Research Catalog

Title

The undercover Nazi hunter : exposing the subterfuge and unmasking evil in post-war Germany / Wolfe Frank ; edited by Paul Hooley.

Author

Frank, Wolfe, 1913-1988

Publication

London : Frontline Books, 2019.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

Hooley, Paul

Description

xxvii, 322 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps; 24 cm

Summary

Wolfe Frank was Chief Interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he was dubbed 'The Voice of Doom.' A playboy turned resistance worker he had fled Germany for England in 1937 having been branded an 'enemy of the state - to be shot on sight.' Initially interned as an 'enemy alien,' he was later released and allowed to join the British Army - where he rose to the rank of Captain. Unable to speak English when he arrived by the time of the trials he was considered to be the finest interpreter in the world. In the months following his service at Nuremberg, Frank became increasingly alarmed at the misinformation coming out of Germany so in 1949, backed by the New York Herald Tribune, he risked his life again by returning to the country of his birth to make an 'undercover' survey of the main facets of postwar German life and viewpoints. During his enterprise he worked as a German alongside Germans in factories, on the docks, in a refugee camp and elsewhere. Equipped with false papers he sought objective answers to many questions including: refugees, anti-Semitism, morality, de-Nazification, religion, and nationalism. The NYHT said at the time: 'A fresh appraisal of the German question could only be obtained by a German and Mr Frank had all the exceptional qualifications necessary. We believe the result of his "undercover" work told in human, factual terms, is an important contribution to one of the great key problems of the postwar world ... and incidentally it contains some unexpected revelations and dramatic surprises.' The greatest of those surprises was Frank single-handedly tracking down and arresting the SS General ranked 'fourth' on the allies 'most wanted' list - and personally taking and transcribing the Nazi's confession. The Undercover Nazi Hunter not only reproduces Frank's series of articles (as he wrote them) and a translation of the confession, which, until now, has never been seen in the public domain, it also reveals the fascinating behind-the-scenes story of a great American newspaper agonizing over how best to deal with this unique opportunity and these important exposés.

Subjects

• Nazi hunters
• Espionage, American
• Frank, Wolfe, 1913-1988
• Employees
• Nazi hunters > Germany > History > 20th century
• Espionage, American > Germany > History > 20th century
• 1900-1999
• Germany
• History
• New York Herald Tribune (Firm) Officials and employees
• New York Herald Tribune (Firm)

Genre/Form

History.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

Preparation -- The 'Hangover after Hitler' series of articles -- The confession of SS SS-Grupenführer Waldemar Wappenhans -- Aftermath.

Call Number

JFE 19-8454

ISBN

• 1526738732
• 9781526738738

LCCN

2018493688

OCLC

• 1041519291
• 1041519291

Author

Frank, Wolfe, 1913-1988, author.

Title

The undercover Nazi hunter : exposing the subterfuge and unmasking evil in post-war Germany / Wolfe Frank ; edited by Paul Hooley.

Publisher

London : Frontline Books, 2019.

Type of Content

text

still image

cartographic image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Chronological Term

1900-1999

Added Author

Hooley, Paul, editor.

Research Call Number

JFE 19-8454