Horst von Pflugk-Hartung
Encyclopedia
Horst Gustav Friedrich Pflugk-Harttung (1889 - 1967) (alternate spelling Pflug-Hartnung) was a German intelligence officer and spy for Nazi Germany.
, the paramilitary
organizations that sprang up around Germany
as soldiers returned in defeat from World War I
. The Freikorps were the key Weimar paramilitary groups active during that post war time. Many German veterans felt disconnected from civilian life, and joined a Freikorps in search of stability within a military
structure. Kapitänleutnant Horst von Pflugk-Harttung along with his brother Heinz were two such volunteers. The German volunteer movement was opposed to the communist Spartacists movement. During this period Pflugk-Harttung became friends with the future head of the Abwehr
, Wilhelm Canaris
. In 1919 along with his brother, Pflugk-Harttung was accused of being directly involved in the murders of Spartacists Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht
. Both men were acquitted but evidently many thought them guilty, for the brother was assassinated himself sometime later.{1920}
. The Swedish authorities had Pflugk-Harttung expelled after it was discovered that he had been importing armaments illegally into Sweden. Pflugk-Harttung then went to Norway on a similar mission where again he was soon asked to leave.
War Ministry. Amongst his many covert tasks, he kept a close eye on the German exiles in Denmark, whilst the Danish Police co-operated with him through go-betweens. Along with other postgraduates of Gestapo
spy
schools, Pflugk-Harttung set up a spy ring that operated secret broadcasting stations and had engaged in nautical and hydrographic
al research. Between them they had drawn up maps and charts, graphs and complicated mathematical tables of data which required the best technicians even to understand. They communicated by complex code systems, which they changed frequently. The outlay for so extensive an apparatus as theirs could be justified only as part of Third Reich preparation for War against major countries. Pflugk-Harttung’s network watched and reported on British shipping movements into and out of the Baltic Sea. In 1938 information revealed by Ernst Wollweber
to the Danish authorities, along with further investigations by the Police led to the arrest of Pflugk-Harttung, along with eight other Germans and three Danes who were charged with operating as spies in Copenhagen
. Investigations proved that the spy ring had been involved in the sabotage and sinking of Spanish trawlers on behalf of General Francisco Franco
and his Nationalist navy which was operating from German ports. These actions included the utilization of the spying apparatus to shell and sink the SS Cantabria
off the Norfolk
coast by the Nationalist Auxiliary cruiser Nadir. For his part in the espionage Pflugk-Harttung was only sentenced to a year and a half in prison and was released after a few months owing to German government pressure. After his release from prison, Pflugk-Harttung became one of the leading German Intelligence chiefs in Denmark.
in the USA for questioning. The American interrogation concluded that Horst von Pflugk-Harttung was
Post World War 1
After serving in the army during the first world war, Pflugk-Harttung had become a member of the FreikorpsFreikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
, the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organizations that sprang up around Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as soldiers returned in defeat from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The Freikorps were the key Weimar paramilitary groups active during that post war time. Many German veterans felt disconnected from civilian life, and joined a Freikorps in search of stability within a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
structure. Kapitänleutnant Horst von Pflugk-Harttung along with his brother Heinz were two such volunteers. The German volunteer movement was opposed to the communist Spartacists movement. During this period Pflugk-Harttung became friends with the future head of the Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
, Wilhelm Canaris
Wilhelm Canaris
Wilhelm Franz Canaris was a German admiral, head of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, from 1935 to 1944 and member of the German Resistance.- Early life and World War I :...
. In 1919 along with his brother, Pflugk-Harttung was accused of being directly involved in the murders of Spartacists Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht
Karl Liebknecht
was a German socialist and a co-founder with Rosa Luxemburg of the Spartacist League and the Communist Party of Germany. He is best known for his opposition to World War I in the Reichstag and his role in the Spartacist uprising of 1919...
. Both men were acquitted but evidently many thought them guilty, for the brother was assassinated himself sometime later.{1920}
Sweden
In 1931 Pflugk-Harttung had been recorded as helping to coordinate Fascist groups and organisation in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The Swedish authorities had Pflugk-Harttung expelled after it was discovered that he had been importing armaments illegally into Sweden. Pflugk-Harttung then went to Norway on a similar mission where again he was soon asked to leave.
Denmark
By 1933 Pflugk-Harttung was working for German Intelligence in Denmark. As a cover he worked as correspondent for the paper, Berliner Boersen Zeitung, which was an organ of the ReichReich
Reich is a German word cognate with the English rich, but also used to designate an empire, realm, or nation. The qualitative connotation from the German is " sovereign state." It is the word traditionally used for a variety of sovereign entities, including Germany in many periods of its history...
War Ministry. Amongst his many covert tasks, he kept a close eye on the German exiles in Denmark, whilst the Danish Police co-operated with him through go-betweens. Along with other postgraduates of Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
schools, Pflugk-Harttung set up a spy ring that operated secret broadcasting stations and had engaged in nautical and hydrographic
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
al research. Between them they had drawn up maps and charts, graphs and complicated mathematical tables of data which required the best technicians even to understand. They communicated by complex code systems, which they changed frequently. The outlay for so extensive an apparatus as theirs could be justified only as part of Third Reich preparation for War against major countries. Pflugk-Harttung’s network watched and reported on British shipping movements into and out of the Baltic Sea. In 1938 information revealed by Ernst Wollweber
Ernst Wollweber
Ernst Friedrich Wollweber was Minister of State Security of the German Democratic Republic from 1953 to 1957.-Biography:...
to the Danish authorities, along with further investigations by the Police led to the arrest of Pflugk-Harttung, along with eight other Germans and three Danes who were charged with operating as spies in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Investigations proved that the spy ring had been involved in the sabotage and sinking of Spanish trawlers on behalf of General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
and his Nationalist navy which was operating from German ports. These actions included the utilization of the spying apparatus to shell and sink the SS Cantabria
SS Cantabria
The SS Cantabria was a Spanish cargo ship which was sunk in a military action of the Spanish Civil War, off the coast of Norfolk 12 miles ENE of Cromer on 2 November 1938...
off the Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
coast by the Nationalist Auxiliary cruiser Nadir. For his part in the espionage Pflugk-Harttung was only sentenced to a year and a half in prison and was released after a few months owing to German government pressure. After his release from prison, Pflugk-Harttung became one of the leading German Intelligence chiefs in Denmark.
World War II
In 1944 Horst von Pflugk-Harttung was in control of the Kriegs Marine Dienst in Bordeaux, France. He was arrested by forces of the United States of America. After his capture he was taken as a prisoner of war to ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the USA for questioning. The American interrogation concluded that Horst von Pflugk-Harttung was
.Horst Pflugk-Harttung was returned to Germany by the US authorities where he was released in November 1947.