DOJ/OSI Investigation of Klaus Barbie
Amid the scandal surrounding the extradition of the "Butcher of Lyons" Klaus Barbie from Bolivia, when millions for the first time heard the word "Ratline" uttered in connection with the American plan to smuggle accused Nazi war criminals out of Europe, the Department of Justice of the United States ordered all departments to search their files from the immediate post-war period and turn over all documents relating to the matter. This new-found determination to deal with accused Nazi war criminals in the United States would eventually lead to the extradition of the Independent State of Croatia Interior Minister, Andrija Artukovic, who had been living in California while extradition proceedings stalled for almost forty years. The following document is a heavily censored report from a department head (we do not know which one on account of the redacted passages) in connection with the DOJ's order. This summary is crucial, in that it admits for the first time that the "Ratline" existed, and uses a score of documents which we apparently do not have, either because they've since been lost or remain classified today. Father Krunoslav Draganovic (for some reason, repeatedly misspelled) is referred to as "one of the prime movers on the CIC/Austria disposal rat-line," and notes that he worked as an agent for the Department of the Army along with listing his service number. Though only the fourth paragraph directly concerns Draganovic and the Ustase, the entire document is reproduced here for context.

 

[censored]

[illegible] FOR: [censored]
Chief, [censored]

ATTENTION: [censored] [censored]
[censored]

FROM: [censored] [censored]
Chief, [censored]

SUBJECT: DOJ/OSI Investigation of Klaus Barbie (U)

REFERENCES: (A) OGC 83-02579 dated 29 March 1983 via
IMS, [censored] Memo dated 1 April 1983
(B) OGC 83-03138 dated 15 April 1983 [censored]

1. The following is a summary of an intensive search of the files and indices of the Directorate of Operations which surfaced voluminous records pertaining to individuals and/or elements listed in reference (A) and no identifiable information concerning War Department Detatchment mentioned in reference (B).

2. US Army 430th CIC "Rat Line": There were cables and memos on the 430th CIC detachment activities and progress reports in Austria from July 1949 thru July 1955 contained in folder 7 of [censored] but according to [censored] this file was destroyed.

3. George Neagoy: Neagoy has a [censored] File [censored] which revealed that Neagoy was a special agent of the 430th CIC detachment but there was no mention of him having been responsible for the "Rat line" operation. He was also a former witting collaborator whose relationship was terminated. [censored]

4. Father Krunoslav Dragonovich: Dragonovich has a [censored] File [censored] which revealed he was one of the prime movers in the CIC/Austria disposal rat-line which operated circa 1948-1951 or later (RGBA-37554 dated 6 December 1956). Additional undated and unevaluated information listed Father Dragonovich as a CIC rat-line chief in Italy ([illegible]-85997 dated 23 January 1957). He was listed in the ISR ([illegible] 6239) for the Department of the Army, Service No. SD 7350, and dropped with prejudice on 23 January 1962 for security reasons and lack of control. Attached for your review is Dragonovich's [censored] (Att. 2). [censored]

5. Operation Rusty: Several records were surfaced concerning Operation Rusty but of the obtainable records only one was pertinent. Attached for your retention are copies of Operation Rusty/Odeum (Att. 3), 1946 through 1949 [censored]. [censored]

6. 7821 Composite Group: There is reference to this Group in the Operation Rusty file (Att. 3). There was also mention of this Group in Col. WR Philp's file (see paragraph 9). Attached for your retention is a copy of [censored] file (Att. 4) pertaining to 7821 Composite Group. If any additional information is needed concerning this file, please contact [censored].

7. 7707 European Command Intelligence Center (ECIC): Three references to ECIC reports were surfaced but [censored] was unable to locate them. [censored]

8. Department of Army Detachment (DAD): The only records surfaced concerning DAD were from [censored] and attached for your retention are copies of these records (Att. 5). You can contact [censored] should you require additional information concerning these records. [censored]

9. Col. WR Philps: Philps has [censored] which reveals he was employed by the Department of Army as Commanding Officer of the 7821 Composite Group which supported US intelligence organizations in Europe. [censored] Attached for your review is Philp's [censored] (Att. 6).

10. Intelligence Division, EUCOM (US Army Command, Europe): There is reference to EUCOM in the attached Rusty file (Att. 3). Also atached [sic] are "Record Copies" of summaries of Headquarters European Command, Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence, reports dated 8 December 1947 (Att. 7) and 22 December 1947 (Att. 8). All other references to EUCOM were in files that were destroyed. [censored]

11. Office of Intelligence, HICOG (High Commission for Germany): There were numerous references to HICOG and except for attachment 9, all other records were destroyed. [censored]

12. A review of all obtainable records pertaining to paragraphs 2 thru 11 revealed no mention of Klaus Barbie. [censored]

13. Kurt Merk (Merck): Merk has a [censored] File [censored] which reveals he was a former German intelligence officer and leader of a CI reconnaissance detachment in France during World War II, and he also worked for CIC, Augsburg. Allegedly, with the consent of CIC, Merk was in contact with [censored] Intelligence Service. He was considered to be an efficient intelligence worker but allegedly was involved in a large black market affair. Klaus Barbie was a good friend and close intelligence collaborator with Merk. Merk was dropped (without prejudice) as an informant by US intelligence agencies in the US occupied zones of Austria and Germany on 19 October 1949. Merk died on 5 September 1951. Attached for your review is Merk's [censored] (Att. 10). (S)

14. According to information provided this Directorate by DDA/IPD, there is no indication that the individuals and/or elements listed in references have ever been the subjects of an FOIA/PA request. (U)

[censored]

Enclosures - Attachments 1 thru 10

[censored]

Distribution:
     Original: - Addressee w/ refs and Atts.
     1 - [censored]
     1 - [censored]
     1 - [censored]

 

:: filing information ::
Title: DOJ/OSI Investigation of Klaus Barbie
Source: CIA, declassified February 1998
Date: 1983 Added: February 6, 2003