RIO 1055 .U51 S-E -C -R--L--T U.S. Army. European Command ...

SECRET
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of this group, but it is likely it was identical with the parachute group
Anton, mentioned in the letter from the CI War Room, dated 21 December 1945.
A second group, composed of Untersturmfuehrer Blume, Unteroffizier
Korrell, four wireless operators, and four Iranian agents was dropped near
Teheran about the same date as the Kroemis group. This group was placed
under the command of SD Hauptsturmfuehrer Meyer, who 'split the group into
two parts and sent one part into the Bakhtiari territory while he kept the
other in Teheran. The Kroemis group meanwhile had reported to Oberstleutnant
Schulze in the Ghashghai territory. Schulze, who was believed to be incompetent
by the SD, was intended to be pushed out of his job and replaced by
Kroemis. The SD neglected to recall, however, that Schulze had been in
Iran for many years and had established lifelong connections with numerous
influential Persians.
Through the efforts of Gorechi, the British Secret Service had been
informed of this SD operation by the Ghashghai brothers. As far as Gorechi
knows, all agents of these groups, as well as Schulze and Meyer were apprehended
by the British.
a. Gorechi l s Connection wlth .Abt II, Amt Ausland Abwehr.
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iAfter the arrival of the Russians in Northern Iran in 1941, the
German consul Dr Bertram Schulze, who was actually a major, later a Lt Col,
of Abt Is Amt Ausland Abwehr, fled to the terribtory-Of.theGhashghais'in
southern Iran. At that time Gorechi and the Ghashghais contacted Oberst -
leutnant Putz of Abt II, Amt Ausland Abwehr p 'who Was.Very'much interested
in enlisting their . aid. Putz wanted them to join-thelFreikorpsOwhich
suggestion, however, they refused. The Ghashghai brothers did take some
militaryltraining'for about two months, Int merelY:for-theit-owh'enjoyMent.
When, the Ghashghais returned .to Persia in 1944,Aheytnrhed-overio,:the.'
British a]). plans.Orlbmehr:II, which aation led to thatOarreat ceSchulte
and aildilmehr . and SDPersonalities in Iran.'
,d. Goreohi l s Connection with Dr Ripken
In order to be able to operate his import and export business successfully,
Gcrechi had to maintain liaison with .Geheimrat Dr Ripkeh, the director of
the economic-political section of the Auswaertiges -AMtfOr Iran and Turkey.
All trade with these'two countries was stpervised by this 'Office. When Gorechi
wenttoTUrkey in 1943 in order to inform the Ghaiffighais'of recent plans of:'4
the OKUOn southern Persia, he had to obtain clearanceltiom,Di'Ripken.dCreChi
as welles theY)Ghashghais, had always received excelIeht t0OperatiOn from Dr
Ripken.andwurfurnished r vith the necessary travel-Perkite4Swell
of recommendation to the consulatesin allcountrieehe'hid'to'cross:AGorecihi
had -alSo'lebtablithed itsobial contact with Dr 11.1.plceriVidgAike liO'thanribthei't
probablysilociUmbed,to'theclever Iranitinriberies
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