Duquesne Spy Ring
On
January 2, 1942, 33 members of a Nazi spy ring headed
by Frederick Joubert Duquesne were sentenced to serve
a total of over 300 years in prison. They were brought
to justice after a lengthy espionage investigation
by the FBI. William Sebold, who had been recruited
as a spy for Germany, was a major factor in the FBI's
successful resolution of this case through his work
as a double agent for the United States.
Click
on a Member
A
native of Germany, William Sebold served in the German
army during World War I. After leaving Germany in
1921, he worked in industrial and aircraft plants
throughout the United States and South America. On
February 10, 1936, he became a naturalized citizen
of the United States.
Sebold
returned to Germany in February, 1939, to visit his
mother in Mulheim. Upon his arrival in Hamburg, Germany,
he was approached by a member of the Gestapo who
said that Sebold would be contacted in the near future.
Sebold proceeded to Mulheim where he obtained employment.
In
September, 1939, a Dr. Gassner visited Sebold in
Mulheim and interrogated him regarding military planes
and equipment in the United States. He also asked
Sebold to return to the United States as an espionage
agent for Germany. Subsequent visits by Dr. Gassner
and a "Dr. Renken," later identified as
Major Nickolaus Ritter of the German Secret Service,
persuaded Sebold to cooperate with the Reich because
he feared reprisals against family members still
living in Germany.
Since
Sebold's passport has been stolen shortly after his
first visit from Dr. Gassner, Sebold went to the
American Consulate in Cologne, Germany, to obtain
a new one. While doing so, Sebold secretly told personnel
of the American Consulate about his future role as
a German agent and expressed his wish to cooperate
with the FBI upon his return to America. Sebold reported
to Hamburg, Germany, where he was instructed in such
areas as preparing coded messages and microphotographs.
Upon completion of training, he was given five microphotographs
containing instructions for preparing a code and
detailing the type of information he was to transmit
to Germany from the United States. Sebold was told
to retain two of the microphotographs and to deliver
the other three to German operatives in the United
States. After receiving final instructions, including
using the assumed name of "Harry Sawyer," he
sailed from Genoa, Italy, and arrived in New York
City on February 8, 1940.
The
FBI previously had been advised of Sebold's expected
arrival, his mission, and his intentions to assist
them in identifying German agents in the United States.
Under the guidance of Special Agents, Sebold established
residence in New York City as Harry Sawyer. Also,
an office was established for him as a consultant
diesel engineer, to be used as a cover in establishing
contacts with members of the spy ring. In selecting
the office for Sebold, FBI Agents ensured that they
could observe any meetings taking place there.
In
May, 1940, a shortwave radio-transmitting station
operated by FBI Agents on Long Island established
contact with the German Shortwave station abroad.
This radio station served as a main channel of communication
between German spies in New York City and their superiors
in Germany for 16 months. During this time, the FBI's
radio station transmitted over 300 messages to Germany,
and received 200 messages from Germany.
Sebold's
success as a counterespionage agent against Nazi
spies in the United States is demonstrated by the
successful prosecution of the 33 German agents in
New York. Of those arrested on the charge of espionage,
19 pleaded guilty. The 14 men who entered pleas of
not guilty were brought to trial in Federal District
Court, Brooklyn, New York, on September 3, 1941;
and they were all found guilty by jury of December
13, 1941.
The
activities of each of these convicted spies and Sebold's
role in uncovering their espionage activities for
the Reich follow.
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FREDERICK
JOUBERT DUQUESNE
Born
in Cape Colony, South Africa, on September 21, 1877,
Frederick Joubert Duquesne emigrated from Hamilton,
Bermuda, to the United States in 1902 and became
a naturalized U.S. citizen on December 4, 1913. Duquesne
was implicated in fraudulent insurance claims, including
one that resulted from a fire aboard the British
steamship Tennyson which caused the vessel
to sink on February 18, 1916. When he was arrested
on November 17, 1917, he had in his possession a
large file of news clippings concerning bomb explosions
on ships, as well as a letter from the Assistant
German Vice Consul at Managua, Nicaragua. The letter
indicated that "Captain Duquesne" was "one
who has rendered considerable service to the German
cause."
