Evening star., 1938-12-29
Gestopo Forces Agent Home;
Flight of Spies Begins
(Seventeenth OF a Series.)

Aoo', ChPA Cooiy W SCC up d O11AC VI
the Geheime Stats Polizei in New
York.
Agents of that Nazi outfit had
been operating sporadically in this
country for at least four years
previously. But in 1887 the Nazi
movement became bolder. The
number of spies was equadrupled,
and Gutenberg arrived to organize
the Geheime Stats Polizei to
operate as if the United States were
a Nazi province.
The duties of the Geheime
Stats Polizei agents were to spy on
anti-Nazis and harass them, to
browbeat and threaten non-Nazi
Germans in this country, to trail
Nazi spies suspected of selling out,
and to wreak vengeance on Amer
leans who incurred the displeasure
of the Hitler regime.
The first instance of Gestapo &C.
tivity in this country that we def
nitely know of was against fellow
Nazi, Heinz Spanknoeber. That was
the night of October 27, 1888, when
a Hellmuth Won Feldman pulled a
gun on him at the dinner table in
the home of DR.. Griebl, and forced
him to go back to Germany.
Spanknoebel, you may remember,
was sent here to spread Nazism in
America. But he was loud
mouthed man, with an offensive
personality, and soon got into hot
water. Leaders of the real Ger
mans here-the non-Nazi Germans
who constitute the majority-openly
denounced him.
Became Hindrance.
Such storm of unfavorable pub
licity broke about his head that
he became a hindrance rather than
a help. Mayor OBrien refused a
permit for meeting because
Spanknoebel, then being investi-
gated by Federal authorities, was
in charge. Many of Spanknoebels
henchmen quit under fire and dis
owned him.
He was hiding at the home of DR..
Griebl, when Federal warrant
was issued for his arrest, charging
him with violation of United States
law requiring agents of foreign
country to register with the Secre-
tary of State.
Immediately orders were flashed
from Berlin that Spanknoebel was
to go home at once NaZi chiefs in
Germany didn't want the scandal
and adverse publicity of a trial.
But Spanknoebel turned stub
born. He enjoyed the spotlight,
even if it was unfavorable, and re-
fused to leave.
That night there came knock
at the door of the Griebl apart
ment, and in stalked a man whom
Griebl didn't know. Spanknoebel
knew him, however, and paled. It
was Hellmuth Won Feldman,. an
agent of Paul Joseph Goebbels,
Nazi minister of propaganda, and
acting Gestapo agent.
He glared at Spanknoebel.
You have your orders!" he
snapped. why haven't you
started?"
Points Gun at Spanknoebel.
Spanknoebel tried to bluster it
out.
There is no hurry" he argued.
LET us talk it over"
There is nothing to talk over"
retorted Won Feldman grimly. "You
have received your orders"
"At least" faltered Spanknoebel,
"let me finish my dinner"
Get up!" cracked Won Feldman.
II WON'T" Spanknoebel whined.
Get up" Won Feldman roared,
and suddenly an automatic appeared
in his hand, pointed straight at
Spanknoebel.
He got up, white-faced and
trembling. Mrs. Griebl began to
weep. DR.. Griebl pleaded, mo
shooting here, please. You will
ruin me-"
Won Feldman stalked forward,
jabbed the snout of the gun into
Spanknoebel's side.
march," he commanded.
Out they went. An hour later
they were aboard the S. S. Europa,
docked at Pier 86, North River.
Spanknoebel was placed under guard
on the ship, while Won Feldman
went back for his baggage. The
next night the Europa sailed for
Germany. Spanknoebel was later
forgiven, and given a good job in
the ministry of propaganda.
That was Won Feldman's last ap-
pearance here, too. Only intermit-
tently did the Gestapo operate here
thereafter until Bittenberg arrived
a little more than a year ago to
set up full unit.
Bittenberg's disguise was that of
an assistant purser on the S. S.
New York.
Even Commodore Fritz Kruse,
commander of the S. S. New York,
had to ko-tow to Bittenberg.
On the Bremen, Capt. Adolph
Ahrens had to bow on many matters
to an ex-dishwasher named Wilhelm
Boehnke.
Override Captains.
On matters of discipline these men
men and stewards and
dishwashers and such-can and do
override the captains.
Gutenberg got Commodore Kruse
to introduce him to Capt. Wilhelm
Drechsel, superintendent of the
Hapag-Lloyd port in New York.
Capt. Drechsel was ordered to give
Gutenberg every courtesy and every
aid and to obey every command of
this supposed assistant purser.
Gutenberg disappeared into New
York and came back with two men,
He knew where to go, for the way
had been paved for him. For long
time Gestapo man had been max
ing contacts here, getting ready for
the day when full Gestapo unit
would be set up in New York.
The man who made the arrange
ments was Heinrich Bischoff, os-
tensibly merely a steward on the
S. S. Europa, but actually a repre-