Informal Routing Slip

HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES FORCES IN AUSTRIA

 

SUBJECT: History of the Italian Rat Line

No.: 1
FROM: Hq 430th CIC Opns
TO: D/G-2 ATTN: Maj Milano
DATE: 10 Apr 50

 

1. ORIGINS.

a. During the summer of 1947 the undersigned received instructions from G-2, USFA, through Chief CIC, to establish a means of disposition for visitors who had been in the custody of the 430th CIC and completely processed in accordance with current directives and requirements, and whose continued residence in Austria constituted a security threat as well as a source of possible embarrassment to the Commanding General of USFA, since the Soviet Command had become aware that their presence in US Zone of Austria and in some instances had requested the return of these persons to Soviet custody.

b. The undersigned, therefore, proceeded to Rome where, through a mutual acquaintance, he conferred with a former Slovakian diplomat who in turn was able to recruit the services of a Croation [sic] Roman Catholic Priest, Father Dragonovich [sic - here and below]. Father Dragonovich had by this time developed several clandestine evacuation channels to the various South American countries for various types of European refugees.

 

2. HISTORY OF OPERATIONS.

a. During 1947 and 1948 it was necessary to escort the visitors physically from Austria to Rome from the standpoint of security and to avoid any embarrassment on the part of the US Government which could arise from faulty documentation or unforeseen border and police incidents.

b. Documents to assist in the journey of these people from Austria to Rome were secured through S/A Crawford, Reference IRS, Subject: "Debriefing of S/A Crawford", dated 6 April 1950.

c. Upon arrival in Rome, the visitors were turned over to Dragonovich who placed them in safe haven houses then being operated under his direct supervision. During this period, the undersigned then actively assisted Father Dragonovich with the help of a US citizen, who was Chief of the eligibility office of IRO in Rome, in securing additional documentation and IRO aid for further transportation. This, of course, was done illegally inasmuch as such persons could not possibly qualify for eligibility under the Geneva IRO Charter. However, after several months the American suddenly lost his mental stability through overindulgence in alcohol and disclosed some of the details of the arrangement to his superiors and other official agencies in Rome which required the undersigned to realign the operation and to discontinue contact with the IRO office. Thus, Father Dragonovich was forced to turn to other sources in the National Catholic Welfare Organization. He also secured permits for residence of these persons from the Italian police, permits to travel from Rome to Genoa or Naples, as the case might be, and permits from the Italian Foreign Office for various visas. In short, it can be stated that Dragonovich handled all phases of the operation after the defectees arrived in Rome, such as the procurement of IRO Italian and South American documents, visas, stamps, arrangements for disposition, land or sea, and notification of resettlement committees in foreign lands.

d. As the operation continued, Dragonovich's possibilities for the necessary means, documentation, travel and permits expanded and it became possible to ship the visitors from Austria, thus eliminating personal escort by CIC agents to Rome. A new phase was thus established and an employee of Dragonovich proceeded to Austria, picked up the charges and took them to Genoa where they were placed in safe haven houses to await disposition to South America.

 

3. DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED.

The following difficulties and problems may be expected by those who may become engaged in rat line operations:

a. Frequent changes in travel documents necessary for movement in European countries.

b. Changes in the Italian border control and police supervision of DP's in Italy.

c. Land and sea transportation facilities or lack thereof.

d. Opening and closing of immigration quotas by the various countries of South America.

e. The physical condition of visitors and dependents. It may be stated here that it is desirable that all persons be examined for TB, syphilis or other contagious diseases and that the female dependents be cautioned during the evacuation period relative to pregnancy, inasmuch as pregnant women or small children are acceptable only with grave difficulty and at great expense.

f. Marriage Status. In view of the fact that Dragonovich is a Roman Catholic priest and the National Catholic Welfare is involved, the marriage status of male and female must be clearly established, inasmuch as the personalities associated in this operation will not condone any acts contrary to the Church such as common law marriage, illegitimate children not baptized, etc.

g. Although it might be advantageous to have absolute "control" of Father Dragonovich and his means of evacuation, it may be categorically stated that it is not possible and in the opinion of the undersigned not entirely desirable. Dragonovich is known and recorded as a Fascist, war criminal, etc., and his contacts with South American diplomats of a similar class are not generally approved by US State Department officials, plus the fact that in the light of security, it is better that we may be able to state, if forced, that the turning over of a DP to a Welfare Organization falls in line with our democratic way of thinking and that we are not engaged in illegal disposition of war criminals, defectees and the like.

 

4. COMPROMISES.

a. As stated above, the US citizen, Chief of the Eligibility Office, Rome was one [censored] who was allegedly a member of OSS during World War II, and who fancied himself as a top intelligence operative in Italy. After his breakdown due to alcoholism, [censored] imagined himself as the saviour of Italy in view of the danger of a Communist victory during the elections of 1948, thus told stories of how the undersigned could assist in providing large numbers of underground troops, military supplies, sea evacuation, air evacuation and the like. This, of course, caused inquiries as to the exact nature of the work in which the undersigned was engaged. This was explained away successfully in a personal interview with Admiral Mentz, Chief of IRO, Italy, and a full report was submitted to G-2, USFA.

b. The Brazil Expedition was, again, a compromise which was not the fault of operational technique. A female visitor who was inclined to be rather frivolous in her attentions became a public nuisance while under protective custody in Austria and was, therefore, evacuated as a married woman in custody of her amour of the moment. During the voyage, the lady in question changed her mind and upon arrival in Brazil sought assistance and protection from both the Brazilian authorities and the US Embassy. They, of course, were uninformed, inasmuch as it is impossible, due to lack of knowledge of transportation dates, visa quotes, etc., to give prior information as to when the shipments are to be made. The affair was made a matter of official investigation and necessarily other innocent people were involved and returned to Europe.

 

5. RECOMMENDATIONS.

a. It has been the experience of this organization that only one man should be assigned the mission of disposition when dealing with Father Dragonovich. Inasmuch as he, although reliable from a security standpoint, is unscrupulous in his dealings concerning money, as he does a considerable amount of charity work for which he receives no compensation, it is not entirely impossible that he will delay one shipment for one organization to benefit another organization who pays higher prices.

b. Due to the background of Father Dragonovich and the nature of his work, it is not believed practical that the MA's in foreign countries under diplomatic status should become involved with the DP's who land through his channels of this operation.

c. Each visitor should be thoroughly and properly briefed and preparations for his movement be made in light of his cover story. Each should be furnished sufficient clothing, some travel money, and advance notice be sent through Dragonovich channels to assist in his rehabilitiation in the country where he lands.

d. The facilities of Father Dragonovich should be handled as a single operation by one agency and no attempt should be made to control him or his sources for reasons set forth in this memorandum.

 

FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER:

[signed]
PAUL E. LYON
IB Operations Officer

Tel: Salzburg 1146

[Handwritten: Copy No. 2 burned 14/4/50 - RW.]