The Politics of Espionage: Nazi Diplomats and Spies in Argentina, 1933-1945
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The Politics of Espionage: Nazi Diplomats and Spies in Argentina, 1933-1945 A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Richard L. McGaha November 2009 © 2009 Richard L. McGaha. All Rights Reserved. 2 This dissertation titled The Politics of Espionage: Nazi Diplomats and Spies in Argentina, 1933-1945 by RICHARD L. MCGAHA has been approved for the History Department and the College of Arts and Sciences by Norman J.W. Goda Professor of History Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT MCGAHA, RICHARD L., Ph.D, November 2009, History The Politics of Espionage: Nazi Diplomats and Spies in Argentina, 1933-1945 (415 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Norman J.W. Goda This dissertation investigates Nazi Germany’s diplomacy and intelligence- gathering in Argentina from 1933-1945. It does so from three perspectives. This study first explores the rivalries that characterized the bureaucracy in the Third Reich. It argues that those rivalries negatively affected Germany’s diplomatic position in Argentina. The actions of the AO in Argentina in the 1930s were indicative of this trend. This created a fear of fifth-column activity among Latin American governments with large German populations. Second, this study explores the rivalry between the Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service, SD) of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Security Main Office, RSHA) and Auswärtiges Amt (Foreign Ministry, AA). It argues that the rivalry between these two organizations in Argentina was part of a larger plan on the part of Amt VI, SS Foreign Intelligence to usurp the functions of the AA. Intelligence operations were not necessarily undertaken to further the foreign policy goals of Nazi Germany, but to further the ambitions of the head of Amt VI, Walter Schellenberg. Third, this dissertation looks at the issue of ideology. Argentina was one of the last countries to break relations with Nazi Germany. This dissertation attempts to answer the question of how much ideology permeated individuals who were not exposed to Nazi 4 ideology on a daily basis. This section attempts to add to recent studies that have argued the importance of ideology in Nazi Germany. In answering these questions, this study mainly relies on the German-language records of the AA held in College Park, MD. It also utilizes interrogation reports of individuals involved in diplomacy and espionage in Argentina, as well as messages decrypted by the British between German spies in Argentina and their superiors in Berlin. This study fits into new examinations of the nexus between intelligence and diplomacy and the role of ideology in the Third Reich. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Norman J.W. Goda Professor of History 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS No dissertation writes itself, this one included. I would like to thank the following people and institutions who helped in the research and writing. First, my very long-suffering supervisor, Norman J.W. Goda, who suggested the Nazis and Argentina as a topic of study. Thanks to some timely encouragement on his part this dissertation was finished. His comments and criticisms have made this better than it would have been in anyone else’s hands. Second, my friend and mentor Tom Taylor of Seattle University. He has had to listen to more about Nazis in Argentina than any person should. He has been a good friend and I thank him for listening patiently. Next, I would like to thank the staff of the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD. I would especially like to thank Larry Macdonald and Mary Tomic who helped me navigate my way through the myriad record groups that formed the bulk of my research. The staff at The National Archives, Kew went above and beyond the call of duty. The friendliness and efficiency of The National Archives should be a model for archives worldwide. At Ohio University I would like to thank the members of my dissertation committee along with my graduate coordinators, Katherine Jellison and Chester Pach. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their love and support. First, my aunts, Diane McGaha and Shirley Morgan, who always gave me a place to stay when I was doing research. Second, my father, Richard McGaha, who though he has no idea of what I am doing, continues to be supportive knowing only that I am happy doing what I am doing. Next, my wife Kristina who supported me in more ways than I can count. I 6 hope this makes her proud. Finally, my son Ian Gabriel, the light of my life. Throughout the trials and tribulations of writing this dissertation he always reminded me that discussing the merits of different vacuums was far more important than what is in here despite my silly notion to think otherwise. All that is good in here belongs to them; the errors are, of course, my own. 7 To my son Ian Gabriel, may he see better times than these 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………….. 