The Amber Room_ The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure - Cathy Scott-Clark [121]
There was a justificatory tone creeping into this letter, as if some authority had questioned Enke's research.
In case Beater still needed to be convinced of Enke's discernment and experience, there was a postscript:
Within the framework of my Service Qualification as 'historian', I presently read the newest book by David Irving (England): Hitler and His Generals. Eight years ago Irving had been in contact with us... and together we searched near Perleberg for items from the legacies of Nazi leaders. In the above mentioned book [Irving writes] about this matter... 'It took weeks to search a forest in East Germany with the aide of a Proton Magnetometer... but the jam jar, supposedly containing the last Goebbels diaries, [was not there] although according to the map we stood above it.'25
There is no suggestion that David Irving was ever in the pay of the Stasi and we do not know if Beater replied. But one month later, on 15 February 1978, Enke submitted another plan of action: he wanted permission to interrogate Koch (who was still in Poland) and to contact the Soviet authorities.26
On 21 August 1978 action was taken. The Stasi rejected Enke's appeals and instead called a moratorium on all investigations based on evidence given by GDR citizen 'Rudi Ringel'. The order went out: '"Rudi Ringel" to be reinterrogated'. The Stasi agent, brought in for the task, was Uwe Geissler, the man we had met at 'Goat's Throat Village'.27 He had not mentioned this.
GEISSLER: There has never been an SS Sturmbannfiihrer or an SS man of a similar rank with the name ['Ringel']. What is your explanation?
'RUDI RINGEL': My father was very brown [a militant Nazi]. He joined the Nazi party on 1 May 1937. Everyone knew that it was him who had burned down Konigsberg's synagogue. He wore many uniforms, brown, grey and black, but he had certainly had the double silver lighting-strike runes [of the SS] pinned to his epaulettes. The family used other names. Perhaps my father was enlisted into the SS using one of those.
GEISSLER: Why did your father keep documents after 1945 that could have sentenced him to capital punishment?
'RUDI RINGEL': My father was a Prussian wooden-head. I now think that my own behaviour can be connected to that family trait.
GEISSLER: How did you find the letters?
'RUDI RINGEL': It was while I was clearing the basement. I found a hinged pouch with the name of my father on it. It was locked and nearly rotten. But inside there were sheets that did refer to the Amber Room. On one my father was addressed as Sturmbannfiihrer. I remember seeing the Nazi eagle and that it came from the RSHA [Reich Security Main Office]. At the time I burned the documents because I was of the opinion that it was better if they didn't exist.
GEISSLER: Under what circumstances have you been in contact with the Soviet state authorities?
'RUDI RINGEL': In the illustrated Freie Welt there was a request for people to come forward. I wrote to Berlin and said I could make a statement. The editors of Freie Welt [names blacked out] visited me. Then I flew to Moscow and Kaliningrad.
GEISSLER: The Soviet authorities state that you indicated to them that the Amber Room was stored at Ponarth [a south-western suburb of Konigsberg] Church, a building that the SS blew up. There was only one church in Ponarth and it was not blown up in 1945. What do you say now?
'RUDI RINGEL': It must be a translation fault. I have never made such a statement. I only talked about a path from the castle [Konigsberg] to Steindamm Church.
GEISSLER: In the statements you have made on the Amber Room to date has your imagination taken over?
'RUDI RINGEL': Today I could have made it very easy for myself and told you that everything was fantasy. But this is what I remember. I am prepared to think about it once again and if I remember anything further I will contact the Stasi.