When Sebold returned to the United States in February, 1940, Duquesne was operating
a business known as the "Air Terminals Company" in New York City.
After establishing his first contact with Duquesne by letter, Sebold met with
him in Duquesne's office. During their initial meeting, Duquesne, who was extremely
concerned about the possibility of electronic surveillance devices being present
in his office, gave Sebold a note stating that they should talk elsewhere.
After relocating to an Automat, the two men exchanged information about members
of the German espionage system with whom they had been in contact.
Duquesne provided Sebold with information for transmittal to Germany during
subsequent meetings, and the meetings which occurred in Sebold's office were
filmed by FBI Agents. Duquesne, who was vehemently anti-British, submitted
information dealing with national defense in America, the sailing of ships
to British ports, and technology. He also regularly received money from Germany
in payment for his services.
On one occasion, Duquesne provided Sebold with photographs and specifications
of a new type of bomb being produced in the United States. He claimed that
he secured that material by secretly entering the DuPont plant in Wilmington,
Delaware. Duquesne also explained how fires could be started in industrial
plants. Much of the information Duquesne obtained was the result of his correspondence
with industrial concerns. Representing himself as a student, he requested data
concerning their products and manufacturing conditions.
Duquesne was brought to trial and was convicted. He was sentenced to serve
18 years in prison on espionage charges, as well as a 2-year concurrent sentence
and payment of a $2,000 fine for violation of the Registration Act.
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PAUL
BANTE
A
native of Germany, Paul Bante served in the German
army during World War I. He came to the United States
in 1930 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in
1938.
Bante, formerly a member of the German-American Bund, claimed that Germany
put him in contact with one of their operatives, Paul Fehse, because of Bante's
previous association with a Dr. Ignatz T. Griebl. Before fleeing to Germany
to escape prosecution, Dr. Griebl had been implicated in a Nazi spy ring with
Guenther Gustave Rumrich, who was tried on espionage charges in 1938.
Bante assisted Paul Fehse in obtaining information about ships bond for Britain
with war materials and supplies. Bante claimed that as a member of the Gestapo
his function was to create discontent among union workers, stating that every
strike would assist Germany.
Sebold met Bante at the Little Casino Restaurant, which was frequented by several
members of this spy ring. During one such meeting, Bante advised that he was
preparing a fuse bomb, and he subsequently delivered dynamite and detonation
caps to Sebold.
Entering a guilty plea to violation of the Registration Act, Bante was sentenced
to 18 months' imprisonment and was fined $1,000.
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MAX
BLANK
Max
Blank came to the United States from Germany in 1928.
Although he never became a U.S. citizen, Blank had
been employed in New York City at a German library
and at a book store which catered to German trade.
Paul Fehse, a major figure in this case, informed Germany that Blank, who was
acquainted with several members of the spy ring, could secure some valuable
information but lacked the funds to do so. Later Fehse and Blank met with Sebold
in his office. They told Sebold that Blank could obtain details about rubberized
self-sealing airplane gasoline tanks, as well as a new braking device for airplanes,
from a friend who worked in a shipyard. However, he needed money to get the
information.
Blank pleaded guilty to violation of the Registration Act. He received a sentence
of 18 months' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.
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ALFRED
E. BROKHOFF
Alfred
E. Brokhoff, a native of Germany, came to the United
States in 1923 and became a naturalized citizen in
1929. He was a mechanic for the United States Lines
in New York City for 17 years prior to his arrest.
Because of his employment on the docks, he knew almost
all of the other agents in this group who were working
as seamen on various ships.
