Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm von Dattenberg
Commanding U-boat 405
(One): You have been entrusted with a mission of great importance to the Reich. You will be informed of the details thereof as considered necessary. The details of this mission will be shared with as few people as possible, consistent with executing the mission.
(Two): For the purposes of this mission, inasmuch as Kapitän Jose Francisco de Banderano, master of the motor vessel Ciudad de Cádiz, is acting at the direct orders of the undersigned, and despite his civilian status, he will be considered the senior officer of the German Reich present.
(Three): You will receive from Kapitän de Banderano a special cargo which you will in absolute secrecy see safely ashore at a location in Argentina to be later identified to you. Attached are chart overlays and signal cryptographic matériel to be used in this connection.
(Four): Sturmbannführer Kötl will board the U-405 together with a small detachment of SS to protect the cargo until it is safely ashore. If the discharge operation is successful, the SS will remain ashore. If the mission encounters difficulty, the priorities are (1) to return the special cargo to the U-405 and (2) return the SS to the U-405.
(Five): Sturmbannführer Kötl’s responsibility and authority is limited to the protection of the special cargo. The decisions to attempt to land the special cargo, the methods of doing so, and, should it be necessary, to break off the attempt are entirely your responsibility.
(Six): The packaging of the special cargo is not to be opened under any circumstances.
(Seven): From the time the special cargo is placed aboard U-405, you will not engage any enemy warships or merchant vessels under any circumstances until the special cargo is safely ashore. Similarly, if the landing attempt is unsuccessful, and the special cargo is taken back aboard the U-405, you will undertake no hostile action of any kind until the special cargo is placed back aboard the Ciudad de Cádiz or other disposition of same is made.
Doenitz
Karl Doenitz
Grand Admiral
Concur:
Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
J. v. Ribbentrop
Reichsprotektor Joachim von Ribbentrop
Foreign Minister
Canari’s
Wilhelm Canaris
Rear Admiral
MOST SECRET
Kapitänleutnant von Dattenberg looked at Capitán de Banderano.
“What is this ‘special cargo’?” von Dattenberg said.
“Six wooden crates, each a meter long, three quarters of a meter wide, and three quarters of a meter deep.”
“And in them . . . ?”
“When we tried this the first time, I was told they contain radios and civilian clothing and other items intended to facilitate the escape of the officers from the Graf Spee from their internment.”
“When you tried this the first time?”
De Banderano nodded.
“Obviously without success,” von Dattenberg said. “What happened?”