BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON GERMAN MILITARY EXPERTS IN SYRIA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005339308
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: February 12, 2009
• Case Number: F-2007-01734
• Publication Date: February 23, 1954

Not Classified
ABSTRACT OF DOCUMENT eEIN(s CROSS FILED
4556 22 January 1954
Background Infoination on German Military
Experts in Syria
PERTINENT INFORMATION
:place Aci tired Cairo,' Egypt
'.Source: A tested source who is an
Appraisal of Contents 2.
ex-German Abwehr.I officer in Cairo' (B).
The Strachwitz -Period
U. Husni Za'im, the new Syrian dictator, gave his support and
confidence to Graf Strachwitz and appointed Colonel Walter Rauff as
commissioner of security with the special task of reorganizing
Syrian intelligence. Rauff is a former SS-Standartenfuehrer and had
taken an active part in Za'im's putsch.
12. Graf StraChwitz, Rauff, and nearly all other members.of the German
group were dismissed after Sarni al-Hinnawi seized power in August 19499
.In September 1949 there remained only 16 German officers, six of vh om
were pilots.
Personalities
I
40. Colonel Walter Rauff (listed as RAPP in some instances), was an
SS-Standartenfuehrer, served during World War II in Tunis, and as an
active Gestapo man commanded the SS at Milan. He played a leading
role in the. German experts group in Syria prior to and duri.ng.Za'im's
regime, was appointed commissioner of security, and charged with re-
organization.of Syrian intelligence. He was dismissed after.Za'im's
fall and is reported to be in Ecuador.
Correction rCS-28021'.Dated 29 January 1954
Hence, according to these reports, both Tabbarah and Rauff have used the',
documents uner.the name of Dr. Homsi when Rauffcame- to Rome in 1947?
2.`.'Washirigton Comment. Tabbarah has., been reported at various times.
to be...using thealias Homsi or Hamsi. A, usually: reliable source re-
ported in February,.1950 that:Tabbarah had furnished Walter Pilaff false
alias'Homsi.
CROSS REFERENCE.FORM
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N 'FF9IMES DISCLOSURE ACT
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