicle that delivered sabotage supplies to other cell units. Last seen about three weeks before Allied troops entered the region. He might be at Kaichen (near Oberhesee). 

Ludwigshafen:               KURZ, Johann, attended the Wiesbaden School in November 1944. 

Darmstadt:                    SCHMUNK, fnu, once worked at Technische Nothilfe; approximately 5’9”, slim, dark blond hair; 36 years old. He attended the Wiesbaden School in November 1944. 

Frankfurt:                     BULLMAN, fnu, fireman, who attended the Wiesbaden School in January 1945. Short with medium build, gray hair, 50 years of age. 

                                    FICHT, fnu, attended Wiesbaden School in November 1944. Approximately 40 years of age. 

                                    WINTER, fnu, possibly in Offenbach; attended the Wiesbaden School November 1944; 40 years, gray short hair, husky build. 

                                    KULLMANN, fnu, once worked with office of Technische Nothilfe; worked on staff of Wiesbaden Sabotage School. 45 years, white hair, short and medium build. 

Koblenz:                       MULLER, fnu, carpenter, attended the Wiesbaden School in January 1945. 50 years, gray hair, tall and slim, glasses. 

                                    KIMMEL, Fritz, Moselweiss Uferstrasse, dental supply salesman, attended Wiesbaden School; Wiltingen Cell leader. 45 years of age. 

                                    NICK, fnu, Regierungsrat, attended Wiesbaden School in November 1944. 

Landau:                        APPEL, August, farmer from Phalz region; attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945; member of BRITTEN Cell. 45 years, blackhair, 165 cm, 170lbs, medium build glasses. 

Engers:                         SCHNORRBACH, Philip, policeman, formerly at Bad Kreuznach, attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945. Subject once headed the Neuwied Cell, but was transferred to another Cell belived to be at Strassenhaus (across Rhine from Koblenz). 

Pilmeroth:                     GENZEL, fnu, farmer, attended Wiesbaden School. 45 years, small and husky, moustache. 

Detzam:                        REGNARY, Mathias, grape farmer, attended Wiesbaden School. 30 years of age. 

Kirn:                             MAROLD, fnu, confectioner, attended Wiesbaden School. 30 years of age. 

Trier:                            HERMANN, Karl, RR worker, attended Wiesbaden School in February 1945. SS man, fanatic, had Army training as pioneer. 50 years of age, short and stocky. 

                                    VOIGT, fnu, near Bitburg; attended Wiesbaden School. 

St. Wendel:                  RIEFER, Karl, RR workshop foreman, attended Wiesbaden School in October 1944. 55 years, dark hair, short and stocky. 

Karlsruhe:                     ZEISS, fnu, attended the Wiesbaden School in October 1944. 38 years, brown hair. 

Stuttgart:                       LOWEN, fnu, attended the Wiesbaden School in October 1944. 40 years, dark blond hair. 

Hundheim:                    PHILIPPI, fnu, attended Wiesbaden School in December 1944; might be in Idar Oberstein. 60 years, fanatic. 

Nussdorf:                     HESS, fnu, grape grower, attended Wiesbaden School in February 1945. 48 years, blond, stocky build. 

Main:                            WESTERHOLT, fnu, a Count, owns a great deal of property; attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945. 48 years, dark hair, stout build. 

Idar Oberstein:             KRIEGER, Ernst, Bismarkstrasse, Edestein cutter, attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945. 48 years, dark hair, stout build. 

Koblenz:                       GLOMEN, fnu, went to Wiesbaden School after coming from Berlin. Remained at Wiesbaden only two days and returned to Berlin. Subject delivered a package to Dr. GOSS from a training center in Berlin. Supposed to have studied engineering. 40 years, blackhair, 160cm husky build. 

Baden Area:                 WEGELE, fnu, probably Freiburg; attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945. 45 years, brunette, tall and slim. 

Rheinbollerhutte Cell:      HERTER, “Baby”, from Baden area, but thought to be working with STINNER. 17 years, Hitler Youth. 

BECKER, fnu, Hitler Youth who attended Wiesbaden School and was a member of Rhaunen Cell. 

STINNER, Kurt, old SA member, SA Sturmbannfuhrer, fanatic, moved to Rheinbollerhutte, Hundrick, house totallt destroyed in January. Attended Wiesbaden School. 

Rhaunen:                      DIEHL, Otto, attended Wiesbaden School and was a member of Rhaunen Cell. Informants cliam subject is not known in the area. 

Maien/Eifel:                  WEISENBACH, Peter, locksmith or mechanic; attended Wiesbaden School in November 1944. 

