STATEMENTS MADE BY HEUSINGER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05868053
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-01257
• Publication Date: July 29, 1954

Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C05868053
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. It transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET CONTItOLU, , OPFICIAI3
COUNTRY West Germany REPORT NO. CS DB-1-23564
SUBJECT Statements Made by Heusinger DATE DISTR. 29 July 1951+
NO. OF PAGES 2
DATE OF INFO. May 1954 REQUIREMENT NO. RD
PLACE ACQUIRED Germany; Munich REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
SOURCE: The following report represents statements made privately by former General
Adolf Heusinger (B) during the last week of May 1954,
ivonraisal of 2011.gats 2.
1, The creation of a German "national security council", patterned after that in the
United States, is being advocated by Heusinger� Theodor Blank, and former General
Reinhard Gehlen� among others. Gehlen and Blank believe that Gehlen's organiza-
tion should be put under the supervision of such a council. Heusinger adds that
the council could be established by Chancellor Adenauer without reference to the
status of ratification of the defense treaties, provided that the Chancellor's
initiative is followed by United States endorsement.
2. Heusinger believes that a member of the MID should be included in the national
security council, and recommends the selection of Fritz &ler, deputy chairman
of the Bundestag Committee on European Security. Other members would be the
.Chancellor� the Vice-Chancellor, the Ministers of Economy and Finance, and the
(hypothetical) Minister of Defense.
3. Heusinger no longer believes that the EDC can provide a solution for the German
defense problem, since French procrastination has destroyed the willingness of
the Germane to cooperate. The Socialist leader, Erich 011enhauer� has also
recently pointed out to Heusinger that if the French do ratify the treaty, they
will do so by such a small majority as to emphasize their lack of enthusiasm,
and that this will further impair its prospects of success. This situation is
recognized by many former German officers, and affords some pleasure to those
who were basically opposed to the EDC from the first.
4.1 Heusinger and his colleague Dr. Hans Speidel have considered resigning their
positions on account of the French obstructionism and the resultant failure of
their military planning. They think that no other qualified German general would
then consent to take over their assignments.
5. Although Heusinger thinks it is good propaganda to assert that the NATO has made
tremendous strides in its effectiveness, he says that in fact little progress has
been made, except in the development of American air power and of atomic and
hydrogen weapons. It is his opinion that General Gruenther is unrealistically
NT � FICIAi3 ONLY
STATE
X , ARMY
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AIR
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optimistic on this subject.
6. In order to solve the present impasse concerning German remilitarization,
Heusinger thinkA the United States and Great Britain will have to declare their
intention to bring about the creation of German contingents for the EDC by acti-
vating ten divisions in their zones of Germany. He believes that the French would
then have to follow suit. He also proposes that the United States and Great
Britain reject the EDC concept as unsuccessful, since no progress has been made in
two years. The German national forces would have to be subordinated to SHAPE
within the NATO, and again the French would be compelled to acquiesce.
7. Heusinger disapproves of Dr. Karl Georg Pfleidererls plan to negotiate with the
Russians. He says Pfleiderer is a radical who is not really representative of the
FDP: He feels that there is some sentiment in favor of the plan, but that it is
not favored by the majority of German politicians. That it has received any sup-
port at all is due to the confusion prevailing in West Germany as to many major
problems, both political and economic.
LIBRARY SUBJECT AND AREA CODES
B-02-0403 7/54
174.8 44.1/D
172.312 46 A(Ca)
172.312 (QI)
103.8 M/D
122.41 4M/D
SECRET ON OL--U. S. F CIALS ONL
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Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C05868053