Correspondence with John, Otto

Otto John (1909-1997) was a German anti-Nazi resistance fighter and state official. Involved in the July 20 plot he had fled the country in 1944, and worked for British authorities for several years. After being appointed first head of West-Germany’s newly established domestic intelligence service John caused a scandal in 1954 when he appeared in East Germany criticizing West Germany’s politics of remilitarization, integration into the Western Bloc and the appointment of former Nazis to high offices. After reappearing in West Germany he claimed to have been abducted by the Soviets, but was sentenced for treason. 

Correspondence with John, Otto 

19 letters 

The letters concern author and content of a book about the John case published in London, and the options of having Wiener Library materials about the July 20 plot send to Germany. Furthermore, some personal issues were discussed including the possibility of a meeting as well as Alfred Wiener socialising with Johns wife, who worked in London at times. 

This material has been digitised. Readers should book a reading room terminal to access it. 

See also the correspondence with Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz within the Pre-1963 Correspondence collection.