Brokhoff helped Fehse secure information about the sailing dates and cargoes
of vessels destined for England. He also assisted Fehse in transmitting this
information to Germany. Also, another German agent, George V. Leo Waalen, reported
that he had received information from Brokhoff for transmittal to Germany.
Upon conviction, Brokhoff was sentenced to serve a five-year prison term for
violation of the espionage statutes and to serve a two-year concurrent sentence
for violation of the Registration Act.
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HEINRICH
CLAUSING
In
September, 1934, German-born Heinrich Clausing came
to the United States, where he became a naturalized
citizen in 1938. Having served on various ships sailing
from New York Harbor since his arrival in the country,
he was employed as a cook on the SS Argentine at
the time of his arrest.
Closely associated with Franz Stigler, one of the principal contact men for
this spy ring, Clausing operated as a courier. He transported microphotographs
and other material from the United States to South American ports, from which
the information was sent to Germany via Italian airlines. He also established
a mail drop in South America for expeditious transmittal of information to
Germany by mail.
Clausing was convicted and was sentenced to serve eight years for violation
of espionage statutes. He also received a two-year concurrent sentence for
violation of the Registration Act.
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CONRADIN
OTTO DOLD
Conradin
Otto Dold came to the United States from Germany
in 1926. He became a U.S. citizen in 1934 under the
Seamen's Act. Prior to his arrest, he was Chief Steward
aboard the SS Siboney of the American Export
Lines.
Dold was related to people holding high positions in Germany and was closely
associated with other members of the espionage group who worked on ships sailing
from New York Harbor. As a courier, Dold carried information from Nazi agents
in the United States to contacts in neutral ports abroad for transmittal to
Germany.
Dold was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison on espionage charges and received
a 2-year concurrent sentence and a fine of $1,000 for violation of the Registration
Act.
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RUDOLF
EBELING
After
leaving Germany for the United States in 1925, employed
as a foreman in the Shipping Department of Harper
and Brothers in New York City when he was arrested.
Ebeling obtained information regarding ship sailings and cargoes, which he
provided to Paul Fehse for transmittal to Germany. He also furnished such information
to Leo Waalen, who delivered the material to Sebold for transmittal.
Upon conviction, Ebeling was sentenced to 5 years in prison on espionage charges.
he also received a 2-year concurrent sentence and a $1,000 fine for violating
the Registration Act.
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RICHARD
EICHENLAUB
Richard
Eichenlaub, who came to the United States in 1930
and became a citizen in 1936, operated the Little
Casino Restaurant in the Yorkville Section of New
York City. This restaurant was a rendezvous for many
members of this spy ring, and Eichenlaub introduced
several new members into the group.
Eichenlaub reported to the German Gestapo and often obtained information from
his customers who were engaged in national defense production. Through Eichenlaub,
dynamite was delivered to Sebold from Bante.
Having entered a plea of guilty to violation of the Registration Act, Eichenlaub
was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000 and to serve 18 months in prison.
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HEINRICH
CARL EILERS
A
native of Germany, Heinrich Carl Eilers came to the
United States in 1923 and became a citizen in 1932.
From 1933 until his arrest, he served as a steward
on ships sailing from New York City.
Eilers made a trip from New York to Washington, D.C., to obtain information
for Germany from the Civil Aeronautics Authority. His mission, however, was
unsuccessful.
At the time of his arrest in New York City by Customs authorities in June,
1940, he had in his possession 20 letters addressed to people throughout Europe.
He also had books relating to magnesium and aluminum alloys which had been
sent to him by Edmund Carl Heine, one of the principal espionage agents in
this group.
Upon conviction, Eilers received a 5-year prison sentence on espionage charges
and a concurrent sentence of 2 years' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine under
the Registration Act.
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PAUL
FEHSE
In
1934, Paul Fehse left Germany for the United States,
where he became a citizen in 1938. Since his arrival
in this country, he had been employed as a cook aboard
ships sailing from New York Harbor.
