Shadows on the Wall

Chapter 21 “The Surprise” April 6, 1965 On Monday, April 6, Jerry received a note from Attorney Wolfgang Schultz, who requested an urgent meeting as he had significant information that needed immediate attention. He advised Jerry that he would be waiting for him at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning at the same spot where they had met in the past at the Free University.

Jerry arrived at the meeting spot at 8:45 a.m. He was present and waiting on a bench when “The Wolf” arrived alone in his silver Mercedes. “The Wolf” hurriedly exited his vehicle and walked at a brisk pace to join Jerry on the bench. He appeared very pale and nervous and strictly all business-like in his mannerisms. “The Wolf” related the following—

Yevgeny Zukovitch had called him into his office on Sunday evening and instructed him in no uncertain terms that he was to immediately contact Jerry. He appeared extremely angry and advised him that in retaliation for the two agents taken, he had in turn taken someone called Angela and Willi into custody. “The Wolf” got the impression that the Russian wanted to impose some sort of punishment on Jerry or thwart his plans, but Zukovitch claimed his only purpose was allegedly to make an immediate exchange of the individuals. “The Wolf’s” purpose was only as a purveyor or “go-between” for passing messages, and was to play no part in the transfer of any prisoners. The exchange was to take place on the Glienicke Bridge at midnight on Sunday, April 12. “The Wolf” was to contact Jerry again on Wednesday April 8 for confirmation and final instructions.

“The Wolf” assured Jerry, speaking with “machinegun” rapidity, that he had played no part in the situation, but that he was contacted out of the blue by “Wise Sea”. Jerry initially recalled the initials revealed in the decoded KGB document of Leonid Ziominski and asked “The Wolf”, “Who is Wise Sea?” “The Wolf” advised, after slowing his speech down, “No, you misunderstood. I said, “YZ.” I’ve dealt with Yevgeny Zukovitch so many times over the years that he had told me to refer to him privately as “YZ”. I understood that his close associates also referred to him by his initials.”

Jerry asked “The Wolf”, “Do you know anything about when he took the individuals into custody or where they are being held?”

“The Wolf” retorted that he had no details other than what he relayed and that was the truth. He also stated he had no idea who Angela or Willi were. He told Jerry he had learned not to lie to him because he realized he would learn the true details anyway. He then told Jerry, if there was anything he could do to help and yet remain free from suspicion, he would be willing. But he admitted that he still was hoping for his “cabin on the lake” and had to take care of his family.

Jerry sensed from his behavior and nervousness that “The Wolf” was terrified and shaken over the situation and that what he said was most likely all he actually knew. “The Wolf” advised Jerry he would contact him on Wednesday April 8, same time, same place as required and furnish any further details. He then turned and walked slowly back to his Mercedes, entered, and then hurriedly drove away.

Jerry sat for a few minutes trying to absorb the information. He then decided he would contact Herman Baum and share this new information. Jerry reasoned that it was possible that Angela became a suspect because she had opportunity to obtain details from the documents at her employer’s house. He then surmised that she may have broken when confronted and spilled the beans. That would explain why she was taken, but for the life of him, he could not understand how they found out about Willi. Jerry knew that any communication with Willie had always been through his code name “SHADOWS,” so no one surely connected him to that. He recalled many of his contacts over the years but couldn’t put any pieces of the puzzle together linking himself to Willi, unless one of Willi’s associates had blown the whistle.

When he returned to his office, Jerry had an urgent message from Baum to meet him at “AVUS” as soon as possible. Jerry briefly informed the chief of “BOB” what had occurred and that he contemplated meeting with Baum to come up with a plan to resolve the situation.

Upon arrival at “AVUS,” Baum told Jerry to have a seat as he had just received some devastating news. Baum told Jerry that a long time undercover BND agent working in East Berlin had disappeared. He identified the agent as Willi Krichman. Baum said that General Gehlen had been informed of the situation and instructed him to fill Jerry in on who Willi was, and why he was working undercover in East Berlin. Jerry listened and was overwhelmed with emotion when Baum informed him that the General had assigned Willi to recruit East Germans to work for the BND, but his priority was to make sure that whenever Jerry needed assistance or protection in East Berlin, Willi was to drop everything and make sure that Jerry was taken care of at all costs. That had been Willi’s assignment since the General had first discovered in 1947 that Jerry had begun working in West Berlin for an American intelligence agency which later became the CIA.

Jerry then explained all the details he had received from “The Wolf” concerning Willi and his source, Angela.