DOLLMANN AND WENNER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00868256
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: October 23, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 28, 2023
• Case Number: F-2022-01506
• Publication Date: December 5, 1946

Approved for Release: 2023/07/17 C00868256
-
BB8 ONLY
FROM: HH
5 December-V46. OFFP F.TAF
Ti fo22,
au tbc: :
R.O. _
SUBJECT: DOLLMANN and WWER r_
I. ADSO thought you miL:ht be interested in theiysaj.Opr..�t
cables and negotiations in Washington in connection-withY"-"
, We might expla,_n that Ara\ rally carried the
oall to support your position an it was with his, General
Vandenberg's and General Lemnitzer's cooperation that a sat-
isfactory solution was reached. This letter should be
mediately burned after you have read it and no reference should
be made to it in any discussions or neLotiat',oqs by you. This
is purely for your perSonal infr:rmati,en.
2. On 21 No -ember 19Y,., the Secretary f S-tzto r..-:ceived a
cable from T.m.c cxola.rLr the reT'ercnce to
Dollmann in w'.-jch thr'' r.:.ojn,ze the fric (27 :=r posi-
tion (;::'t m(I:nton of ::rs) a;:rer AFYQ thrt the
latter cannot assunc r;:scrs4.bi-!:ty for nrt;:.:Y-,in "f..;r7.er SS
Colonel f-o,.7, :2a11,-4 to t7.!sui'..- in Ardeai-,-'71e trial
court asks".
3. A confrc:Ice old C__. 5!7.ith vho was
sympathetic wa:, of n..; assi.tarus.c sreur'ng a satLsfactory
cable. to Tener:-_.1
L. _After. talin.L; t,,. 7:,-.. Dallas, a 71cmcrann wrtf, pre7ared out-.
lininz the position of the various parties in conn,Jotion with
,-.1e surrender fi.i,,:ot.a:,-- co.ble wc.F. L.9z)ar,-,1 '%7u-- Genar7d
Vandenberg to send to General Lee and was disc ssed with. various
people in the De2artccn of Site. The Depart. of State took
the position ..1.1a.t the records should be kept straint in Italy'
� -?-.1:1#
co
0 0 operation but that they did not feel that this government could
to the effect hat Dollmanr and Thnner did participate in the
a 0 c
S2 a 0 co along in the protection of the two individuals. eriFral Va.n-
t '5 Vs enberg then sent a cable to 7.eneral Lee, a paraphrase of which
CO 0 M 'olloY;s: The following information it furnished for such use as
co w cr
.i..z r8 (5, :ou may desire. The records of former OSS, together with per-
CD Ca = 7, sonal contact with Mr. Pallas, wht: initiated the German surrender
1-- �.', 1E c; in Italy, indicate proof that Dollmann and Wenner participated in
I.L4a.2Elm
oe --.......� the-Sunrise Operation. Major General Lemnitzer, who also rlarti-
c,-,........ ciptx1566Lciajggitns, after examination of records and contact
i L 1 Er.- Ft 6 i N AL I V 1 tA i i t.A�10/1=
2000
,
Approved for Release: 2023/07/17 C00868256
Iota
---41=.5)14zx
\
Approved for Release: 2023/07/17 C00868256
2
with Dallas, is also convinced of Dollmannts participation. It
woeld appear that present representations by Italians is attempt
to undermine Allied position in Italy and in view of the above
facts and particularly the repercussions and results that any
unjust treatment of these individuals would have on the future
long-range United Stateeintelligence activities in Italy) it
would appear that Allied intevestS.Would best be served if AFHQ
would confirm the participation of these individuals and show_ -
these individua3s appropriate consideration in presentpagreir-
eudStances. .The cable further pointed out that the AihV'of .he
-communication had been comeunicated to the Department of State
which perceived no objection.
