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30 Nov.
45
LAHOUSEN: The three Abwehr chiefs were present, Colonel
Pieckenbrock, whom I have already mentioned, Colonel General Bentivegni,
and I. Probably, also General Oster, and possibly Bürckner, but I
cannot remember clearly. In my notes only those three chiefs are
mentioned who all strictly rejected the proposal.
COL. AMEN:
What was the next occasion when this matter was again brought to your
attention?
LAHOUSEN: A little later, it must have been
September, the exact date has been recorded, Keitel, then chief of the
OKW, rang me up in my private apartment. He asked me, "What about
'Gustav'? You know what I mean by 'Gustav'?" I said, "Yes, I
know." "How is the matter progressing? I must know, it is very
urgent." I answered, "I have no information on the subject.
Canaris has reserved this matter for himself, and Canaris is not here,
he is in Paris." Then came the order from Keitel, or rather, before
he gave the order, he put one more question: "You know that the
others are to carry out the order?" By "the others," he
meant the SS and SD. I answered, "Yes, I know." Then came an
order from Keitel to immediately inquire of Müller how the whole
matter was progressing. "I must know it immediately," he said.
I said, "Yes," but went at once to the office of the Ausland
Abwehr, General Oster, and informed him what had happened, and asked for
his advice as to what was to be done in this matter which was so
extremely critical and difficult for Canaris and me. I told him--Oster
already knew as it was--that Canaris so far had not breathed a word to
the SD concerning what it was to do, that is, murder Giraud. General
Oster advised me to fly to Paris immediately and to inform Canaris and
to warn him. I flew the next day to Paris and met Canaris at a hotel at
dinner in a small circle, which included Admiral Bürckner, and I
told Canaris what had happened. Canaris was horrified and amazed, and
for a moment he saw no way out.
During the dinner Canaris asked
me in the presence of Bürckner and two other officers, that is,
Colonel Rudolph, and another officer whose name I have forgotten, as to
the date when Giraud had fled from Königstein and when the Abwehr
III conference had been held in Prague and at what time the
assassination of Heydrich had taken place. I gave these dates, which I
did not know by memory, to Canaris. When he had the three dates, he was
visibly relieved, and his saddened countenance took on new life. He was
certainly relieved in every way. I must add that--at this important
conference of the Abwehr III Heydrich was present. It was a meeting
between Abwehr III and SD officials who were
465
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