Stuff You Should Know Selects: The Time Nazis Invaded Florida
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Mar 11, 2023 Discover the quirky tale of inept Nazi saboteurs who infiltrated the U.S. during World War II, with their comically poor training and absurd missions. Hear about Operation Pastorius and the peculiar dynamics of German-American loyalties. Delve into the aftermath as captured spies faced military tribunals amidst public outrage. The podcast blends humor and history, revealing the bizarre realities of espionage while a gripping manhunt unfolds for buried German supplies. It’s a wild ride through deception, surprises, and unintended hilarity in wartime!
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Operation Pastorius and Recruitment
- The Abwehr, German military intelligence's sabotage unit, selected Walter Kap to lead Operation Pastorius.
- Kap, a former US resident, recruited from the Ausland Institute and the Bund, a group of Nazi sympathizers in the US.
Team 1 Composition and Berger's Background
- Kap formed two teams of four, including George John Dosh, Ernest Peter Berger, Heinrich Heinck, and Richard Quirin in Team 1.
- Berger, a long-time Nazi, had a history of brawling, concentration camp imprisonment, and association with purged stormtroopers.
Team 2 Composition and Members' Profiles
- Team 2, led by Edward Curling, comprised Herbert Neubauer, Herbert Haupt, and Werner Thiel.
- Haupt, the youngest at 22, had lived in the US since age five, while Thiel was a Bund member working in a war plant.