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Eavesdropping on Hitler’s Reich
Then more small talk about V2 rockets, the Stalag Luft episode
bei Stettin, wo 57 British officers were shot, experiences in a submarine
during a depth-charge attack, attempts to crack British Intelligence,
the slaughter of Dutchmen.
Each British Wehrmachtteil worked differently. The Air section
kept a comprehensive name index of Luftwaffe personalities.
But Naval Intelligence deliberately refrained from briefing
the C.S.D.I.C. interrogators in depth, so as to avoid adulteration
of their product. On October 7, 1942 the British Generalstabschef
General Sir Alan Brooke visited C.S.D.I.C., to watch the “interrogation
of German prisoners under special means with microphones
and ’stool pigeons’ [Spitzeln].’ Brooke called it “A very interesting
and well-run organisation under a live wire,” meaning Kendrick.
Praise for C.S.D.I.C.’s efforts poured in. On January 22, 1943 its
officers met with Political Intelligence Department officers of the
Foreign Office to ensure that C.S.D.I.C. was kept apprised of the
propaganda requirements of these psychological-warriors. (There
were monthly meetings at the Latimer camp thereafter, to steer the
C.S.D.I.C. interrogators in the right direction.)
Until late 1942 only General der Panzertruppe Hans von Thoma,
late commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps, was of significance
as a source.
With the Axis collapse in Tunisia in May 1943 however the
trickle of high-ranking prisoners became a flood. To make room
for them in British camps, 156 German prisoners were shipped out
from Britain to Canada on May 4, which still left 459 in British
camps. Shortly, sixty-seven German officers arrived by air at London’s
Hendon airport. On May 16 alone Von Arnim, Hans Cramer,
Gustav von Vaerst, Karl Bülowius, and General der Luftwaffe Bassenge
arrived at Hendon. They were housed at C.S.D.I.C.’s No.11
PRO: ADM.223�84.
ADM.223�84.
Tagebuch General Sir Alan Brooke, 7.10.42 (Kings College archives,
London: Nachlaß Alanbrooke, Bd.5�6A).
KTB MI.19 (PRO: WO.165�41); for typical selection briefs specifying pris-
KTB MI.19 (PRO: WO.165�41); for typical selection briefs specifying prisoners
desired and topics to be covered, see Brief of 12.11.44 (NA: RG.165,
entry 79, box 767).