File: 11/1, 22/1 Reference No. K.M. 44664 Date: 14th Oct. 37 Memorandum of Herr SONNENBERG on the meeting at ESSEN On 12th of Oct. 37.
Present: representing Combined Services Intelligence [Abwehr-Abtlg. des R.K.M.]
Representing KRUPP
Korvetten Kapitaen (E) MENZEL Mue (part time)
Grm.
Sonnenberg
Subject: Exchange of Intelligence.
Menzel represents Intelligence [Abwehrabteilung] (in charge: Admiral Canaris) of the Combined Services ministry (R.K.M.); his department comes under the Defense office [Wehrmachtsamt] (in charge: General Keitel) and is divided into Counter-Intelligence and Intelligence proper, the latter having subsections for Army, Navy and Airforce.
Menzel asked for intelligence on foreign armaments (but not including matters published in newspapers) received by Krupp from their agents abroad and through other channels to be passed on to Combined Services Intelligence [Abwehrabteilung des R.K.M.]. They have been collaborating for some time in this way through frequent visits in a most satisfactory fashion with Messrs. Zeiss of Jena. Other firms were not mentioned, so it can be assumed that no contacts have yet been established with any of them.
On our part we undertook to supply information to the Combined Services Ministry (R.K.M.) as required. Apart from that it would be in the patriotic interest if Krupp were kept informed concerning foreign artillery weapons and new methods and constructions. Menzel agreed to that with the reservation that some information had to be kept secret for stringent reasons; he promised to do his best in this direction.
(Sgd)
SONNENBERG (Initialled) Grm.
K93259—46—-8
1069
D—167
D—167
File: 5S12, 5S34, 5S41.
Reference No: A.K.24461
Date:
25 June 39
Report of Dr. CONN on his journey to BERLIN 11 June 1939 to 16 June 1939.
Subject: Intelligence and Information.
In order to get a general impression and to gain information generally, the following Officers were first contacted at the Admiralty (O.K.M.)
Kapitaen zur See Globig, information dept., naval armaments branch [M.Wa., Nachrichten]
Kapitaen zur See Meyer, Staff, naval armaments branch [M.Wa. Stab]
Fregattenkapitaen Menzel, Intelligence, naval sub-section [Abwehr, Abt.Marine]
Kapitaen zur See Arps, dept. A.Ill, naval information office, Admiralty [Marinenachrichtendienst]
Afterwards detailed discussions took place with Kapitaen zur See Globig and Fregattenkapitaen Menzel. On behalf of the Admiralty they expressed the wish for such visits to take place more frequently, say once in two months, in order to maintain closer liaison.
1. Kapitaen zur See Globig whom I had known for a long time, spoke to me quite frankly and openly. It is therefore impossible to embody parts of our discussion in this report. He does not appear to regard our "R" reports [R'Mitteilungen] as competition to the "Arms technology review" [Waffentechnische Nachrichten] compiled by him. He has been the naval armaments branch expert on foreign navies for years and promised me every assistance.
* * * * * * *
3. Fregattenkapitaen Menzel, Intelligence, naval subsection [Abwehr. Abt. Marine].
Similarly to Kapitaen zur See Globig he stressed the point that in view of the progressive disappearance of public and easily accessible sources of information, the information obtained through our representatives abroad was on increasing value. This method of obtaining intelligence would have to be followed up much more drastically than in the past. With Messrs. Rheinmetall it was working considerably better than at Krupps, which is partly explained by the fact that one of the ex-employees of Messrs. Rheinmetall is now working in the Intelligence branch and that he knows the executives of that firm and is able to maintain close liaison.
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I quite agreed with him concerning the importance of this kind of intelligence report, but reminded him that with so large a business as Krupp it took obviously time to organize matters; also that most of our foreign agencies were directed by foreigners on whom one could only make limited demands in this matter and that finally it was to be avoided at all costs to lend support to the malicious rumours abroad that our agencies indulged in something akin to espionage.
Menzel's second point was that when our executives travelled abroad they should report, before leaving for information, and on return for a verbal discussion, to the Intelligence branch [Nachrichtenabteilung] at Berlin or at least to the Intelligence subbranch [Nachrichtenstelle] at Cologne. Herr von Buelow on our staff had done so once, but otherwise it had hardly ever occurred.
My personal opinion is that we might be able to pick up quite a lot of useful information if we reported to Berlin.
His third point was a request to utilize foreign visitors for obtaining intelligence. I replied that this was being done already, but that it was necessary to proceed very carefully, to avoid arousing suspicion on the part of the visitors. I furthermore suggested that we should inform Intelligence of such visitors, if .this is not being done already, to enable the Armed Forces to invite such foreigners as are considered suitable to a social or function. In the course of such meetings there would be ample opportunity to obtain information on this or that subject.
Menzel also mentioned that our information obtained from abroad would not be passed on to our competitors, if a request to that effect was being made at the time.
I gave him to understand that we were slightly disappointed with the collaboration with Intelligence [Abwehr abteilung] since we had supplied information, but had received none in return. Menzel explained that Intelligence was only a collating centre and that they were merely passing on information, the value of which they were unable to judge by themselves, to the departments concerned ; any information for us would therefore have to come from those departments only. Exceptions were only made in the case of intelligence of universal importance such as e.g. the long range gun [Ferngesehuetz] some time ago.
This remark is important concerning the way in which we should present our information at Berlin. The departments receiving the information through Intelligence, must be able to see that it originates from Krupp, so that they might feel themselves under obligation to let us have some information in return. It
might be a good idea to forward our information simultaneously to Intelligence and the departments concerned or else to let Intelligence have one (or more) copies for the departments, thus at the same time saving clerical work.
Memorandum on a meeting between Krupp representatives and military intelligence officers, on the exchange of information about foreign armaments, including weapons and new methods and designs
Authors
Sonnenberg (representative of Krupp Works (1937))
Sonnenberg
- Additional details not yet available.
Date: 14 October 1937
Literal Title: Memorandum of Herr Sonnenberg on the meeting at Essen on 12th Oct. 37. . . . Subject: Exchange of Intelligence.
Defendant: Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: D-167
Citations: IMT (page 298), IMT (page 5124)
HLSL Item No.: 450556
Notes:In the transcript the evidence code is mis-typed as P 167; D 167 is correct.
Trial Issues
Conspiracy (and Common plan, in IMT) (IMT, NMT 1, 3, 4) IMT count 2: crimes against peace (wars of aggression) (IMT) Nazi regime (rise, consolidation, economic control, and militarization) (I…
Document Summary
D-167: (a) Interview between Dr. Conn of Krupps and various naval intelligence officers re intelligence abroad 16. June 1939, Berlin. (b) Interview dated 12 Oct 37 at Essen between Capt. Menzel of Admiralty and Krupps representatives re exchange of information