Operation Mainau
Encyclopedia
Operation Mainau was a German
espionage mission during the Second World War. It was sanctioned and planned by the German secret service (Abwehr
) and executed successfully on May 1940. The mission plan involved inserting Abwehr agent Hermann Görtz
into Ireland by parachute.
Görtz successfully landed and established contact with his IRA contact "V-Held" (Agent Hero in German), real name Seamus 'Jim' O'Donovan
.
in Britain following his arrest on 8 November 1935. He was sentenced to prison in 1936 and released in February 1939. In Britain he had become notorious as "The Flying Spy" in the British media although his notoriety did not prevent his recall to service on 1 August 1939 during the German call up for World War II
as a reserve second lieutenant. He had a number of functions in the German military before being was assigned to the Lehr Regiment Brandenburg on 19 January 1940 under the command of Abwehr II.
Despite all the bad publicity he had generated for the Third Reich, Görtz somehow convinced his superiors that he would be qualified to infiltrate Ireland by parachute, establish contact with the IRA in Britain, and possibly start a "revolt" in Northern Ireland
. A decision was taken at Abwehr to send Görtz not to Britain, but to Ireland.
Abwehr knowledge about the political situation in Ireland was very sketchy. In preparation for his mission Görtz did try to do some fact finding on Ireland via the office of Dr. Franz Fromme. He is known to have contacted Francis Stuart
, and Nora O'Mara with Stuart being described as "very helpful". He also claims to have established contact with expats from Northern Ireland living in Italy calling them the "Independent Group". As far is known the only Irish contact names Görtz carried to Ireland were Seamus O'Donovan and that of the Francis Stuart's wife, Isuelt.
Captain Wilhelm Kaupert, a reserve officer was adjutant at the operational airfield at Frtizlar near Cassell. His primary role was as photographic interpretation officer in the Commander in Chief's Reconnaissance Group but he was asked to organise Görtz's flight.
He was not authorized to interfere in Irish politics or threaten its neutrality.
Görtz was to be unaccompanied on his mission and the attempt to insert him into Ireland was to take place originally in April but it was canceled due to bad weather. In the interval IRA chief of staff Stephen Hayes sent Plan Kathleen
to Germany and Görtz was recalled to Berlin to look it over.
Görtz claimed after his capture that the dropzone for the mission was County Tyrone
but this is probably a subterfuge concocted to indicate that he meant no mischief in neutral Ireland
. He requested a poison capsule to take with him and this had to be cleared via Abwehr chief Wilhelm Canaris
. His codename was "Gilka".
He was not equipped with any of the material later spies sent to Ireland would carry, although he was given an Afu transmitter, a 9mm Browning, and some invisible ink ("G-Tinten").
, but his actual location was Ballivor, County Meath
. His radio was lost during the jump, as was the shovel he had planned to bury his parachute with. He was wearing his full Luftwaffe parade dress.
Görtz was actually eighty miles from the house of Isuelt Stuart in Laragh
, County Wicklow
. He marched the entire distance asking for directions along the way, including at a Garda station in Poulaphouca
, despite wearing full Luftwaffe parade dress he was not detained. He reached Mrs. Stuart's house on 9 May. That night Görtz was collected by Seamus O'Donovan who took him to his house, 'Florenceville', in Shankill
, County Dublin
. He had successfully made contact with the IRA.
On 11 May he was moved by O'Donovan, Stephen Carroll Held, and Patrick McNeela to the home of J. J. O'Neill in Rathmines
. During this he handed over $16,5000 in American currency to the IRA and kept $10,000 for himself. Görtz stayed with the O'Neill's until at least 19 May when he was moved to Stephen Held's. Following this he was to meet with IRA supremo Stephen Hayes and remain on the loose in Ireland for a total of eighteen months.
Held's home was raided soon after the meeting with Hayes took place, (23 May). Papers and effects belonging to Görtz were seized including his parachute, various Luftwaffe identifying badges, German decorations from World War I
, and data about Irish harbors and defence installations. Görtz was to remain at liberty, but the Abwehr once they were told of events by the head of the German Legation, Dr. Eduard Hempel
, considered Mainau to have failed. The Abwehr war diary records for 25 May:
The "IRA plans" referred to were Plan Kathleen
- the plan Stephen Hayes had sent to Germany. Görtz says that after this first botched contact with the IRA he:
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
espionage mission during the Second World War. It was sanctioned and planned by the German secret service (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...
