390:, the Reich Postal Minister, repeatedly tried to dissolve ITT on the grounds that it was an enemy-favored enterprise. Westrick did all that he could to prevent that, perhaps to protect his own interest in the company. Ohnesorge took his case to Hitler, calling Westrick an American sympathizer, but Hitler recognized the importance of ITT and let the company continue operating in Europe, with Westrick as chairman of the managing directors.
419:, said that Westrick was among the few people with whom he could discuss in 1943 the need to overthrow Hitler or even to kill him. Around the end of 1944, Westrick and two other business leaders suggested to Schellenberg that they could negotiate for him with Dulles in Switzerland. Schellenberg turned down the offer since he had nothing tangible to propose to Dulles.
1394:
111:(1914–1918), he was badly wounded and lost part of one leg. He joined the law firm of Heinrich Friedrich Albert in 1921 and became a specialist in international corporate law. Albert advised or represented major industrial and financial organizations in Germany and the United States. They were associated with
228:
Westrick left Berlin in
January 1940. He was accompanied by his wife and his two sons: Klaus, 9, and Peter, 6. They traveled to the United States via the Soviet Union and Japan, then both neutral, and reached the United States on March 7, 1940. Westrick later said he had gone to the United States on
348:
ran stories with headlines like "Hitler's Agent
Ensconced in Westchester" and gave his home address. Many of his business associates no longer wished to be associated with him. Westrick's house became a target for angry citizens. An FBI guard was placed around the property. Westrick had disappeared
381:
Back in
Germany, Westrick continued to work for his American clients. Westrick had been given power of attorney over all the European ITT properties just before the fall of France to forestall the possibility of a German seizure. Germany declared war on the United States in December 1941 after the
463:
With the fall of France, Britain with her colonies and imperial possessions stood alone against Hitler, who controlled most of Europe. Many in the United States expected
Germany next to invade Britain. The mood in America quickly changed from noninterventionsm to preparation for war with Germany.
352:
The FBI found that
Westrick had concealed his disability and obtained a driving license illegally, which was removed on August 1, 1940. Newspapers reported that the FBI had asked the police to record the license numbers of cars that stopped at Westrick's house in Scarsdale. On August 11, the
260:
Westrick represented many
American companies in Germany, including ITT, Ford, General Motors, Standard Oil, the Texas Company, Sterling Products, and the Davis Oil Company. Westrick seems to have expected a friendly reception. He gave press conferences and attended receptions and parties. He
441:
Torkild Rieber was to suffer for his support of
Westrick. When the newspapers picked up the story about Westrick's visit, publicity about Rieber's pro-Nazi views began to threaten Texaco's sales. After a stormy meeting in August 1940 the Texaco board of directors forced Rieber to resign.
219:
for his contributions to the war effort. He was assigned by von
Ribbentrop to undertake a mission to the United States to meet American business leaders and gain their support for Germany. He was also asked to look into obtaining a $ 5 billion loan for Germany after the war had ended.
176:. Westrick's correspondence with the intelligence organization emphasized his own importance as chairman of ITT in Germany, such as in influencing what the Hungarian ITT plant would ship to Turkey, a key supplier of
357:
said $ 5 million had been deposited for
Westrick in a bank in San Francisco by a source in Germany, followed by additional sums. The paper said the Nazis thought that he was an ace propagandist. Columnists such as
167:
Westrick quickly managed to remove the obstacles that had been preventing Bedaux from operating in
Germany. Westrick recognized Bedaux's potential as a source for intelligence and brought him to the attention of
1469:
153:
In 1936, Westrick was called up to serve in the officer reserve but was rejected because of his injury. He still wanted to serve Germany and said that he was interested in intelligence work.
1459:
307:
Westrick told the guests that Britain would be defeated in three months, and there would then be huge opportunities for trade between America and Germany.
386:. In early 1942, Westrick flew to Madrid, where he met with Sosthenes Behn to discuss how to manage ITT's European business in the new political climate.
393:
During the war, Westrick remained in touch with ITT's head office in America through G. Edouard Hofer, the managing director of ISE in Switzerland. The
400:
Westrick also continued his intelligence work. His last report giving information from Bedaux was written in March 1942 and reported on French Marshal
425:
Behn would have no contact with Westrick after the war and refused to vouch for him during his trials. Westrick died in 1957. He was then about 68.
183:
World War II broke out in September 1939. Two days after Germany invaded Poland, France and Britain declared war. France fell in June 1940. The
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Westrick was appointed chairman of ITT's German subsidiary. He played a leading role in helping ITT acquire companies in Eastern Europe.