Fehse was one of the directing forces in this espionage group. He arranged
meetings, directed members' activities, correlated information that had been
developed, and arranged for its transmittal to Germany, chiefly through Sebold.
Fehse, who was trained for espionage work in Hamburg, Germany, claimed he headed
the Marine Division of the German espionage system in the United States.
Having become quite apprehensive and nervous, Fehse made plans to leave the
country. He obtained a position on the SS Siboney, which was scheduled
to sail from Hoboken, New Jersey, for Lisbon, Portugal, on March 29, 1941.
He planned to desert ship in Lisbon and return to Germany.
However, before he could leave the United States, Fehse was arrested by FBI
Agents. Upon arrest, he admitted sending letters to Italy for transmittal to
Germany, as well as reporting the movements of British ships.
On April 1, 1941, Fehse was sentenced on a plea of guilty to serve one year
and one day in prison for violation of the Registration Act. He subsequently
pleaded guilty to espionage and received a prison sentence of 15 years.
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EDMUND
CARL HEINE
A
native of Germany, Edmund Carl Heine came to the
United States in 1914 and became a naturalized citizen
in 1920. Until 1938, he held various positions in
the foreign sales and service department of Ford
Motor Company and Chrysler Motor Corporation. His
employment took him to the West Indies, South America,
Spain, and Berlin, Germany. Heine was closely associated
with Dr. Hans Luther, former German Ambassador in
Washington, D.C., and Prince Louis Ferdinand of Berlin.
Heine sent letters from Detroit, Michigan, to Lilly Stein, one of the German
spies Sebold was instructed to contact. The letters contained detailed technical
data regarding the military, aircraft construction, and various industries.
He also wrote to aircraft companies to obtain information about their production,
number of employees, and the time required to construct military planes.
After obtaining technical books relating to magnesium and aluminum alloys,
Heine sent the materials to Heinrich Eilers. To ensure safe delivery of the
books to Germany in case they did not reach Eilers, Heine indicated the return
address on the package as the address of Lilly Stein.
Upon conviction of violating the Registration Act, Heine received a $5,000
fine and a 2-year prison sentence.
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FELIX JAHNKE
In
1924, Felix Jahnke left Germany for the United States,
where he became a naturalized citizen in 1930. Jahnke
had attended military school in Germany and had served
in the German army as a radio operator.
Jahnke and Axel Wheeler-Hill secured the services of Josef Klein, a radio technician,
in building a portable radio set for Jahnke's apartment in the Bronx. Jahnke
used this radio to transmit messages, which were intercepted by the FBI, to
Germany. He also visited the docks in New York Harbor to obtain information
about any vessels bound for England.
After pleading guilty to violation of the Registration Act, Jahnke was sentenced
to serve 20 months in prison and to pay a $1,000 fine.
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GUSTAV WILHELM KAERCHER
Gustav
Wilhelm Kaercher came to the United States in 1923,
becoming a citizen in 1931. He served in the German
army during World War I and was a former leader of
the German Bund in New York. During visits to Germany,
he was seen to have worn a German army officer's
uniform. At the time of his arrest, he was engaged
in designing power plants for the American Gas and
Electric Company in New York City.
Kaercher was arrested with Paul Scholtz, who had just handed Kaercher a table
of call letters and frequencies for transmitting information to Germany by
radio.
As a result of his guilty plea to charges of violating the Registration Act,
Kaercher received a $2,000 fine and a prison sentence of 22 months.
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JOSEF KLEIN
A
native of Germany, Josef Klein came to the United
States in 1925; he did not become a citizen. Klein,
a photographer and lithographer, had been interested
in the building and operation of shortwave radio
transmitters.
Klein constructed a portable shortwave radio transmitting-and-receiving set
for Felix Jahnke and Axel Wheeler- Hill. When he built the radio set, Klein
knew it would be used for transmitting messages to Germany.
