(Two): There has been confirmation that the special cargo has been transferred from the motor vessel Ciudad de Cádiz to U-405, Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm von Dattenberg commanding. Sturmbannführer Kötl and a small SS detachment are accompanying the special cargo.
(Three): Enclosed are chart overlays and signal cryptographic matériel to be used in seeing that the special cargo is safely put ashore in absolute secrecy at a location in Argentina to be determined by Cranz and von Lutzenberger in consultation with von Dattenberg.
(Four): If the landing operation is successful, the SS detachment will remain ashore to ensure the security of the special cargo and to perform other missions as determined by Cranz. If the landing encounters difficulty, the priorities are to (A) return the special cargo to the U-405 and (B) return the SS personnel to the U-405.
(Five): Sturmbannführer Kötl’s responsibility and authority is limited to the protection of the special cargo. The decisions to attempt to land the special cargo, the methods of doing so, and, should it be necessary, to break off the attempt are entirely the responsibility of Kapitänleutnant von Dattenberg. The location of the offloading is to be determined by consultation between Cranz and von Dattenberg.
(Six): There are additional SS personnel aboard the Ciudad de Cádiz who, following the successful unloading of the special cargo, may be brought into Argentina to further ensure the security of the special cargo and to perform such other duties as Cranz may prescribe. Ambassador von Lutzenberger is charged with acquiring the necessary documentation for all SS personnel whose presence in Argentina must obviously not come to the attention of the Argentine authorities.
(Seven): As the senior officer of the German Reich in Argentina, Ambassador Lutzenberger will continue to exercise that authority, including over U-405 while U-405 is involved in this mission. It is understood, however, that inasmuch as von Lutzenberger cannot be expected to have the expertise of Cranz and von Dattenberg, he will seek their counsel.
Heinrich Himmler
Reichsprotektor
Concur:
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Karl Doenitz Foreign Minister
Grand Admiral
Wilhelm Canaris
Rearadmiral
MOST SECRET
“Are you familiar with the contents of this, Your Excellency?” von Deitzberg asked.
Von Lutzenberger shook his head. Von Deitzberg handed him the order. Von Lutzenberger read it carefully and handed it back.
“It would seem the next step is to make Obersturmbannführer Cranz aware of these orders,” he said.
“Would you do me the courtesy, Your Excellency, of giving Cranz and me a few minutes alone?”
“Herr Generalmajor, there is an unfortunate implication in your request that there is something you wish to discuss with Cranz that you don’t wish the ambassador of the German Reich to hear,” von Lutzenberger said.
“It was my intention, Your Excellency, to ask Cranz, man-to-man, if he has anything he can tell me why the reichsprotektor is recalling me to Berlin on such short notice. I have no objection to your hearing that question, or the reply.”
Von Lutzenberger depressed a lever on his intercom device.
“Fräulein Hässell, will you ask Herr Cranz to come in, please?”
Von Deitzberg thought:
Fräulein Hässell opened the door for Cranz a moment later. He marched into the office, threw out his arm, and barked, “Heil Hitler!”
“It would appear, Cranz,” von Deitzberg said, “that I am urgently needed in Berlin. Do you have any idea why?”
“No, sir, I don’t.”
“And it would also appear that in addition to your new diplomatic duties, you are to assume all of my responsibilities here vis-à-vis both the Reichssicherheitshauptamt and Operation Phoenix.”
“You are learning this for the first time, are you, Cranz?”
“Yes, sir. All the reichsprotektor told me was that I was to come here, bearing certain documents for the ambassador, and be prepared to stay for an indefinite period of time.”
“Well, I think you had better have a look at our orders, Cranz. And then I will entertain your suggestions as to how the turnover may be accomplished in the least possible time.”
Von Deitzberg handed him the orders from Himmler.
[THREE]
Office of the Commercial Attaché Embassy of the German Reich Avenida Córdoba Buenos Aires, Argentina 1105 13 July 1943
