ANNUAL SPY SCANDAL DEVELOPS IN BONN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000300200051-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 51
• Publication Date: October 28, 1968
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP70B00338R000300200051-7
Annual Spy Scandal Develops in Bonn
By DAVID BINDER
i5pecial to The New York Times
BONN, Oct. 26-Bonn'appar-
ently is. going through its an-
nual espionage scandal.
In the last three weeks there
have been at least one suicide
connected to espionage activi-
ties, one arrest in the Defense
Ministry and escapes by six
suspected agents to East Ger-
many. There have been three
other deaths that may have
been connected to espionage
activities.
Bonn has been a haven for
spies ever since it became the
West German capital 19 years
ago. Since then not a year has
passed without a major espion-
age scandal involving senior
military officers, government
officials; parliamentary, depu-
ties or journalists.
The outstanding case this
year is that of Rear Adm. Her-
mann LUdke' who was found
shot to " death Oct. 8 next to
his car in a hunting area in the
nearby Eifel mountains. He had
been questioned a day before
about a film from his miniature
camera that had a dozen shots
of secret documents of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
zation. Admiral Ludke, 58
years old, had been one of the
organization's top logistics of-
ficers.
In the intelligence commu-
nity here there is a strong sus-
picion that he passed informa-
about the disposition of United) Political circles in the capital
States atomic weapons in
Europe.
An investigation of his case
by the Bonn police, the federal
Attorney General and the Mili-
tary Security Service has
prompted a full-scale parlia-
mentary study into West Ger-
man intelligence operations.
A second death that may be
linked to espionage was that of
Miss Edeltraut Grapentin, 52,
a file clerk in the West German
Press and Information Office.
She took an overdose of sleep-
ing tablets Oct. 16.
Yesterday a Government
spokesman said that Miss Gra-
pentin's case was simply a "per-
sonal tragedy." Today, how-
ever, SUddeutsche Zeitung, a
respected newspaper, reported
that she had been a member of
an East German espionage ring
working here.
The newspaper, quoting "re-
liable Bonn circles," said. that
Miss Grapentin was linked with
six East German agents-two
married couples and two single
persons-who fled to East Ber-
lin earlier this month. All six
had been under observation by
West German counterespionage
agents.
The six fugitives were also
said to be linked to a secretary
in the Defense Ministry who
was arrested recently on suspi-
still are speculating about pos-
sible espionage elements in the
suicides this month of- West
Germany's deputy intelligence
chief, Gen. Horst Wenland, and
Lieut. Col, Pohannes Grimm, a
Defense Ministry official. The
suicide of an Economics Min-
istry official and the disap-
pearance of a senior. Defense
Ministry clerk are. also under
scrutiny.
Pilot Held in Missile Theft
BONN, Oct. 26 (AP)-A West
Germany fighter pilot has been
arrested on suspicion of being
involved in the theft of a
Sidewinder air-to-air missile,
police reported today.
Sgt. Maj. Wolf Diethard
Knoppe, 33 years old, was ar-
rested Tuesday at a North At-
lantic Treaty Organization base
near the Bavarian town of
Neuburg, a police spokesman
reported.
The police spokesman said
that Sergeant Major Knoppe
was suspected of having stolen
the 150-pound rocket in Oc-
tober, 1967, and pushing it un-
der a fence at the air base,
where accomplices picked it
up.
Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP70B00338R000300200051-7