ARREST AND INTERROGATION OF HERMAN FIELD

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005417980
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: March 19, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-01466
• Publication Date: July 2, 1954

RECEIVED fMCML
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a private search for his brother. The initial investigation lead to
Czechoslovakia and here Herman FIELD contacted Kur%MAMARCUS and Will OVE.
These individuals told Herman FIELD that Noel had g to Poland and that
SUBJECT Arrest and Interrogation of Herman FIELD DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
DATE OF INFO. Prior to December 1953 REQUIREMENT NO.
PLACE ACQUIRED Germany, Frankfurt ATI REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL Of CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
2 July 1954
3
Herman FIELD attempted to obtain
a visa to Poland from Czechoslovakia, but this visa was refused. Herman
then tried to organize political pressure in Poland which would assist him
37',
STATE Rl~u~ 9 * AIR
INDEX 9- .4 /vS ~~2y~s-y(yS
is described as being a well-known Polish architect and she attended a
fair or conference in New York after 1945. Helena CYRKUS
also attended a fair in Bergamo, Italy. Helena is married to,Sffiox YRKUS,
but 0 could not recall the husband's profession. Herman called elena
from Prague by telephone and told her that he wanted to come to Poland but
he was having difficulties in obtaining a visa; Herman asked Helena if she
could assist him in obtaining a visa. Helena did not know the true reason
for Herman's desire to come to Poland, so she contacted her good friend,
General` PYCHALSKI, and asked him to intervene in-behalf of Herman FIELD.
SPYCHALSKI was Minister for Construction at this time and he thought he
might obtain some good ideas from Herman FIELD, so SPYCHALSKI called
General XRADKIEwICZ of the MEP (Ministry of.Public Security) and referred
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 5 NOV 1954
 4. Mela~&RANCWSKA was also a contact of Herman FIELD from the days when
Hern(aan`had his committee (Komitet Uchodczow) in Poland to assist Czechoslo-
vakians to leave Czechoslovakia after that country had been annexed by
Germany. Herman FIELD called Mela GRANOWSKA and asked her to assist him
in obtaining a visa to Poland. GRANOWSKA ^ a branch chief
in the Personnel Section of the ministry of nergy. GRAN O1SKA was alarmed
by this request and reported it to Lun 'BRYSTYGIER of MBP Department V. v %.
GRAN OJSKA knew BRYSTYGIER from their ZP(Union of Polish Patriots). days
in Moscow. BRYSTYGIER reported this incident and BIERUT decided that
GRANOWSKA should call Herman FIELD in Prague. GRANOWSKA was instructed to
tell Herman that she would try to obtain the visa and if she were successful,
Herman was to plan to stay with GRANCWSKA while he was in Poland. These
instructions were carried out and BRYSTYGIER recruited GRANOWSKA as an
MBP agent.
5. Herman FIELD arrived in Poland and was escorted by GRANOWSKA to visit Helena
CYRKUS and Col. Leon, COW. Source claims that Heinan became acquainted
with GECOW in itzq?iAnd. GECOW was president of the Polish Red Cross at
the time of his Sw arrest in the FIELD case. Herman FIELD speaks German and all of
his conversations in Poland were conducted in the German language.
6. When Herman FIELD was scheduled to leave Poland, he was escorted to the
Warsaw Airport by Helena CYRKUS and GRANOWSKA. CYRKUS left the airport
first and when GRAN OWSKA left, Herman started walking toward the Prague
airplane. At this point, Herman FIELD was arrested by the MBP.
7. The MP waited until this moment in order to permit Herman FIELD to
officially pass through customs and officially be listed as a passenger.
Since the arrest took place under such circumstances the Poles can deny
knowledge of Herman's whereabouts. .
1/ "11 y0 ,
Lt. Col. IASECKI of Department X conducted the
/ interrogation of Herman FIE In an attempt to force Herman to confess,
/ PIASECKI read him excerpts from the RAJK trial and told him that his
brother Noel had testified against Allen DULLES and other American
intelligence agents. At no point in the interrogation did Herman FIELD
admit that he was a spy or t at he had ever conducted espionage on behalf
~.. of the American Government. physical violence has not
been used against Herman FIELD. Lt. Col. PIASECKI drew up the formal
K
charges against Herman, and this statement of charges has excerpts from
9. The fact that Herman helped Communists to leave Czechoslovakia during 1939
 10. The only evidence against Herman FIELD is wilt by association. He did
be ong to t e ( nTniitaria ices Committ.ee,)-.;which the Poles consider
to e a cover ag_ c- -fUf inerrcc intellij_enn- amend, ~his-brtotherr was man
espionagegt, IkRUT hiri e that w would be convenient if Herman
Mere eliminated but uch a hint could not be interpreted as an order or
even as a suggestion. Such a statement is usually understood to mean
that the officers in.charge could arrange a convenient method for
eliminating Herman provided they took full responsibility in the event that
any complications occurred.
The uunngar1ans stated that- they had no interest in Herman FIELD
an 4c d not accept him.
case, in which he stated that Kerman-might attempt to take his own life, and
since he had admitted nothing and no evidence had been uncovered he
should be considered innocent and should be protected. The report had
to be placed in the>-official files. The existence of such a written
statement of innocence made it almost impossible for anyone to assume the
responsibility of becoming his executioner, if Herman
had not had-the misfortune to have a famous brut er, e wo d probably have
eeeased.
Poland concerning the location of Herman FIELD. The Poles deny that Herman
FIELD is, in their;custodyy Herman FIELD
was imprison in Miedzeszyn, Poland. BIERUT told ROMKIXdSKI'that "Herman FIELD
is.to.remaiin in prison in..Poland.until the Communist revolution takes place
in the' United..States".. This was stated in.a sarcastic vein and was meant to