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his own initiative and planned to stay there, and his bringing his family lends some support to that assertion. However, according to
91:(27 April 1889 – 10 June 1957) was a German lawyer and businessman who represented several major American companies in Germany before
373:
asked Westrick to return to Germany. Westrick left the United States on August 23, 1940, returning to Germany via the Pacific route.
1415:
415:
However, he became disillusioned with the Nazi regime. During interrogations after the war the head of foreign intelligence,
301:
250:
187:, however in June 1941 Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The US remained technically neutral until four days after the
1464:
253:, and a Buick. Westrick found support among American business leaders who were hostile to Bolshevism and to President
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In 1938, Westrick founded his own law firm in Berlin, taking some of the American clients with him, including ITT.
363:
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The war in Europe ended in May 1945. Westrick was interrogated over his role in the regime in April 1947.
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published a hostile story, calling Westrick "Hitler's ambassador-off-the-record to U.S. businessmen". The
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presented the view that after the war America, Germany and Japan would dominate the world economy.
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314:, found out about Westrick's mission and leaked it to the press. The story was picked up by the
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136:
1090:
Hitler's Last Chief of Foreign Intelligence: Allied Interrogations of Walter Schellenberg
95:. He was known for his efforts during a trip to New York in 1940 to gain support for the
1062:
Selling War: The British Propaganda Campaign Against American Neutrality in World War II
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132:
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41:
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1153:
The Road to Big Week: The Struggle for Daylight Air Supremacy Over Western Europe
816:
814:
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108:
210:, who became German ambassador to France after the occupation of that country.
289:
207:
96:
37:
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191:; on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
1182:
Trading with the Enemy: An Exposé of the Nazi-American Money Plot, 1933–1949
128:
1393:
369:
In the face of that storm of hostile publicity, German Chargé d'Affaires
177:
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attacked Westrick, wildly exaggerating his connections with the Nazis.
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1111:
Hitler's Intelligence Chief: Walter Schellenberg: Walter Schellenberg
246:
173:
638:
636:
820:
120:
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617:
1225:
Nineteen Weeks: America, Britain, And The Fateful Summer Of 1940
1108:
Doerries, Reinhard R.; Weinberg, Gerhard L. (October 10, 2013).
492:
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and were interested in continuing to do business in Europe.
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Soviet Union supported Germany in their invasion for Poland
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906:
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met Westrick in August 1939 and hired him as his lawyer.
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855:
853:
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was aware of these communications and monitored them.
82:
Representing U.S. companies in Germany in World War II
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Prisoners and detainees of the United States military
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to it so that it can be listed with similar articles.
642:
16:
German lawyer, businessman, and lobbyist (1889–1957)
202:was head of the aluminum industry in Germany under
78:
70:
62:
48:
30:
23:
1179:
1129:Evans, Anthony A.; Gibbons, David (August 2011).
1037:. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 433.
666:
172:, the head of the foreign liaison section of the
924:
805:
627:
496:
213:In January 1940 Westrick was given the title of
99:government. Later he turned against the regime.
404:and his intimates and their dealings with the
206:, and his brother Julius was on the staff of
8:
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481:
968:Isaiah Berlin: Volume 1: Letters, 1928–1946
20:
769:
733:
119:. The German law firm's clients included
1263:"Nazi Special Agent Afoul of N.Y.'s Law"
1251:"Nazi Agent Received Funds From Germany"
1132:The Illustrated Timeline of World War II
912:
454:had given Mooney the Golden Eagle award.
310:The British BSC chief in North America,
745:
654:
471:
434:
241:of ITT arranged the trip and persuaded
1010:Charles Bedaux – Deciphering an Enigma
948:
885:
861:
845:Nazi Special Agent Afoul of N.Y.'s Law
832:
821:Nazi Agent Received Funds From Germany
757:
690:
1342:A Man Called Intrepid: The Secret War
1087:Doerries, Reinhard R. (May 1, 2003).
936:
897:
873:
194:Westrick was well-connected with the
7:
793:
781:
264:On June 26, 1940, one day after the
1460:20th-century German businesspeople
1403:needs additional or more specific
1329:ITT: The Management of Opportunity
1311:ITT: The Management of Opportunity
1007:Bloomenkranz, Sol (July 6, 2012).
160:, the French-American businessman
107:Westrick was born in 1889. During
14:
1291:. August 26, 1940. Archived from
1201:Jackson, Ashley (March 9, 2006).
1150:Hammel, Eric (January 27, 2010).
989:Enlightening: Letters 1946 – 1960
1392:
986:Berlin, Isaiah (June 30, 2012).
965:Berlin, Isaiah (June 4, 2004).
