Story of contacts with OSS

winter 1943/44

## Introductory Note

1) On May 21, 1943 I was inducted into the Army. From the Reception Center (Camp Lee, Va.) I was sent directly to the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie Md.

In Camp Ritchie I was assigned to the Interrogator's Course (German Language) in June 1943 and on 10 Aug 1943 I was naturalized as an American citizen. The necessary preparatory steps for naturalization were taken by Camp Ritchie Post Intelligence, which filled out the necessary forms, provided the character witnesses etc.

Until naturalization I had been technically a German citizen and therefore an "alien enemy". As such I was, quite naturally, an object of special observation.

2) Before I was assigned to the Interrogators Course in June and before I became a citizen in Aug., I was questioned in great detail by Camp Ritchie Post Intelligence on whether I received letters from Germany, on remarks allegedly made at Camp Lee, on my willingness to fight, on the manner in which I had supported myself during the last years etc. The fact that my family and particularly my wife and child were still in Germany, at that time, was discussed at very great length.

Since I had been "under observation" because of my alien status and since the results of such observation had, obviously, been laid down in a security file, Post Intelligence was in a position to ask very precise and detailed questions and to check my answers against the information previously collected. The picture resulting from this protracted questioning and from the files must have appeared comparatively reassuring from the security point of view. Considering the obvious security risk involved in my family situation I would not, otherwise have been assigned immediately to the Interrogator's Course at the Intelligence Center, nor would the Center's Post Intelligence have actively sponsered my naturalization.

## Origin of idea that I might be used by OSS

3) From Camp Ritchie I was sent to Camp Fannin Texas in Sept 1943 for subsequent assignment to one of the Divisions then on manoeuvre in that area.

In mid September, when our armies were approaching Naples and before I had been assigned to a Division, I went to the Post

Intelligence Office and suggested that I might be used to lead small landing parties in the Gulf of Naples area, well known to me from prewar days.

The Intelligence Captain and his M/Sgt - the latter an educated man who actually seemed to run the office - felt that because of my "education" I could and should be used for "higher" tasks. Having studied their security files and having questioned me, as usual, on my family's being in Germany they asked me to fill out certain questionnaires. I was called back to the Office several times and finally informed that in view of my linguistic and educational background etc. it had been decided to suggest to the OSS my being used by that Organization for something less primitive than leading landing parties".

## Interviewed by OSS

4) In the beginning of Oct. 1943 I was assigned to an Intelligence + Reconnaissance Platoon of the 84th Inf. Div. and in Dec. 1943 I was transferred to the G-2 section of the same Division, then stationed at Camp Claiborn, La.

In Dec 1943 I also spent my first furlough - I was a Pvt at the time - in Washington D.C., in a suburb of which (Chevy Chase) I had lived prior to my induction. Before I left Claiborn for Washington I wrote to the Post Intelligence Camp Fannin asking whether I should report in person to the OSS personnel office in the capital. While in Washington I actually received a telegram from Camp Fannin directing me to report to a certain room in the OSS building. After my return to Claiborne I also found a letter from the Fannin Post Intelligence M/Sgt to the same effect.

Immediately upon receipt of the telegram I went to OSS where I was interviewed by Italian speaking, French speaking and German speaking personnel. In the end I was informed that OSS might conceivably ask for my transfer from the 84th Inf to OSS.

## Informed by OSS that they would not request my transfer in the near future

5) In Jan. 1944 I received unexpectedly a letter from Intelligence Center Camp Ritchie stating that "according to information received at this Hq. "I might be qualified to attend "a course of instruction" at Ritchie. The letter contained the suggestion that I complete and return promptly an enclosed questionnaire, in case I should wish to make application for transfer to Ritchie.

Not certain as to whether OSS would also request my transfer to their organization, I wrote to OSS in Feb. asking whether there was any intention of using me at OSS or whether I should apply for transfer to Ritchie.Intelligence Center.

6) Within a few days I received an answer informing me that there was no intention to ask for my transfer to OSS "in the near future";

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