Victim of kidnapping or an unfortunate defector? The strange case of Otto John. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fenemore, Mark
• Is Part Of: Cold War history. Volume 20:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Espionage -- defection -- Cold War Berlin -- CIA -- KGB -- Stasi -- BfV -- German resistance -- Adenauer -- National Socialism -- communism -- German unification; Cold War -- Periodicals; World politics -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 940.55
• DOI: 10.1080/14682745.2019.1689390
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-2745

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Dr Otto John was a controversial choice as head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, West Germany's domestic counter-espionage agency. After attending a commemoration of the victims of the resistance plot against Hitler, on 20 July 1954, John disappeared from West Berlin in the company of his friend Dr Wolfgang Wohlgemuth. This article explores available evidence from Central Intelligence Agency and Stasi files to assess whether John was abducted or went freely as a would-be defector. An examination of his mental state is crucial in determining this.