Recruiters and Trainers

What is it about?

[A] Meseritz and Quenz. How how the Abwehr recruitment process worked that filtrated ethnic Persians into the Brandenburger training schools to prepare them for Persian ops. [B] Abwehr agent recruitment. General agent-recruitment practices are examined in terms of the quality and motivation of Abwehr trainers and trainees. [C] SD agent recruitment. We learn of the very different terms and conditions that applied to the SD’s shallow talent pool, and how the odious Otto Skorzeny attempted to rectify the situation. [D] Training for SD Persian operations. The inadequacy of training measures and the selection of unsuitable personnel. We are introduced to the deeply flawed key players in the main Persian ops (FRANZ and ANTON), both at HQ and in the field. [E] The MAMMUT training programme. By contrast, we learn of the model Abw II programme implemented by Gottfried Müller in preparation for his mission to Kurdistan. [F] W/T training. Radio operators, whether from the Wehrmacht or the Waffen-SS were undoubtedly far better-trained than any other personnel used in Persia. However, this was thanks mainly to their original service training and experience, not to any subsequent mission-specific W/T training for covert ops.

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Why is it important?

First ever description/narrative/analysis of this subject based on archival sources.

Perspectives