Figure 1.--

Hitler and Mussolini played key roles assuring Francisco Franco's victory in the Civil War (1936-39). The Falange Party was a Fascist Party, although Franco held back from fully emplementingb Falangist policies. He did not participate in the Holocaust. He did not turn over Spanish Jews and allowed several thousand Jewisdh refugees to escape through Spain. Hitler expected Franco to enter the War on the Axis side and was shocked when he met with Franco at Hendaye and Franco refused to do so or to allow a Wehrmacht force to cross Spain and seize Gibraltar (October 1940). Ironically, it was Admiral Canaris, the Germany spy master who provided Franco the information he needed to defy Hitler. Franco committed a Spanish division (the Blue Division) to the Eastern Front, but never declared war. Franco did support the Axis in a number of ways. One of those was to support Axis espionage in the United states as Spain managaed to maintain diplomatic relations with the United States throughout the War. The Spanish took over the Japanese Embassy after Pearl Harbor and money was secreted there for espionage operations. The Spanish atttempted to pass on funds and even a valuable pearl necklace to a Japanese spy ring in America. Angel Alcázar De Velasco, an ex-bullfighter, was Spain's top spy in the United States. [Alcázar] He provided some limited information to the Germans on the Manhattan Project. This was probably the source of the limited information the Japanese had. The Spanish who also had a embassy in Britain attempted pass on finds to German spies there. Both the Americans and British were aware of these efforts. Magic provided details to the Americans. And the Btitish had arrested or turned the German spies. After the FBI ininiated a major effort against German spy rings in Latin An\merica, their operations were disrupted. This was especially the case after Brazil entered the war. The German espionage rings were never completely eliminated. A major element was assistabce from not only the Chilen and Argentine German communities, but also aid from Spanish diplmats. The crews of Spanish ships also provided numerous potential couriers.

Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

Hitler and Mussolini played key roles in the Spanish Civil War. Hitler offered assiantance as soon as he learned of Francisco Franco's military revolt against the Reoublic (1936). Germany and Italy provided extensive support only superficially desguised. This included air and naval support. Spain infact was a testing grouns for the New Luftwaffe. It is unlikely Franco could have won without their support. It assured Franco's victory in the Civil War (1936-39). The Falange Party was a Fascist Party, although Franco held back from fully emplementingb Falangist policies.

The Holocaust

Franco did not participate in the Holocaust. As with other occupied and allied nations, the Germans demanded that Jews be tirned over to them. Franci not did not turn over the smnall number of Spanish Jews and allowed several thousand Jewish refugees to escape the NAZIs through Spain.

The Axis

Hitler expected Franco to join the Axis and enter the War on the Axis side and was shocked when he met with Franco at Hendaye and Franco refused to do so or to allow a Wehrmacht force to cross Spain and seize Gibraltar (October 1940). Ironically, it was Admiral Canaris, the Germany spy master who provided Franco the information he needed to defy Hitler. Franco committed a Spanish division (the Blue Division) to the Eastern Front, but never declared war. Franco did support the Axis in a number of ways. One of those was to support Axis espionage in the United states as Spain managaed to maintain diplomatic relations with the United States throughout the War.

Spanish Inteligence Acency

The Spanish intelligence agency was the SECED. The agency develooped closed relations with the German Abwehr during the Spanish Civil War. The Abwehr opened a large station in Madrid. The Spanish agency was composed of two major branches. The Political-Social Brigade was a special branch of the plainclothes corps. The Intelligence Service was a unit of the Civil Guard. Their principal activity was domestic spying. They openef files on on individual Spanish citizens. They carried out a range of surveillance operations to collect information on individuals suspected of opposing the Franco regime. They also engaged in the political intimidation on thise believed ton opose the regime. The SECED was useful to the Germans and Japanese because Spain remained neutral throughout World War II. Thus the Spanish had embassies in America and Britain thriough which espionage activities could be sponsored.

Spanish Espionage Activities in Europe

The Spanish who also had a embassy in Britain attempted pass on finds to German spies there. The British were aware of these efforts. The Btitish had already arrested the German spies.