Neuwied:                      NINK, Johann, attended Wiesbaden School in November 1944. 52 years, married, 6’7” tall. 

Horsheim:                     BRUHL, August, electrician, attended Wiesbaden School, 35 years. 

Ingelheim:                     MADDES, Helmut, Hitler Youth, son of local director, attended Wiesbaden School. Believed to have fled. 

Engelheim:                    EWALD, fnu, Hitler Youth from Saar region who attended Wiesbaden School. Not known here. 18 years. 

                                    HERBERT, fnu, Hitler Youth from Saar region, attended Wiesbaden School. Not known here. 17 years. 

St. Ingbert:                   FRIES, fnu, attended Wiesbaden School and local Cell leader. Works as electrician foreman (Steiger) in local mine. 

                                    DUPRE, alias DUBONG, attended Wiesbaden School. Hitler Youth leader, formerly in Volklingen. 

                                    HOFMANN, fnu, 1^st Lt. In Wehrmact, last in St. Ingbert; commands 12 groups. 

Bad Kreuznach:        DIENDORF, Ernst, “Bub” attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945. Hitler Youth, 16 years, 5’ 8”. 

Rhine Region:            HANDSCHUH, Werner, attended Wiesbaden School in January 1945. Hitler Youth, 19 years, 5’7” tall, thin, dark. 

Trier:                            FRITER, Peter, “Pitt”, old party and SA goon squad leader, attended Wiesbaden School in November 1944. 50 years, 6’8” tall, dark. 

Saar Region:               SCHRUHMACHER, fnu, attended Wiesbaden School. Member of BRITTEN Cell.

                                    WIEDNER, fnu, attended Wiesbaden School. Member of BRITTEN Cell.                

Hagenau:                      Oberfeldwebel, Inf. From Schwaben, assigned as teacher to HJ camp near Hagenau. Attended Wiesbaden School in February 1945. 36 years, 5’9”, brown hair, mechanic, father is a forest warden. 

Kurt TESCH, SS Ostuf, leader of the Moselle sector, is believed to have taken his family across the Rhine two days before the arrival of the Allies. His wife is supposed to have relatives near Frankfurt (Kaichen near Oberhesse?) 

Kurt EMMERICH, leader of the Wolf Cell, was arrested by a CIC Detachment on 29 March 1945. 

AGENTS NOTE: 

1. The 16 saboteurs are at present imprisoned in the Bad Kreuznach city jail, and have been placed at the disposition of the XXIII Corps CIC Detachment, which has relieved this Detachment of jurisdiction in this area (Arrest reports attached).
2. All listed sabotage supplies have been collected and turned over to Ordnance.
3. There is no evidence that acts of sabotage have been committed by any of the apprehended saboteurs, however, it is believed that the majority would have become active at some future date.
    
   1. Their instructions were to remain inactive until a German line of resistance had been established and/or their area had become quiet.
   2. Supplies which reached the Cells only a few days before the Allies’ arrived were buried in several locations and were so camouflaged that discovery would have been impossible. This necessitated a great deal of work and was accomplished with only one thought in mind: To facilitate and secure future operations.
   3. The supplies of each cache were insulated against moisture by improvised covering of sheet metal or rubber.
   4. The great majority of those apprehended stuck to their “Cover Story” and confessed only after having been shown the helplessness of their position.
4. The most commonly used cover stories were the following:

1. The personnel received orders from the Höhere SS and Police Commander  to attend a special school in Wiesbaden for Auxiliary policemen, which was held for a period of several weeks.

2. They were called to Wiesbaden to work on the Rhine bridges; to attend special agricultural school sponsored by the Party.

3. Their establishments were designated small supply depots for the DAF (Deutsches Arbeitfront), which was evacuating the Westwall. These supplies were later collected by other Army units.

Since the name of the organization and Wiesnbaden School are known as “Oberkommado W 12” (Wehrkreis 12), it can be assumed that the same type of school and organization exist in other Wehrkreise.

It is recommended that all undeveloped leads be exploited as soon as possible and that close liaison between those detachments working on the case be maintained.

Keirn C. Brown                                      Jacob Kalish
Special Agent, CIC                               Special Agent, CIC 

Henry L. Hoebel                                     Harvey E. Gutman
Speical Agent, CIC                                Special Agent, CIC 

Approved:
George H. McDonald
Captain, Inf,
Commanding 

Distribution: 

1-G-2, 70^th Dvision
1-CIC Det., XXIII Corps
2-CIC Det., Third Army
1-CIC Det., 12^th Army Group
1-File.