Upon conviction, Klein received a sentence of five years' imprisonment on espionage
charges and a concurrent sentence of two years' imprisonment under the Registration
Act.
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HARTWIG RICHARD KLEISS
Born
in Germany, Hartwig Richard Kleiss came to this country
in 1925 and became a naturalized citizen six years
later. Following his arrival in the United States,
he was employed as a cook on various ships.
Kleiss obtained information for Germany, including blueprints of the SS
America which showed the locations of newly installed gun emplacements.
He included information about how guns would be brought into position for firing.
Kleiss also obtained details on the construction and performance of new speedboats
being developed by the United States Navy, which he submitted to Sebold for
transmittal to Germany.
Kleiss had originally chosen to stand trial. However, after cross-examination,
he changed his plea to guilty on charge of espionage and received an eight-year
prison sentence.
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HERMAN W. LANG
Herman
W. Lang came to the United States from Germany in
1927 and became a citizen in 1939. He was one of
the four people Sebold had been told to contact in
the United States.
Until his arrest, Lang had been employed by a company manufacturing highly
confidential materials essential to the national defense of the United States.
During a visit to Germany in 1938, Lang conferred with German military authorities
and reconstructed plans of the confidential materials from memory.
Upon conviction, Lang received a sentence of 18 years in prison on espionage
charges and a 2-year concurrent sentence under the Registration Act.
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EVELYN CLAYTON LEWIS
A
native of Arkansas, Evelyn Clayton Lewis had been
living with Frederick Joubert Duquesne in New York
City. Miss Lewis had expressed her anti-British and
anti-Semitic feelings during her relationship with
Duquesne. She was aware of his espionage activities
and condoned them. While she was not active in obtaining
information for Germany, she helped Duquesne prepare
material for transmittal abroad.
Upon a guilty plea, Miss Lewis was sentenced to serve one year and one day
in prison for violation of the Registration Act.
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RENE EMANUEL MEZENEN
Rene
Emanuel Mezenen, a Frenchman, claimed U.S. citizenship
through the naturalization of his father. Prior to
his arrest, he was employed as a steward in the transatlantic
clipper service.
The German Intelligence Service in Lisbon, Portugal, asked Mezenen to act as
a courier, transmitting information between the United States and Portugal
on his regular trips on the clipper. He accepted this offer for financial gain.
In the course of flights across the Atlantic, Mezenen also reported his observance
of convoys sailing for England. He also became involved in smuggling platinum
from the United States to Portugal.
Following a plea of guilty, Mezenen received an eight year prison term for
espionage and two concurrent years for registration violations.
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CARL REUPER
Having
come to the United States from Germany in 1929, Carl
Reuper became a citizen in 1936. Prior to this arrest,
he served as an inspector for the Westinghouse Electric
Company in Newark, New Jersey.
Reuper obtained photographs for Germany relating to national defense materials
and construction, which he obtained from his employment. He arranged radio
contact with Germany through the station established by Felix Jahnke. On one
occasion, he conferred with Sebold regarding Sebold's facilities for communicating
with German authorities.
Upon conviction, Reuper was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment on espionage
charges and 2 years' concurrent sentence under the Registration Act.
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EVERETT MINSTER ROEDER
Born
in the Bronx, New York, Roeder was a draftsman and
designer of confidential materials for the U.S. Army
and Navy.
Sebold had delivered microphotograph instructions to Roeder, as ordered by
German authorities. Roeder and Sebold met in public places and proceeded to
spots where they could talk privately. In 1936, Roeder had visited Germany and was requested by German authorities
to act as an espionage agent. Primarily due to monetary rewards he would receive,
Roeder agreed.
Roeder entered a guilty plea to the charge of espionage and was sentenced to
16 years in prison.
