ARREST OF MINISTER KARL HAMANN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000300550005-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2003
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 25, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

COUNTRY
SUBJECT
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ACQUIRED
DATE OF
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Approved For Release 2003/08/28 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA000300550005-3
CLASSIFICATION ~:: RET 25X'1
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CENTRAL INTEL t AULNUT REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
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DATE DISTR. 25 F rch 1953
NO. OF PAGES 1
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS TS UNEVALUATED 119FMIATION
1. On 4 December 1952, at a meeting of the Ministerial Council at which the
East German supply situation was discussed, Minister Karl Ha'nann stated
that he would make no false statements on this subject; that neither
he nor Fritz Hantke had caused this situation; and that he was prepared
to help overcome the present crisis if it could be done in an objective
way. On 5 December 1952, Hamann received a letter from Grotewohl, by
courier, stating that he was removed from office. On 9 December 1952,
at a conference between Hamann, Walter Ulbricht, and Otto Grotewohis
Hamar:n reiterated that he was not guilty, that the people would have
to be informed of the facts; and that he was not prepared to give false
testimony publicly criticizing himself. Since this conference he has
been allowed to move only with one SSD car in front of his car and two
SS,U cars following. On 10 December 1952, he went to Herbert Taeschner:
Secr-e-'ary General of the Liberal-Demokratische Partei (LDP), for a
conference, Together with Taeschner he left Taeschner'a apartment
and has not since returned.
2. Hamann's daughter Liv was also arrested on 10 December and has not
reappeared. She is twenty-four .years old,: a student at the university
J.n'. Est Berlin, and had numerous private and. -boli t cal connections in
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3. On 10 December 1952, after Hamann had gone to Taeschner, rrs. Hamann went
to see the wife of her physician. From there, she repeatedly telephoned
her home. The calls were answered by a man who said that this was the
wrong number. When she finally called a pastor who lived across from her
she learned that four men had entered her house. She also learned, by
phone, s om Nrs. Taeschner that her husband and Taeschner had left together.
SSubsequently, she was allowed to live in the upper rooms of her house
while two SSF) officials stayed in the lower rooms to watch the telephone
and r,13 persons entering the house.
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Approved For Release 2003/08/28 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA000300550005-3