Spanish Espionage Activities in America

The Spanish took over the Japanese Embassy after Pearl Harbor and money was secreted there for espionage operations. The Spanish atttempted to pass on funds and even a valuable pearl necklace to a Japanese spy ring in America. Angel Alcázar De Velasco, an ex-bullfighter, was Spain's top spy in the United States. [Alcázar] He claim's that the Japanese minister (ambassadir), Yakicchiro Suma, to set up a spy ring in America. Alcázar reportedly operated a 12-member spy ring. They apparently provided some limited information to the Germans on the Manhattan Project. This was probably also the source of the little information the Japanese had. It is unclear just how much they learned or what the source was on the Manhattan Project. Alcázar claims that the information was obtained by a 24-year old agent known as 'Rogelio'. [Chen] His information seems more about what the bomb was capable of doing, not what the Americans had achieved. The mysterious Rogelio was found shot dead in Las Vegas near Binion's casino (1943). The Americans were aware of some of these efforts as a result of Magic.

Spanish Espionage in Latin America

After the FBI ininiated a major effort against German spy rings in Latin America, their operations were disrupted. This was especially the case after Brazil entered the war. The German espionage rings were never completely eliminated. A major element was assistance from not only the Chilen and Argentine German communities, but also aid from Spanish diplomats. The crews of Spanish ships also provided numerous potential couriers.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar has been important in Spanish history since Roman times. It ws hear the Moors landed that conquered Spain (8th cenbtury). Spain had long possed Gibraltar which is connected to the mainland by a narrow peninsular. Britain seized Ginraltar from the Spanish during the War of the Spanish Secession (1703). Both Germany and Spain wanted Gibraltar. Gibraltar's naval dockyard and airfield were key to control of the Mediterranean. Gibraltar was one of the tenuous pillars upon which British control of the Mediterranean held. Without Gibraltar, Malta could not be held. And Malta was key to interdicting Italian convoys flowing to Malta. The Germans conceived of Operation Felix under which German units would have entered Spain and attacked Gibraltar from the land. This is what Hitler discussed with Franco at Hendaye (October 1940). Franco understood what German troops in Spain would mean and refused. Hitler at the tome ws master of Europe and defying him was dangerous. Franco only did it because Admiral Canaris informed him that Hitler having failed to take England was now focused on the Soviet Union and would not diveert troops for a major camoaign against Spain. This is a case almost unique in history when a country's spy master works against his own country, or at least leader. Canaris did this because of the barbarity that he witnessed during the Polish campaign (September 1939) against both Jews and Poles. Canaris wanted to raise the issue personally with Hitler, but Field Marshal Keitel at OKW advised him against it. The result was that Gibraltar was saved and with it control of the Mediterranrean. That does not mean that the threats ended. Both the SECED and Abwehr ran extensive covert operations against Gibraltar from southern Spain. The Abwehr had active agents on both sides of the Straits. They were active in Tangier and elsewhere in Spanish-ruled Morocco as well as in Algeciras on the Spanish side of the Bay of Gibraltar. The Germans were thus not only able to monitor Allied shipping movements into and out of the Mediterranean, but to launch covert sabatoge attacks. The Spanish intelligence service also set up operations along the coast between Gibraltar and Algeciras, where it established its regional headquarters. The British Double-Cross system alerted British authorities about several sabatoge operations.

Strict Neutrality (February 1944)

Agents working for the Gibraltar Defense Security Office run by David Scherr helped the British compile a detailed assessment of German sabotage operations against Gibraltar. [British Security Service] The British used this for a formal diplomatic protest (January 1944). The protest was carried in The Times which reported "... the evidence was produced in the clearest form and speedy remedies were requested." [Times, February 2, 1944] By this time it was clear that Hitler had lost the War. Each month brought new reports of German reverses. The German invasion of Italy (September 1943) must have unerved Franco. This might have been his fate had he joined the Axis. And now Franco was very worried that the Allies might add Spain to the list of liberated nations. The Spanish government very quickly issued a statement of "strict neutrality" (February 3). In a sharp change in policy, the Spanish promised "the fulfilment of duties appertaining to such strict neutrality, both from Spanish nationals and from foreign subjects." The Spanish closed the Abwehr operation in southern Spain as part of this chabge in policy.

Sources

Alcázar De Velasco, Angel. Memorias de un Agente Secreto. Alcázar's claims in his book have to be taken with considerable sceptisism, but they do show that Spain was actively engaged in espionage and passing information on the the Germans and Japanese.

British Security Service (MI5). "History: The Battle for Gibraltar."

Chen, P.Y. "Allied sinking of German U-boat hindered Japanese A-bomb,"

The Times (February 2, 1944).

Created: 9:12 PM 4/10/2011
Last updated: 9:42 PM 4/10/2011