CIA REPORTING ON CHIEF OF GERMAN BND SUCCESSION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 07005044
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2024
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2024
• Case Number: F-2022-01254
• Publication Date: December 20, 1967

Approved for Release: 2023/06/28 C07005044
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CENTRAL INTEWGENCE AGENCY
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.,SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
COumDw West Germany
WMU50 SPD Views on Succession to
Presidency and Vice Presidency
of the END "
PSFORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. FAZES
REFERENCES
es311/1251*-67
20 December 1967
DA113,OF 5 December 1967
INFO. �
A
PACE & Germany, Bonn
DAIS Cs December 19671 RBDWORINO.
IRIS IS 194E9AWATED DWDEMATION. SONO WARR= AU mann M AMO 43? COMM IS DEITATIVE.�.."�
SOMMS Qualified American observer frosi:State Secretary Hurst Ehmke
of the West.Germintinistry.of Justice. .-
1.. On E December State -Secretary Beret Ehikeetated thit
the Social Democratic Party (SPD).had decided to support the'�
candidacy of Lieutenant General Gerhard Wessel as the; "
successor to General'Reinbard Gehlen as President of the
West German Federal Intelligence Service (END).. Ehmke
indicated that the Christian Democratic Union and Christian
Socialist Union (CDU/CSI) had also suggested Ambassador
Swidbert Schnippenkoetter for this position but the SPD
-found his candidacy unacceptable.
.2: As a-quid pro quo for supporting General Wessel, the
SPD wants to have the eight to nominate the Vicel.Presideni
of the END. The candidates under current consideration by
the spp are Vt. Guenther Mollau, Vice President of the
Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV),
and Dr. Guenther Redding, President of the State Office for
the Protection of the Constitution, -n Hamburg. According
.to Ehmke, Nollau is in a stronger position since he has the
support of Deputy SPD party chief Herbert Wehner while there
is some Opposition within the SPD to Redding. Ehmke predicted
that the SPD would make their nomination for the END Vice
Presideacy rather soon.
Headquarters Comment: For General Wessel's remarks about .
his candidacy and Chancellor Kiesinger's comments to him,
see CS-311/12308-6/.
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Approved for Release: 2023/06/28 C07005044