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PAUL ALFRED W. SCHOLZ
A
German native, Paul Scholz came to the United States
in 1926 but never attained citizenship. He had been
employed in German book stores in New York City,
where he disseminated Nazi propaganda.
Scholz had arranged for Josef Klein to construct the radio set used by Felix
Jahnke and Axel Wheeler-Hill. At the time of his arrest, Scholz had just given
Gustav Wilhelm Kaercher a list of radio call letters and frequencies. He also
encouraged members of this spy ring to secure data for Germany and arranged
contacts between various German agents.
Upon conviction, Scholz was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment for espionage
with 2 years' concurrent sentence under the Registration Act.
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GEORGE GOTTLOB SCHUH
George
Schuh, a native of Germany, came to the United States
in 1923. He became a citizen in 1939 and was employed
as a carpenter.
As a German agent, he sent information directly to the Gestapo in Hamburg,
Germany, from this country. Schuh had provided Alfred Brokhoff information
that Winston Churchill had arrived in the United States on the HMS George
V. He also furnished information to Germany concerning the movement of
ships carrying materials and supplies to Britain.
Having pleaded guilty to violation of the Registration Act, Schuh received
a sentence of 18 months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
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ERWIN WILHELM SIEGLER
Erwin
Siegler came to the United States from Germany in
1929 and attained citizenship in 1936. He had served
as chief butcher on the SS America until it
was taken over by the U.S. Navy.
A courier, Siegler brought microphotographic instructions to Sebold from German
authorities on one occasion. He also had brought $2,900 from German contacts
abroad to pay Lilly Stein, Duquesne, and Roeder for their services and to buy
a bomb sight. He served the espionage group as an organizer and contact man,
and he also obtained information about the movement of ships and military defense
preparations at the Panama Canal.
Subsequent to his conviction, Siegler was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment
on espionage charges and a concurrent 2-year term for violation of the Registration
Act.
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OSCAR RICHARD STABLER
Born
in Germany, Oscar Stabler came to this country in
1923 and became a citizen in 1933. He had been employed
primarily as a barber aboard transoceanic ships.
In December, 1940, British authorities in Bermuda
found a map of Gibraltar
in his possession. He was detained for a short period before being released. A
close associate of Conradin Otto Dold, Stabler served as a courier, transmitting
information between German agents in the United States and contacts abroad.
Stabler
was convicted and sentenced to serve five years in
prison for espionage and a two-year concurrent term
under the Registration Act.
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HEINRICH STADE
Heinrich
Stade came to the United States from Germany in 1922
and became a citizen in 1929. Stade had arranged
for Paul Bante's contact with Sebold and had transmitted
data to Germany regarding points of rendezvous for
convoys carrying supplies to England.
Following a guilty plea to violation of the Registration Act, Stade was fined
$1,000 and received a 15-month prison sentence.
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LILLY BARBARA CAROLA STEIN
Born
in Vienna, Austria, Lilly Stein met Hugo Sebold,
the espionage instructor who had trained William
Sebold (the two men were not related) in Hamburg,
Germany. She enrolled in this school and was sent
to the United States in 1939.
Lilly Stein was one of the people to whom Sebold had been instructed to deliver
microphotograph instructions upon his arrival in this country. She frequently
met with Sebold to give him information for transmittal to Germany, and her
address was used as a return address by other agents in mailing data for Germany.
Miss Stein pleaded guilty and received sentences of 10 years' and 2 concurrent
years' imprisonment for violations of espionage and registration statutes,
respectively.
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FRANZ JOSEPH STIGLER
In
1931, Franz Stigler left Germany for the United States,
where he became a citizen in 1939. He had been employed
as a crew member aboard U.S. ships until his discharge
from the SS America when the U.S. Navy converted
that ship into the USS West Point.
His constant companion was Erwin Siegler, and they operated as couriers in
transmitting information between the United States and German agents aboard.
