The Life of Bolschwing
Otto von Bolschwing was born in 1909 in Prussia, and was orphaned at an early age. Bolschwing's father was killed in action on the Eastern Front during World War I. As he grew older, Bolschwing denied his Nazi past and began working for the German Sicherheitsdienst (SD). The SD was an intelligence agency for the Nazi Party in Germany. In 1940, Bolschwing was named the SD representative in Bucharest, Romania. During his time as representative, Bolschwing supported the Iron Guardists in their plot to attack Ion Antonescu, the Romanian Prime Minister during World War II. Bolschwing's superiors in Berlin did not approve of this and the German Foreign Ministry protested against Bolschwing's actions for they interfered with the Reich's external affairs. Bolschwing was then arrested and imprisoned in Germany for a few months.
“His arrest and imprisonment as well as his subsequent demotion in the SS later enhanced his self-projected image as a Resistance fighter - an aspect that he played up by obtaining certificates from US Army units attesting to his underground activities at the end of the war.” -Kevin C. Ruffner
Otto von Bolschwing was a very controversial man. While in Romania as the SD representative, Bolschwing was able to "frustrate many of the evil designs of the Nazi regime". Although, while doing so, he also arranged the escape of Horia Sima, who was the last leader of the Iron Guard, and a bunch of other criminals. Upon learning about Bolschwing's background, CIA chief of the Pullach Operations Base (POB) James H. Critchfield claimed that Bolschwing was of high value, and that the CIA needed to gain hold of him fast. In 1950, the CIA took Bolschwing as an agent.
“Both… and Critchfield were impressed by Bolschwing's motives to work for American intelligence as opposed to staying with Gehlen. ‘Probably the single ambition of Bolschwing,’ the chief of POB observed, ‘which is greater than that of playing a key role in Austrian intelligence is to become an American citizen and work in some capacity in political and intelligence affairs in Europe or in the United States as an American citizen.’” -Kevin C. Ruffner
After becoming a part of the CIA, the Austrian Ministry of Interior took a deeper look into what Bolschwing was doing in the United States, for they did not know he joined the CIA, but were informed of suspicious actions. The CIA refused to give the Ministry his Nazi Party records, and as the investigation reached its climax, Bolschwing had the Criminal Investigative Division as well as the CIA at his back. The Austrians ended up dropping the case by the end of 1950, for they had insufficient evidence.
“His arrest and imprisonment as well as his subsequent demotion in the SS later enhanced his self-projected image as a Resistance fighter - an aspect that he played up by obtaining certificates from US Army units attesting to his underground activities at the end of the war.” -Kevin C. Ruffner
Otto von Bolschwing was a very controversial man. While in Romania as the SD representative, Bolschwing was able to "frustrate many of the evil designs of the Nazi regime". Although, while doing so, he also arranged the escape of Horia Sima, who was the last leader of the Iron Guard, and a bunch of other criminals. Upon learning about Bolschwing's background, CIA chief of the Pullach Operations Base (POB) James H. Critchfield claimed that Bolschwing was of high value, and that the CIA needed to gain hold of him fast. In 1950, the CIA took Bolschwing as an agent.
“Both… and Critchfield were impressed by Bolschwing's motives to work for American intelligence as opposed to staying with Gehlen. ‘Probably the single ambition of Bolschwing,’ the chief of POB observed, ‘which is greater than that of playing a key role in Austrian intelligence is to become an American citizen and work in some capacity in political and intelligence affairs in Europe or in the United States as an American citizen.’” -Kevin C. Ruffner
After becoming a part of the CIA, the Austrian Ministry of Interior took a deeper look into what Bolschwing was doing in the United States, for they did not know he joined the CIA, but were informed of suspicious actions. The CIA refused to give the Ministry his Nazi Party records, and as the investigation reached its climax, Bolschwing had the Criminal Investigative Division as well as the CIA at his back. The Austrians ended up dropping the case by the end of 1950, for they had insufficient evidence.