) and executed successfully on May 1940. The mission plan involved inserting Abwehr agent Hermann Görtz
Hermann Görtz
Hermann Görtz was a German spy in Britain and Ireland before and during World War II.-First trip to Broadstairs:Hermann Görtz arrived in Britain on the 29 August 1935 with a secretary, Marianne Emig. They spent a few weeks in Suffolk and eventually moved to Broadstairs and rented a house...
into Ireland by parachute.
Görtz successfully landed and established contact with his IRA contact "V-Held" (Agent Hero in German), real name Seamus 'Jim' O'Donovan
Seamus O'Donovan
Seamus O'Donovan was a leading volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.A native of County Roscommon, he was an explosives expert and reputedly invented the "Irish Wallflower" and "Irish Cheddar" devices. He subsequently became IRA Director of Chemicals in 1921...
.
Figures involved
Hermann Görtz was an Abwehr agent with a colourful past. He had already been detained on suspicion of espionageEspionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
in Britain following his arrest on 8 November 1935. He was sentenced to prison in 1936 and released in February 1939. In Britain he had become notorious as "The Flying Spy" in the British media although his notoriety did not prevent his recall to service on 1 August 1939 during the German call up for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a reserve second lieutenant. He had a number of functions in the German military before being was assigned to the Lehr Regiment Brandenburg on 19 January 1940 under the command of Abwehr II.
Despite all the bad publicity he had generated for the Third Reich, Görtz somehow convinced his superiors that he would be qualified to infiltrate Ireland by parachute, establish contact with the IRA in Britain, and possibly start a "revolt" in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. A decision was taken at Abwehr to send Görtz not to Britain, but to Ireland.
Abwehr knowledge about the political situation in Ireland was very sketchy. In preparation for his mission Görtz did try to do some fact finding on Ireland via the office of Dr. Franz Fromme. He is known to have contacted Francis Stuart
Francis Stuart
Henry Francis Montgomery Stuart was an Irish writer. His novels have been described as having a thrusting modernist iconoclasm. Awarded the highest artistic accolade in Ireland before his death in 2000, his unwillingness to take a clear moral stance with regard to his years spent in Nazi...
, and Nora O'Mara with Stuart being described as "very helpful". He also claims to have established contact with expats from Northern Ireland living in Italy calling them the "Independent Group". As far is known the only Irish contact names Görtz carried to Ireland were Seamus O'Donovan and that of the Francis Stuart's wife, Isuelt.
Captain Wilhelm Kaupert, a reserve officer was adjutant at the operational airfield at Frtizlar near Cassell. His primary role was as photographic interpretation officer in the Commander in Chief's Reconnaissance Group but he was asked to organise Görtz's flight.
Mission plan
The mission was directed against Northern Ireland. He was tasked with using resources gathered in Éire to- Establish a secure communications link between Ireland and Nazi Germany,
- Consult with the IRA on the prospect of a reconciliation between the Irish state and the IRA.
- Direct the military activities of the IRA towards British military targets (specifically naval installations),
- Report any incidental items of military importance.
He was not authorized to interfere in Irish politics or threaten its neutrality.
Görtz was to be unaccompanied on his mission and the attempt to insert him into Ireland was to take place originally in April but it was canceled due to bad weather. In the interval IRA chief of staff Stephen Hayes sent Plan Kathleen
Plan Kathleen
Plan Kathleen, sometimes referred to as Artus Plan, was a military plan for the invasion of Northern Ireland sanctioned by Stephen Hayes, Acting Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff, in 1940...
to Germany and Görtz was recalled to Berlin to look it over.
Görtz claimed after his capture that the dropzone for the mission was County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
but this is probably a subterfuge concocted to indicate that he meant no mischief in neutral Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He requested a poison capsule to take with him and this had to be cleared via Abwehr chief 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 :...
. His codename was "Gilka".
He was not equipped with any of the material later spies sent to Ireland would carry, although he was given an Afu transmitter, a 9mm Browning, and some invisible ink ("G-Tinten").
Insertion and contact with IRA
Görtz left Germany at 2100 hrs on 4 May 1940. He was piloted to Ireland aboard a He-111 medium bomber and he made the jump in bad weather from 1500 metres. According to his postwar statement he claimed to have landed in a farm outside TrimTrim, County Meath
Trim is the traditional county town of County Meath in Ireland, although the county town is now Navan. The town was recorded in the 2006 census to have a population of 6,870....
