PLOT THAT FAILED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25851, 23 May 1945, Page 5

PLOT THAT FAILED

ESPIONAGE OPERATION SPEARHEAD OF ARDENNES OFFENSIVE QUICK COUNTER-MEASURES LONDON, May 21. When the Germans began the Ardennes offensive last December, Lieutenant-colonel Skorzeny, the Nazi master spy, despatched 150 spies with American accents behind the Allied lines in the war’s most ambitious sabotage and espionage operation, writes the British Uniied Press correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. This is revealed by Colonel Sheen, chief counter-iiitelligence officer at Supreme Headquarters, who directed successful counter-measures. Skorzeny’s assignment was to form a spearhead to the German attack by penetrating the Allied lines, reconnoitring the rear areas, destroying bridges, and creating confusion cn roads immediately behind the Allied front lines. He selected 150 officers speaking English with an American accent, and 800 signallers and paratroops, and he trained them in languages and accents, demolition and wireless operation, and map and photograph reading. They were put into American prisoner of war cages in American uniforms to pick up accent and slang. They were instructed in American customs, even down to the method of opening a packet of cigarettes. The spies were then issued with American uniforms, weapons, and jeeps. But the Germans made two errors. They did not issue identification discs, and gave the men poor forgeries ox American identity cards. The Americans caught the first spy a few hours after the parachute drop, and counterintelligence officers in less than 24 hours knew the whcle plot. The authorities imposed a curfew and other restrictions in Paris, and placed a security guard around hign officers. In the first week of the Ardennes offensive 125 of the spies were accounted for. About 50 were tried and executed, and others shot when they tried to escape. Only 10 were not located.

Enemy planes over Paris on Christmas Eve dropped special meteorological instruments which broadcast weather conditions at various levels as they .descended. A parachute attack was believed to be imminent, and military police patrolled the streets and arrested hundreds of people. There were many casualties when armoured cars opened up against vehicles which ignored roadblocks.