Synopsis

In Chapter 1 (KTB #148) ERICH begins his career as a spy, and he lets us know of his love of beautiful women. In Chapter 2 (KTB #149), he was transferred home to Germany and his shipboard romance with Karen ended. In Chapter 3 (KTB #151) he began his training as a spy – and he learned that a spy who falls in love with an enemy spy – gets shot!

In Chapter 4 (KTB #152) we read where ERICH himself falls for a woman who turned out to be a German spy herself and her job was to lure German spies in training to betray themselves – and ERICH is nearly washed out of spy training. In Chapter 5 (KTB #153) we learned that ERICH was to be in charge of Operation PELIKAN, the plan to blow up the Panama Canal with two Ju 87 STUKA dive bombers brought over on two U-boats. At the last moment, it was thought by the German agency, that someone had tipped off the Americans to this plot, so the plan was scrapped. In Chapter 6 (KTB #154 and KTB #155) we read how ERICH and the Abwehr tried to find him a partner for his mission into the USA with the intended purpose of sabotaging the Manhattan Project – the atomic bomb project in the United States. In Chapter 7 (KTB #156) we read about the Atlantic crossing to the USA where ERICH and Billy were to be put ashore to assault the ‘Manhattan Project’. In Chapter 8 (KTB #157), the two agents landed on the coast of Maine, ready to begin their sabotage of the atomic bomb project. In Chapter 9 (KTB #158) ERICH gets the shock of learning that Billy has taken all the money and the diamonds, and deserted not only the mission, but ERICH as well.

In the first part of Chapter 10 (KTB #159) ERICH is trying desperately to find Billy – and get his $60,000 and diamonds back. In the balance of Chapter 10, we see how ERICH outwitted Billy and got his suitcases, filled with money and spy equipment back – at Billy’s expense but in the meantime to nobody’s surprise, ERICH has found another woman. In chapter 11, ERICH is doing well with this new woman, an old contact is going to tell him about the Manhattan Project - but his time is running out and Billy is about to betray him to the F.B.I. In Chapter 12, ERICH was happily spending Christmas with Joan, but his tour of duty as a spy – and his life, were almost over. He was arrested by the F.B.I. and headed for the gallows. In Chapter 13, he's grilled by the F.B.I. In Chapter 14, he faces the probability of the hangman.

Chapter 15 (III): Sentenced to Death

The seventh day brought the final pleadings. This, of course, produced something new but Major Carey, the prosecutor, who at the start of the proceedings had so firmly refused to recognize any distinction between my case and Bill’s, suddenly changed his tactics. He could see which way the wind was blowing and he did it for effect. He abandoned the attitude of contempt and constant accusation and became almost chivalrous. He knew he’d led me up to the noose & thought it superfluous to dance about on the corpse.

Mr. Tom C. Clark, the Chief Public Prosecutor, who so far had functioned only as an observer, spoke at the end: “I have not a great deal to say about Gimpel, the accused. He stood before us and told us that he had nothing to say. I am sure he realized what lay in store for him when he left his homeland. He will see his own situation as the American national hero Nathan Hale saw when he said before his execution, ‘I regret that I have only one life to lay down for my country.’

“The case of Colepaugh is quite different. He is a traitor, a liar and a deserter. In the first place, he betrayed his country, then he betrayed Germany and then he betrayed his comrade Gimpel. There is only one thing for him – the rope.”

The court withdrew to consider its verdict. Another forty-eight hours passed. Then they took me back into the courtroom. There was a deathly silence. Everyone knew what was coming. The court commission entered the room, and we stood up. The President called my name and I walked up to the judge’s table.

“Erich Gimpel, as President of this court, it is my duty to inform you of the sentence which has been passed upon you. You have been found guilty on all charges…..”

The Judge stood up. He did not look at me as he spoke the words which I shall never forget. “…..to be hanged by the neck until dead.”

Spy for Germany

Chapter 7: To America by Submarine (KTB # 156)
Chapter 8: The Landing in America (KTB # 157)
Chapter 9: Tricked by Billy in NYC (KTB # 158)
Chapter 10 (I): I Work Out My Own Situation (KTB # 159)
Chapter 10 (II): I Work Out My Own Situation (KTB # 160)
Chapter 11 (I): Billy Betrays Me to the F.B.I. (KTB # 161)
Chapter 11 (II): Billy Betrays Me to the F.B.I. (KTB # 162)
Chapter 12 (I): Love -- and then Arrest! (KTB # 163)
Chapter 12 (II): Love -- and then Arrest! (KTB # 164)
Chapter 13 (I): Grilled by the FBI (KTB # 165)
Chapter 13 (II): Grilled by the FBI (KTB # 166)
Chapter 13 (III): Grilled by the FBI (KTB # 167)
Chapter 14 (I): In the Shadow of the Hangman (KTB # 168)
Chapter 14 (II): In the Shadow of the Hangman (KTB # 169)
Chapter 15 (I): Sentenced to Death (KTB # 170)
Chapter 15 (II): Sentenced to Death (KTB # 172)
Chapter 15 (III): Sentenced to Death (KTB # 173)