4 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….. 9 Chapter 1: Thermann’s Arrival and the Crisis of the ‘New’ Diplomacy……………… 25 Chapter 2: The Patagonia Affair and the Fear of Nazi Fifth Column Activity, 1939…..76 Chapter 3: Ad-hoc Diplomacy, 1939-1942……………………………………………113 Chapter 4: The Rise and Fall of the Abwehr in South America, 1941-1943………….169 Chapter 5: “Sargo” and the Creation of an SD Intelligence Network…………………210 Chapter 6: The Illusion of Control…………………………………………………….257 Chapter 7: The Case of Osmar Hellmuth……………………………………………...296 Chapter 8: The Jewish Question………………………………………………………339 Chapter 9: Aftermath …………………………………………………………….……370 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….391 References…………………………………………………………………………….402 9 Introduction “[This] is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury...” —William Shakespeare, Macbeth, V, v, 261 In February 1946 the U.S. government published a document titled Consultation among the American Republics with Respect to the Argentine Situation more commonly known as the ‘Blue Book’ from the color of its cover.2 It alleged that Argentina collaborated closely with Nazi intelligence agents during the war and that the government of Argentina and Colonel Juan Domingo Perón were fascist sympathizers. The ostensible reason for publishing the ‘Blue Book’ was to expose Argentina’s lack of cooperation in the defense of the Western Hemisphere and the reasons behind it. The real reason was to thwart Perón’s presidential ambitions and hopefully replace him with someone more amenable to the U.S.3 These questionable motives have led historians to discount the revelations in the ‘Blue Book.’ As a result of the ‘Blue Book’ and news coverage the post- war public viewed Argentina and Latin America as full of fascist sympathizers who gave succor to fleeing Nazis. This perception was underscored by individuals, such as Undersecretaries of State Spruille Braden and Sumner Welles. In 1946 Braden characterized Argentina as a hotbed of Nazi and fascist sympathizers.4 Braden’s charges were similar to those made by Welles in 1942. The prominence of Braden and Welles 1 William Shakespeare, “Macbeth,” in Jessie M. Lander ed. Macbeth (New York: Barnes and Noble Shakespeare, 2007), p. 265. 2 U.S. Department of State, Consultation among the American Republics with Respect to the Argentine Situation (Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946). 3 See especially Gary Frank, Juan Perón versus Spruille Braden (New York: Rowan & Littlefield, 1982). 4 Ronald C. Newton, The ‘Nazi Menace’ in Argentina, 1931-1947 (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1992), pp. xiii-xiv. Braden’s view was colored by the fact that he and Perón loathed each other. For this see Frank, Juan Perón versus Spruille Braden. 10 added gravitas to the charges and influenced public opinion regarding the Nazis and Latin America. This perception continued through the 1980s and was buttressed by fact and fiction. The arrest of Adolf Eichmann by Israeli agents in Argentina in 1960 and his subsequent trial captivated the world.5 This incident seemed to confirm that Argentina and other countries willingly gave asylum to major Nazi war-criminals.6 Popular culture also contributed to the idea of a Nazi resurgence in South America. Novels and movies from the 1960s and 1970s reinforced fears that a secret cabal of Nazi war-criminals were planning for a “Fourth Reich.” Frederick Forsyth’s novel The Odessa File mixed fact and fiction in its description of Nazis aiding their brethren in escaping justice. The fact that Eduard Roschmann, one of the main characters was real made the novel more chilling.7 Ira Levin’s novel The Boys from Brazil also mixed fact and fiction.8 It related how Dr. Josef Mengele, the so-called “Angel of Death” at Auschwitz, planned to bring about a “Fourth Reich” through the cloning of a new Hitler. Nazis bent on creating a “Fourth Reich” were popular topics for movies and books. These included, The Quiller Memorandum, Marathon Man, The Holcroft Covenant and The Rhinemann Exchange to 5 Eichmann’s arrest and his trial has been the subject of numerous studies. See especially, Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (New York: Penguin Classics, 2006), David Cesarani, Becoming Eichmann: Rethinking the Life, Crimes, and Trial of a "Desk Murderer" (Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2006) and Hans Safrian, Die Eichmann-Männer (Vienna: Europaverlag, 1993). 6 War criminals found asylum in numerous countries including Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S. to name a few. See Michael Neufeld, Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007). Neufeld explores the issue of Von Braun’s complicity in the deaths of prisoners who built the V-1 and V-2 rockets. Also, Richard Breitman et.