1135:. The Rosen Publishing Group.
971:. Cambridge University Press.
349:from view by the end of July.
1:
1257:. August 12, 1940. p. 5.
1228:. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
1204:British Empire and 2ND Ww (E)
1156:. Pacifica Military History.
1059:Cull, Nicholas John (1996).
925:Doerries & Weinberg 2013
806:Doerries & Weinberg 2013
628:Doerries & Weinberg 2013
497:Doerries & Weinberg 2013
251:Westchester County, New York
1455:20th-century German lawyers
1368:"War Front: German Tempter"
1255:The Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
1065:. Oxford University Press.
1486:
115:and his New York law firm
643:War Front: German Tempter
1178:Higham, Charles (1983).
1093:. Taylor & Francis.
594:Evans & Gibbons 2011
579:Evans & Gibbons 2011
567:Evans & Gibbons 2011
555:Evans & Gibbons 2011
270:Waldorf Astoria New York
384:bombing of Pearl Harbor
335:New York Herald Tribune
117:Sullivan & Cromwell
1308:Sobel, Robert (2000).
235:Trading with the Enemy
189:attack on Pearl Harbor
158:Joachim von Ribbentrop
89:Gerhard Alois Westrick
52:10 June 1957 (aged 68)
25:Gerhard Alois Westrick
1222:Moss, Norman (2004).
1031:(November 10, 2010).
667:Oil: Exit Rieber 1940
272:. Attendees included
255:Franklin D. Roosevelt
216:WehrwirtschaftsfĂĽhrer
1267:The Montreal Gazette
298:Philip Dakin Wagoner
1295:on October 14, 2010
1186:. Delacorte Press.
417:Walter Schellenberg
395:US State Department
338:. On July 8, 1940,
224:United States visit
74:Lawyer, businessman
1465:Nazi propagandists
1337:Stevenson, William
1283:"Oil: Exit Rieber"
1034:The Chomsky Reader
939:, p. 111-112.
317:Chicago Daily News
312:William Stephenson
294:Ford Motor Company
1433:
1432:
1416:adding categories
1352:978-1-58574-154-0
1321:978-1-893122-44-4
1235:978-0-618-49220-6
1214:978-0-8264-4049-5
1193:978-0-385-29080-7
1163:978-1-890988-29-6
1142:978-1-4488-4795-2
1121:978-1-936274-13-0
1100:978-0-203-01809-5
1072:978-0-19-535479-9
1044:978-0-307-77249-7
1020:978-1-4759-2637-8
999:978-1-4464-9608-4
978:978-0-521-83368-4
722:Bloomenkranz 2012
710:Bloomenkranz 2012
679:Bloomenkranz 2012
609:Bloomenkranz 2012
543:Bloomenkranz 2012
531:Bloomenkranz 2012
516:Bloomenkranz 2012
482:Bloomenkranz 2012
388:Wilhelm Ohnesorge
156:On the advice of
149:Intelligence work
86:
85:
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1269:. August 2, 1940
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1114:. Enigma Books.
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992:. Random House.
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724:, p. 37-38.
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1345:. Lyons Press.
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1314:. Beard Books.
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402:Philippe PĂ©tain
379:
360:Walter Winchell
282:James D. Mooney
226:
200:Ludger Westrick
170:Leopold BĂĽrkner
151:
105:
58:
53:
44:
35:
26:
17:
12:
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5:
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1374:. July 8, 1940
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951:, p. 596.
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915:, p. 158.
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878:
876:, p. 942.
866:
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837:
835:, p. 328.
825:
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786:
784:, p. 249.
774:
772:, p. 108.
770:Stevenson 2000
762:
750:
738:
736:, p. 106.
734:Stevenson 2000
726:
714:
695:
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657:, p. 433.
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378:
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345:Herald Tribune
286:General Motors
274:Sosthenes Behn
266:Fall of France
243:Torkild Rieber
239:Sosthenes Behn
231:Charles Higham
225:
222:
204:Hermann Göring
198:. His brother
162:Charles Bedaux
150:
147:
133:General Motors
104:
101:
84:
83:
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79:Known for
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1401:This article
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1207:. Continuum.
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1029:Chomsky, Noam
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1022:
1016:
1013:. iUniverse.
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913:Doerries 2003
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517:
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949:Berlin 2012
886:Higham 1983
862:Higham 1983
833:Berlin 2004
758:Hammel 2010
691:Higham 1983
196:Nazi regime
109:World War I
103:Early years
63:Nationality
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1405:categories
937:Sobel 2000
898:Sobel 2000
874:Sobel 2000
429:References
332:, and the
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