Schellenberg does not remember the exact
date, but thinks it was in the late autumn of 1944 when Himmler, in the form of
a long statement made in the presence of Schellenberg, Obergruppenfuehrer
Pruetzmann, Skorzeny and he believes also of Kaltenbrunner, declared for the
first time that he had selected Pruetzmann as the chief of a new organisation
called "Werewolf" after the title of the book by Leons [Hermann
Löns].149 He said that his organisation was completely independent and would be
built up in the manner of the "Gauleitungen". Pruetzmann would form
the organisation in close collaboration with the Gauleiters. The RSHA,
especially Skorzeny, would have to provide the fullest support regarding
technical needs and training. Pruetzmann would have to be aided above all in
respect of W/T needs. (He had planned to set up a central transmitting station
in caves in the Kyffhaeuser, a mountain in Thuringia, and was to be assisted by
officers of the Ordnungspolizei. Schellenberg does not know if the station
actually operated.) Kaltenbrunner and Skorzeny were not satisfied with this
decision and sabotaged Pruetzmann's work from the very beginning by pleading
ignorance or being evasive when he addressed queries to them or made requests.
Schellenberg says that the whole question
left him completely cold, especially as Obergruppenfuehrer Berger began to
interfere in it. Berger maintained close relations with Pruetzmann and tried to
assume the command over the Werewolf when the possibility arose that Pruetzmann
was being sent to Croatia as HSS u. PF or even as Wehrmacht commander (in the
same manner as Wolff in Italy). As Pruetzmann started his job without personnel
he picked from everywhere particularly reliable SS leaders "Prpo"
[Orpo?] and members of the Wehrmacht. Kaltenbrunner provided for Pruetzmann,
Obersturm-bannfuehrer Tschier [s] chky (he was for a while in charge of VI. C
but had been handed over by Schellenberg owing to incapability). Pruetzmann who
in the end did not get to Agram, Tschier [s] chky and the rest of the staff had
a special train and began "wildly to organise".
Schellenberg gathered this from the
continuous complaints of Lt. Colonel Boening and Major Poretschkin (VI. F and
Mil. E) who in accordance with the instructions received from Himmler had to
help with the provision of W/T installation and training.
Soon Schellenberg ceased co-operation in
this field. The reasons given for this cessation of co-operation were first
that Amt VI had no W/T installations which they could spare, and second that
according to a report made by Lt. Col. Boening from Wiesbaden the boys who had
arrived there for a W/T training course were "raw" to such an extent
that they had to be sent home again by the officer in charge. Thereupon
Pruetzmann attached himself technically entirely to the Orpo and to the
Wehrmacht and as far as Schellenberg remembers his departments had nothing more
to do with Pruetzmann. Schellenberg does not know how far Skorzeny and his
"Jagdverbaende" were still meant to co-operate with the Werewolf.
Skorzeny worked completely independently in direct control with Kaltenbrunner.
Schellenberg is convinced that the collaboration between Skorzeny and
Pruetzmann was not very good as Skorzeny planned establishing a sort of
Werewolf organisation of his own with his SS "Jagdverbaende". Besides
Tschier [s] chky and Skorzeny were personal enemies. Schellenberg does not
think that Pruetzmann was able to build up a large and strong organisation.
Pruetzmann himself was a desperado and always boasted having played as a young
man a part in the Ruhr and Rhineland struggle. The little Schellenberg has seen
of the organisation of Pruetzmann, Tschier [s] chky and their large staff
corresponded, as he says, to their mental capacity; it was weak. Schellenberg
maintains that in April 1945 he reproached Himmler severely regarding the
Werewolf, calling this enterprise "criminal and stupid". He thinks
that his reproaches lead to contradictory orders being issued. The whole
Werewolf organisation was built up, how it was to function and how it did in
fact function [sic.]. One name Schellenberg remembers, that of SS
Standartenfuehrer Knolle, formerly in The Hague, who was responsible for the
Hamburg area.
In the end Pruetzmann began to pick out his
men from the Army Groups as well as the armies. He also started to establish
depots for material. This was reported to Schellenberg by Colonel Buntrock,
chief of reconnaissance at the front. Schellenberg says that he did not trouble
to oppose these activities of Pruetzmann for the disorder whithin the so-called
"retreat organisation" had become uncontrollable in the course of the
last months. At the end everything was compressed as in an accordion: Party,
Hitler Youth, D. A. F., N. S. V., Stapo, SD., Klein Kampf Verbaende of the
Wehrmacht Werewolf, SS Jagdverbaende- everything upside down and everybody
solely responsible for everything. On top of it was added the Volkssturm.
Schellenberg is of the opinion that Pruetzmann was most active within and in
connection with the Hitler Jugend. Schellenberg does not know with whom
Pruetzmann collaborated there. His official title was General Inspector for
special Abwehr.
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