Stigler sought to recruit amateur radio operators in the United States as channels
of communication to German radio stations. He had also observed and reported
defense preparations in the Canal Zone and had met with other German Agents
to advise them in their espionage pursuits.
Upon conviction, Stigler was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison on espionage
charges with 2 concurrent years for registration violations.
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ERICH STRUNCK
A
seaman aboard the ships of the United States Lines
since his arrival in this country, Erich Strunck
came to the United States from Germany in 1927. He
became a naturalized citizen in 1935.
As a courier, Strunck carried messages between German agents in the United
States and Europe. He requested authority to steal the diplomatic bag of a
British officer traveling aboard his ship and to dispose of the officer by
pushing him overboard. Sebold convinced him that it would be too risky to do
so.
Strunck was convicted and sentenced to serve 10 years in prison on espionage
charges. He also was sentenced to serve a two-year concurrent term under the
Registration Act.
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LEO WAALEN
Waalen
was born in Danzig while that city was under German
domination. He entered the United States by "jumping
ship" about 1935. He was a painter for a small
boat company which was constructing small craft for
the U.S. Navy.
Waalen gathered information about ships sailing for England. He also obtained
a confidential booklet issued by the FBI which contained precautions to be
taken by industrial plants to safeguard national defense materials from sabotage.
Waalen also secured government contracts listing specifications for materials
and equipment, as well as detailed sea charts of the United States Atlantic
coastline.
Following his conviction, Waalen was sentenced to 12 years in prison for espionage
and a concurrent 2-year term for violation of the Registration Act.
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ADOLF HENRY AUGUST WALISCHEWSKI
A
German native, Walischewski had been a seaman since
maturity. He became a naturalized citizen in 1935.
Walischewski became connected with the German espionage system through Paul
Fehse. His duties were confined to those of courier, carrying data from agents
in the United States to contacts abroad.
Upon conviction, Walischewski received a five-year prison sentence on espionage
charges, as well as a two-year concurrent sentence under the Registration Act.
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ELSE WEUSTENFELD
Else
Weustenfeld arrived in the United States from Germany
in 1927 and became a citizen 10 years later. From
1935 until her arrest, she was a secretary for a
law firm representing the German Consulate in New
York City.
Miss Weustenfeld was thoroughly acquainted with the German espionage system
and delivered funds to Duquesne which she had received from Lilly Stein, her
close friend.
She lived in New York City with Hans W. Ritter, a principal in the German espionage
system. His brother, Nickolaus Ritter, was the "Dr. Renken" who had
enlisted Sebold as a German agent. In 1940, Weustenfeld visited Hans Ritter
in Mexico, where he was serving as a paymaster for the German Intelligence
Service.
After pleading guilty, Else Weustenfeld was sentenced to five years' imprisonment
on charge of espionage and two concurrent years on charge of registration violations.
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AXEL WHEELER-HILL
Axel
Wheeler-Hill came to the United States in 1923 from
his native land of Russia. He was naturalized as
a citizen in 1929 and was employed as a truck driver.
Wheeler-Hill obtained information for Germany regarding ships sailing to Britain
from New York Harbor. With Felix Jahnke, he enlisted the aid of Paul Scholz
in building a radio set for sending coded messages to Germany.
Following conviction, Wheeler-Hill was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison
for espionage and 2 concurrent years under the Registration Act.
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BERTRAM WOLFGANG ZENZINGER
Born
in Germany, Zenzinger came to the United States in
1940 as a naturalized citizen of the Union of South
Africa. His reported reason for coming to this country
was to study mechanical dentistry in Los Angeles,
California.
In July, 1940, Zenzinger received a pencil for preparing invisible messages
for Germany in the mail from Siegler. He sent several letters to Germany through
a mail drop in Sweden outlining details of national defense materials.
Zenzinger was arrested by FBI Agents on April 16, 1941. Pleading guilty, he
received 18 months in prison for violation of the Registration Act and 8 years'
imprisonment for espionage.
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