Reinhard Gehlen(1902-1979)
After graduating from high school in Breslau in 1920, he joined the German army. In 1923 Gehlen was promoted to lieutenant and in 1934 he was promoted to captain. In the meantime, Gehlen began studying at the War Academy in 1933, which he completed in 1935. Under the National Socialist government of Adolf Hitler he was appointed to the general staff in 1935/36. In 1939 Gehlen was promoted to major. He took part in the German attack on Poland that began in 1939 as first general staff officer of an infantry division. Gehlen also took part in the campaign against France and was appointed adjutant to Chief of General Staff Halder in October 1940. In April 1942, Gehlen was appointed head of the "Foreign Armies East" department in the General Staff of the German Army, where he was responsible for military reconnaissance in the East until 1945. In December 1942 Gehlen was promoted to colonel and towards the end of 1944 to major general.
From 1942 to 1945, Gehlen built up an extensive intelligence network in order to collect the necessary information, especially about the Red Army. However, in view of the German defeats in the Russian campaign, Gehlen's work increasingly lost credibility in Hitler's eyes, so he was replaced in April 1945 shortly before the German surrender. After the end of the war, Gehlen handed over his information network with extensive National Socialist intelligence material to the American occupying forces in 1945. Gehlen, who is said to have never been involved in politics during the Nazi regime in Germany despite his military career, was classified as not incriminated by the military tribunal in 1946. With the approval of the United States, the military expert was able to set up a foreign intelligence service in post-war Germany under the project name "Organization Gehlen", initially in Oberursel. In 1947 the organization moved to Pullach near Munich in order to be physically distant from the German seat of government. In 1955, the organization was officially handed over to the Federal Republic under the government of Konrad Adenauer.
On April 1, 1956, the Gehlen organization began its official work under the name "Federal Intelligence Service" (BND), which from then on was subordinate to the Federal Chancellery as an office. At the same time, the BND network in the GDR was dismantled towards the end of the 1950s. The infiltration of the BND by eastern agendas also cast a spectacular light on the organization and Gehlen. Domestic intelligence and his ideas about the meaning and function of the BND in the democratizing West German Republic also increasingly came under public criticism.
Nevertheless, Gehlen was able to continue to lead the successor organization BND as president beyond retirement age until May 1, 1968. In 1971 his book "The Service. Memories 1942-1971" was published.
Reinhard Gehlen died on June 8, 1979 in Berg, Starnberg district.
From 1942 to 1945, Gehlen built up an extensive intelligence network in order to collect the necessary information, especially about the Red Army. However, in view of the German defeats in the Russian campaign, Gehlen's work increasingly lost credibility in Hitler's eyes, so he was replaced in April 1945 shortly before the German surrender. After the end of the war, Gehlen handed over his information network with extensive National Socialist intelligence material to the American occupying forces in 1945. Gehlen, who is said to have never been involved in politics during the Nazi regime in Germany despite his military career, was classified as not incriminated by the military tribunal in 1946. With the approval of the United States, the military expert was able to set up a foreign intelligence service in post-war Germany under the project name "Organization Gehlen", initially in Oberursel. In 1947 the organization moved to Pullach near Munich in order to be physically distant from the German seat of government. In 1955, the organization was officially handed over to the Federal Republic under the government of Konrad Adenauer.
On April 1, 1956, the Gehlen organization began its official work under the name "Federal Intelligence Service" (BND), which from then on was subordinate to the Federal Chancellery as an office. At the same time, the BND network in the GDR was dismantled towards the end of the 1950s. The infiltration of the BND by eastern agendas also cast a spectacular light on the organization and Gehlen. Domestic intelligence and his ideas about the meaning and function of the BND in the democratizing West German Republic also increasingly came under public criticism.
Nevertheless, Gehlen was able to continue to lead the successor organization BND as president beyond retirement age until May 1, 1968. In 1971 his book "The Service. Memories 1942-1971" was published.
Reinhard Gehlen died on June 8, 1979 in Berg, Starnberg district.