HST 540 Final: Exam Prep Part 2.docx
5 Mar 2013
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Document Summary
Gehlen organization was an intelligence agency established in june 1946 by u. s. occupation authorities in the united states zone of germany, and consisted of former members of the 12th. Department of the army general staff (foreign armies east, or fho). Gehlen had realized that the nazis would be defeated and began planning a strategic surrender to the allies. His bargaining chip was a microfilmed copy of the german intelligence archive on the. In the summer of 1945, gehlen and his senior aides surrendered to the american. Although initially wavering, the allies quickly recognized his experience and knowledge about the west"s new emerging adversary. Gehlen was then able to negotiate an agreement with the u. s. , allowing his work in intelligence to continue despite the postwar denazification. Using former ss, gestapo and abwehr employees, gehlen quickly reconstituted functioning secret services with extensive espionage networks.
