American Intelligence and the German Resistance to Hitler: A Documentary History

This compendium of recently declassified documents, assembled by two German historians, conveys the extent of the U.S. government's knowledge of German opposition to the Nazi regime, its reaction to peace feelers from resistance circles, and psychological tactics devised by the Office of Strategic Services to undermine German morale. The papers, several of which confirm OSS foreknowledge of the July 20, 1944, attempt to assassinate Hitler, include the initial report on the attempt by future CIA chief Allen Dulles to OSS director William J. Donovan, and OSS adviser William Langer's memo outlining his belief that the event was faked (``...the attempt on Hitler's life was staged by himself''). Other documents are OSS guidelines for recruiting German agents; studies of pro- and anti-Nazi attitudes of German workers, soldiers, churchmen, women and students; and a report by Dulles on a consultation with psychologist C.G. Jung on the state of Hitler's mind. Organized chronologically, this valuable collection of primary source material will be of interest to scholars for its revelation of internal resistance in Germany as seen through American eyes. (Jan.)