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Bormann's direction was that the industrialists should forge new contacts and alliances with foreign firms as well as strengthen those already established, but that this should be done without attracting suspicion. Equally important was the capital flight pro- gram of state and corporate assets to safe havens throughout the world, which Bormann had ordered. Thus began Operation Eagle's Flight. Critically, Bormann believed he needed nine months to complete the planned capital flight program.” This meant that German forces had to resist the Allies' advance throughout the winter of 1944 and on until early to mid-May 1945. By a remarkable twist of fate, the war in Europe ended on 8 May 1945, two days short of Bormann's estimate. Now, in hindsight, armed with the knowledge of Bormann's vital need for a full nine months for his capital flight program to reach fulfilment, one wonders if other, more subterranean, factors influenced Model's decision. Was treachery involved? world, which Bormann had ordered. Thus began Operation | THE FRATERNITY Eagle's Flight. Critically, Bormann believed he needed nine What is known for a fact is that Prince Bernhard of The months to complete the planned capital flight program.” This Netherlands had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the meant that German forces had to resist the Allies' advance Dutch Forces by Queen Wilhelmina. During the weeks following throughout the winter of 1944 and on until early to mid-May the D-Day landings, Prince Bernhard remained in constant contact 1945. By a remarkable twist of fate, the war in Europe ended on with his Ministers, the US Ambassador-at-Large William Bullitt, 8 May 1945, two days short of Bormann's estimate. Anthony Biddle and General Bedell Smith.” His close contact with these men was hardly the result of mere chance. As we shall WHOOPSIDAISY! see, nothing was to be left to chance by Bormann's "Fraternity".* However, less than two weeks after that A member of the Biddle family—Thomas Red House meeting, Britain's Field Marshal Bradish Biddle—was amongst the very first Bernard L. Montgomery laid out a daring . members of the Order of Skull and Bones, plan which, had it succeeded, would have At a secret meeting having been tapped in 1839, just six years completely wrecked Bormann's critical held in the Hotel after its founding in 1833. Anthony Biddle, nine-month program. . . . . whose full name was Anthony Joseph On 23 August 1944, when the Supreme Meurice In Paris, with Drexel Biddle Jr, was not himself a member Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Bedaux Rudolf Hess of the Order. Nevertheless, he was no Eisenhower, visited Montgomery's HQ for ae B innocent. lunch followed by a private conference, Martin Bormann and During the early months of WWII, Biddle Montgomery argued that German forces was in Paris as the US Deputy Ambassador were in complete disarray and that a deci- Hollywood actor and to France. It was here that he became close sive thrust into the Ruhr would result in the Nazi sympathiser Errol friends of the pro-Nazi Duke and Duchess end of the war before Christmas 1944. At of Windsor, who spent a considerable Montgomery's insistence, Eisenhower's Flynn present, the Duke period of time living in the home of Baron of Windsor promised to chief of staff, General Walter Bedell Eugene de Rothschild. Smith, was excluded from the meet- help Hess contact the However, Biddle's greatest friend in Duke of Hamilton— ing, causing rancour.” Eisenhower Paris was Ambassador William left Montgomery's HQ unconvinced Bullitt. Bullitt also held strong pro- which "finally led to Hess's dramatic landing and wavering. Hitler views and was responsible for With the closing of the Falaise gap, introducing the American millionaire on the Hamilton Estate in 1941". Montgomery was determined not to let Charles Bedaux to the Windsors. Eisenhower waste a_ golden Bedaux was a good friend of IG opportunity to bring the war to a close Farben's Hermann Schmitz, and had in in 1944. On 4 September, fact been appointed head of Farben's Montgomery sent a coded signal, commercial operations. His involve- "Personal for General Eisenhower ment with the Windsors wasn't acci- Eyes Only", laying out in detail an dental, as he had been instructed by no audacious plan to seize strategic less than SS chief Heinrich Himmler bridges in The Netherlands and follow to inveigle them to help in secret plans with a full-blooded armoured thrust into Germany through the for a negotiated peace with England. back door of the Ruhr—the very heartland of German industry At a secret meeting held in the Hétel Meurice in Paris, with and, coincidentally, home to many of those industrialists Dr Bedaux, Rudolf Hess, Martin Bormann and Hollywood actor and Scheid's capital flight conference had addressed less than a month Nazi sympathiser Errol Flynn present, the Duke of Windsor earlier. promised to help Hess contact the Duke of Hamilton—which The plan, which would become known as Operation Comet, "finally led to Hess's dramatic landing on the Hamilton Estate in was rejected by Eisenhower. Montgomery strenuously objected, 1941". and a revised plan called Operation Market Garden, which would Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands also has a decidedly Nazi muster considerably more forces than the original Operation past. German born as Prince Bernhard zur Lippe-Biesterfeld, he Comet, was eventually agreed upon on 10 September 1944 by joined the Nazi Party in the early 1930s, eventually donning the Eisenhower. The final bridge to be captured by British airborne SS uniform. By 1935 he was gainfully employed in IG Farben's forces and held until the arrival of the armoured forces was intelligence department, NW7. His match to Princess Juliana, the located at Arnhem. daughter of the Dutch Queen, Wilhelmina, was reportedly By coincidence, too, it was on 4 September that Field Marshal arranged by Farben director Gerhard Fritze, a relative of NW7 Model directed Lt General Bittrich's badly mauled but veteran II chief Max Ilgner.”* SS Panzer corps to bivouac in the Armhem area to refit and rest. At their wedding ceremony in January 1937, the Prince's closest Bittrich later stated that "there was no particular significance in friends struck up the old favourite, the Horst Wessel song, which Model choosing the Arnhem vicinity—except that it was a peace- was an anthem of the Nazis. Shortly after the wedding, the noble WL ful area where nothing was happening" - prince travelled to Berlin for a private meeting with Hitler, who At a secret meeting __ held in the Hotel — Meurice in Paris, with Bedaux, Rudolf Hess, Martin Bormann and Hollywood actor and Nazi sympathiser Errol nea nea a Ge ore DP Flynn present, the Duke of Windsor promised to bat bbe. 2 ea a help Hess contact the Duke of Hamilton— which "finally led to Hess's dramatic landing on the Hamilton Estate in 1941". NEXUS 35 FEBRUARY — MARCH 2005 www.nexusmagazine.com