, but his actual location was Ballivor, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. His radio was lost during the jump, as was the shovel he had planned to bury his parachute with. He was wearing his full Luftwaffe parade dress.
Görtz was actually eighty miles from the house of Isuelt Stuart in Laragh
Laragh, County Wicklow
Laragh is a small picturesque village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies at the junction of three roads through the Wicklow Mountains and is primarily known for its proximity to the monastic settlement of Glendalough...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He marched the entire distance asking for directions along the way, including at a Garda station in Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
, despite wearing full Luftwaffe parade dress he was not detained. He reached Mrs. Stuart's house on 9 May. That night Görtz was collected by Seamus O'Donovan who took him to his house, 'Florenceville', in Shankill
Shankill
Shankill can mean:* Belfast Shankill * Belfast Shankill , the 1918–1922 UK Parliament constituency* Shankill, County Antrim, a parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. He had successfully made contact with the IRA.
On 11 May he was moved by O'Donovan, Stephen Carroll Held, and Patrick McNeela to the home of J. J. O'Neill in Rathmines
Rathmines
Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
. During this he handed over $16,5000 in American currency to the IRA and kept $10,000 for himself. Görtz stayed with the O'Neill's until at least 19 May when he was moved to Stephen Held's. Following this he was to meet with IRA supremo Stephen Hayes and remain on the loose in Ireland for a total of eighteen months.
Held's home was raided soon after the meeting with Hayes took place, (23 May). Papers and effects belonging to Görtz were seized including his parachute, various Luftwaffe identifying badges, German decorations 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...
, and data about Irish harbors and defence installations. Görtz was to remain at liberty, but the Abwehr once they were told of events by the head of the German Legation, Dr. Eduard Hempel
Eduard Hempel
Eduard Hempel was the Nazi German Minister to Ireland between 1937 and 1945 — in the build up to and during The Emergency...
, considered Mainau to have failed. The Abwehr war diary records for 25 May:
"According to a wireless report of the Stefani Agency (Italian news agency) and enemy broadcasts, 'Operation Mainau' has been unsuccessful. According to them "Gilk" appears to have reached his destination. The transmitter [Abwehr did not know Görtz had lost it], some items of equipment and the money which he took with him were apparently seized in the house of an Irish agent, through the latter's stupidity. Unfortunately this Irishman also had in his possession plans for a rebellion which had no connection with 'Operation Mainau'. There is no information as to "Gilka's" whereabouts. Even if he is not arrested in the near future, his further activity is rendered impossible in consequence of the discovery of the transmitter and the money. If he should eventually be arrested Gilk is in a very difficult position in consequence of his equipment being found in the same place as the IRA plans. In consequence of the failure of 'Operation Mainau' proposals for the parachuting of further agents are for the future to be disregarded."
The "IRA plans" referred to were Plan Kathleen
Plan Kathleen
Plan Kathleen, sometimes referred to as Artus Plan, was a military plan for the invasion of Northern Ireland sanctioned by Stephen Hayes, Acting Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff, in 1940...
- the plan Stephen Hayes had sent to Germany. Görtz says that after this first botched contact with the IRA he:
"lived among people of my choice and never again under the protection of the IRA. I personally chose all the houses in which I hid or they were chosen for me by my friends. I carefully avoided any hide-out which had anything to do with the IRA. When I heard in one house that it had formerly been an IRA meeting place, I left it the same night. I realised that an agreement between the Irish government and the IRA was completely inopportune. The action against Held ruled out all hopes of bringing the IRA into association with the government. The Held episode had, however, a good side to it: I shook off the unwanted IRA protection. For the future, I was able to work with people whom I chose myself."
Further information
- Before his death Görtz wrote a series of articles for the Irish Times titled "Mission to Ireland".
- Mark M. Hull, Irish Secrets. German Espionage in Wartime Ireland 1939-1945, 2003, ISBN 978-0-7165-2756-5
- Enno Stephan, Spies in Ireland, 1963, ISBN 1-131-82692-2 (reprint)
- J Bowyer BellJ. Bowyer BellJ. Bowyer Bell was an American historian, artist and art critic.-Background and early life:Bell was born into an Episcopalian family on 15 November 1931 in New York City. The family later moved to Alabama, from where Bell attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, majoring in...
, The Secret Army - The IRA 1997 3rd Edition, ISBN 1-85371-813-0
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