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Eavesdropping on Hitler’s Reich
DAßELSTEIN: “Das zeigt, daß sie Vertrauen zu uns haben.”
The British tricks also included Schmeichelei. One of Britain’s
finest official war artists, Captain William Coldstream, was sent to
the C.S.D.I.C.’s No.11 camp (Latimer) to paint General von Thoma
in oils. (Both Generaloberst von Arnim and Generalleutnant had
seen through the ploy and refused to be painted, but Von Thoma,
“with his customary independence of mind”, noted the grinning
British officers, decided that he would accept. )
The painting was completed, but Captain Coldstream left for
London without General von Thoma seeing the painting. The War
Office arranged for Thoma to be taken from No.11 Camp to London
to see his portrait. “He is invaluable to us as a talker and instigator
of discussion,” recorded Brigadier Crockett, “and his services
to us would be likely to suffer adversely if he becomes disgruntled.”
Another lieutenant-Colonel had pointed out that if such a trip
were permitted to Von Thoma. there would appear to be a likelihood
that Von Arnim and Crüwell would be provoked into jealous
discussion, “with possible interesting resu1ts.”
But the ban on allowing the prisoners out irked C.S.D.I.C, and
the DDMI(PW) asked the Joint Intelligence Committee des Kriegskabinetts
to get it lifted. “An example of the treatment we might
employ is that we might stage an interview between one or more of
the Generals and a ’spoof’ Foreign Office official, who would ostensibly
be charged with collecting evidence regarding atrocities and
the workings of the Nazi Government. Even if the Germans refused
to answer any questions the interview, I am sure, would produce
such a buzzing in the hive that many more revelations might come
to light.”
Subsequently Churchill directed that Major Eric Linklater, a
playwright and novelist working at the War Office, should be given
SRN.2978 (PRO: WO.208�3438).
WO.208�3438).
Schr. Coldstream an General von Thoma, 15.7.43 (PRO: WO.208�3438.
WO.208�3438.
Vermerk, 23.7.43 (PRO: WO.208�3438).
WO.208�3438).
Vermerke, 23., 25.7.43 (PRO: WO.208�3438)
WO.208�3438)