5. General Lee, on 29 November 1_946, answered General Vanden-
be as follows:
"General Morgan, who handled the surrender ne;catiations on be-
half of Field Marshaleelexander, and General Airey, who with
Genera] Lemitzer represeeted the Supreme Allied Commander in
Switzerlane, emeaeize that:
(7enorals Te7--itzer and Air,:y the strictnst instruction not
to offer r:r.:y of reward ti any iLdividual and
only to.oTat,:: on a Ja.s..s. of 71:10.:3rlditional surre.Ider. They
scrup121011.51y carr4_od cot Thoir rlstrott.A13.,
General Ler,njtzer and Aire- had instrtctons to -!-.et C:erman emis-
sary con-tc.' b: the: in-w7:.tzf-r:..aLd vas GoLcral 7olff and only
Wolff. T: . lz..t,or to Caserta ad signee surrender
teres T.icuten Colonel 7.)!. Schweinitz on behalf of Vieting-
eoff and ":'orner on -'!half )f an c.nly tl-o3e tero. -;:eneral
Yorgan eenrier'. Scheeiritz '="1- tl..c a:11,d tc.r7.s of uncondi-
tionp1 surrender which were signed by them and no one else. Doll-
eann did 7,ct partidipate in c nutiaLi- us.
The 3 nlied Officers lertic.ned aovecre the individuals
authorized handle the ne:Lotitions on 1:ehalf of the Supreme
Allied C=.77'ander and if any promises or undertakings of special
treatment mere made, they were made by. persons not autherized by
Supreme Allied Commander to do so and absolotely contrary to
strictest instructions, and case were net :sae by the Allied Force
Headqeartees neeotiating party.
Allied Force Headquarters releaee to press has already stated that
Dollmann did not participate in the negotiations which led to the
surrender and even if so, he would not have been given any special
immunity.. In current trial in Rome, prosecution witness testified Doll-
mann had not responsibility for Ardeatine Cave murders. Publicity which
mostly Italian Leftist press and directed towards present government and
k
Approved for Release: 2023/07/17 C00868256
Approved for Release: 2023/07/17 C00868256
3
and Rightists as much as towas the Allies has subsided. It
is considered that any release now without apparent reason would
not help Dollmann and would create confusion with respect to.
Allied Force Headquarters -position.
Allied Forces Headquarters has already informed court holding.
trial in Rome that Dollmann will be made available as witness
if court so reqhests. if Italians hpld further trial to pass
justice on lesser German offbials implicated in Ardeatine Caves
mufders, Italian court may well refluest Dollmann as witness and
effort to implicate him may be undertaken by Italian prosecution.
_Leftist, particularly Communiat, press has already alleged Doll-
mann responsible for 1)J-deatine murders. Since it is now known.
that Dolimarn is held in United States custody, it would place
Allied Force Headquarters in untenable position morally should it
reC,:se renuest rror It.aln court that Dolimann testify.-
Pr000se therefore tnnt DrD11-Aann be retained in Unites states cub-
tedy until psesent and future Ardeatine Cave -g trials have been
completed. It is ther planned with concurrence of chief External
SInney Detachn.lent Rome tr ren-,Itr,ate Pollmann throuji normal United'
Stat:-2,
6. Geieral Ve.nderfeerg answer,
s s-n:yr;i1 Tee as foliows:
"Greatly abreciate proposed action pn Dollmann indicated in last
pararanh yehr
Fcr infstion onlY recheck of OSS records here confirms fact
that rcalmaer. did Particinate in the preliminary phases of ...he
Ssnriss c:perat,ion nrie to the time A7FQ renrentatives entered
Switzerland. On 3 March 1.:42 C:SS intermediaries met Dollmann at
Lssano. Ho 7:m7ere Parini an.:i a ris2resentative
or the D in:;e11;7enee tht 7fiectinr, Dollmann alai-red
he renresented Fesseirin7, Rnhn and WelfT. Tt was suggested to
Dollmann thr:t as a test nf' authenticity and si.:1.n:rity he arrange
for the release of certa4n itslian netrL.ts, ften in custody of the
Corsans. The release, which occurred shortyly thereafter, included
Pc,rri who later hecare Premier of. Italy. n 8 !..'arch 1945 Wolff plus
Dl.'aru ar r ctlrs arrived in Ln.ano for .'afinite talks. 7iblff,
Pollnnn 7.nd party then proceeded to ::rich where further discussions
with OSS rplavesentatives took place.
Rcenrds and Mr. Olen Dulles confirm that no immunity in any form was
offered to any individual involved in Sunrise.
Interest of Central Intelligence Group is solely to insure that long-
range intelligence activities of the United States will be secured,"
pproved for Release: 2023/07/17 C00868256