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Fugitives: A History of Nazi Mercenaries During the Cold War

Danny Orbach

3.62(47 readers)
Shrouded in government secrecy, clouded by myths and propaganda, the enigmatic tale of Nazi fugitives in the early Cold War has never been properly told—until now.In the aftermath of WWII, the victorious Allies vowed to hunt Nazi war criminals “to the ends of the earth.” Yet many slipped away to the four corners of the world or were shielded by the Western Allies in exchange for cooperation. Most prominently, Reinhard Gehlen, the founder of West Germany's foreign intelligence service, welcomed SS operatives into the fold. This shortsighted decision nearly brought his cherished service down, as the KGB found his Nazi operatives easy to turn, while judiciously exposing them to threaten the very legitimacy of the Bonn Government. However, Gehlen was hardly alone in the excessive importance he placed on the supposed capabilities of former Nazi agents; his American sponsors did much the same in the early years of the Cold War. Other Nazi fugitives became freelance arms traffickers, spies, and covert operators, playing a crucial role in the clandestine struggle between the superpowers.  From posh German restaurants, smuggler-infested Yugoslav ports, Damascene safehouses, Egyptian country clubs, and fascist holdouts in Franco's Spain, Nazi spies created a chaotic network of influence and information. This network was tapped by both America and the USSR, as well as by the West German, French, and Israeli secret services. Indeed, just as Gehlen and his U.S sponsors attached excessive importance to Nazi agents, so too did almost all other state and non-state actors, adding a combustible ingredient to the Cold War covert struggle. Shrouded in government secrecy, clouded by myths and propaganda, the tangled and often paradoxical tale of these Nazi fugitives and operatives has never been properly told—until now.

Publisher

Pegasus Books

Publication Date

3/1/2022

ISBN

9781643138961

Pages

303

Categories

History

About the Author

Portrait of author Danny Orbach
Danny Orbach
Danny Orbach is Senior Lecturer in the Departments of Asian Studies and General History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Questions & Answers

The legacy of Nazi Germany and its former agents significantly influenced the geopolitical landscape of the Cold War, particularly in East-West tensions and the Israeli-Arab conflict. Nazi war criminals and ex-Nazis, often with intelligence backgrounds, were sought after by both the West and the East for their expertise. In the West, they were employed in intelligence agencies like the Gehlen Org, which later became the BND, to counter Soviet influence. This reliance on former Nazis, however, led to moral compromises and vulnerabilities, as seen in the BND's involvement in the Algerian War and the Eichmann trial. In the East, the Soviet Union exploited these connections, using Nazi agents to gain intelligence and undermine Western efforts. The Israeli-Arab conflict was also affected, with Israel's overreaction to German scientists in Egypt, driven by fears of a Nazi resurgence, leading to political crises and strained relations with West Germany. The presence of Nazi elements in these conflicts highlighted the lasting impact of the Nazi era on international relations and the complexities of post-war diplomacy.

After WWII, former Nazis and Nazi sympathizers had diverse motivations and strategies, often driven by a mix of anti-communism, nationalism, and financial gain. They sought to align with either the West or the East, or remain neutral, manipulating various powers for personal gain.

Their strategies included:

  1. Anti-communism: Many former Nazis, like Reinhard Gehlen, believed in fighting communism and joined Western intelligence agencies, like the Gehlen Org, which later became the BND. They leveraged their knowledge of the Soviet Union to gather intelligence.

  2. Nationalism: Some, like Alois Brunner, sought to promote a Nazi ideology or create a new Nazi movement. They engaged in arms trafficking and espionage to support these goals.

  3. Financial Gain: Many were mercenaries, selling their skills to the highest bidder, often for arms trafficking or espionage. They were willing to work for both Western and Eastern powers.

  4. Deniability: They often operated under pseudonyms or as freelance agents, making it difficult to trace their actions and protect their identities.

These motivations and strategies led to their diverse roles in intelligence operations and covert activities, including espionage, arms trafficking, and even terrorism. Their presence in these roles often created complex situations, with their actions sometimes benefiting one side while harming another, and contributing to the broader dynamics of the Cold War.

The West German intelligence services, especially the Gehlen Organization, employed former Nazis to counter communism due to their expertise in intelligence and anti-communist sentiments. The Gehlen Org, established with American backing, was staffed by former Gestapo and SS members, including war criminals, who were seen as reliable due to their experience. This approach, however, had significant consequences.

Firstly, it led to internal and external distrust. The use of former Nazis tarnished the reputation of the Gehlen Org and German intelligence, as it was seen as morally compromised. The exposure of Soviet penetration, particularly through Heinz Felfe, further damaged the BND's credibility.

Secondly, this strategy impacted international relations. The Israeli-Arab conflict was exacerbated by the overreaction to the presence of German scientists in Egypt, leading to the Mossad's Operation Damocles and subsequent political crises. The French and Israeli reactions to German arms smuggling also strained relations.

Lastly, the reliance on former Nazis blurred the lines between anti-communism and neo-Nazism, complicating the struggle against communism and potentially aiding Nazi resurgence. The Gehlen Org's approach, while initially effective, ultimately hindered German intelligence and international cooperation.

During the Cold War, intelligence agencies played a pivotal role in gathering information and influencing global politics. They were instrumental in:

  1. Collecting Intelligence: Agencies like the CIA, MI6, KGB, and Mossad gathered intelligence on enemy capabilities, intentions, and movements. This was crucial for understanding the Soviet Union and its allies.

  2. Counterintelligence: Agencies sought to uncover and neutralize espionage activities by foreign intelligence services within their own countries.

  3. Covert Operations: These included espionage, sabotage, and propaganda efforts aimed at undermining the enemy. Operations were often conducted in secrecy, sometimes without the knowledge of the host government.

However, covert operations sometimes conflicted with national policies and political goals:

  1. Overreaction: Intelligence agencies could overestimate threats, leading to overzealous responses that harmed national interests. For example, Israel's reaction to German scientists in Egypt was based on unfounded fears of a Nazi plot.

  2. Collusion: Agencies sometimes colluded with war criminals or other unsavory elements, which could undermine the credibility of the host government and its policies.

  3. Misalignment with Policy: Covert actions could contradict official foreign policy, as seen in the case of the French and German arms deals with Algeria, which undermined their own strategic interests.

The perception and response to Nazi war criminals significantly influenced the Cold War and regional history. Initially, Western allies, including the US and West Germany, employed former Nazis for their expertise and anti-communist stance. This decision, however, led to moral compromises and later exposed as a strategic blunder, as these individuals were often exploited by the Soviet Union. The exposure of this collaboration weakened West Germany's intelligence capabilities against the Soviet Union and East Germany.

In Israel, the presence of German scientists in Egypt was perceived as a Nazi plot, leading to the Mossad's Operation Damocles, which aimed to assassinate these scientists. This operation damaged Israel's relations with West Germany and the US. Meanwhile, the French's campaign against German arms dealers in Algeria pushed Algeria into the Soviet sphere of influence, bolstering Soviet power in the region.

These events illustrate how the perception of Nazi war criminals and their activities influenced Cold War strategies, leading to international alliances, conflicts, and the shaping of modern Germany, Israel, and the Middle East.

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