Based on the documents below it would appear that Intelligence Officers from the 5th Naval District arranged for the use of drugs and hypnosis on Kapitanleutnant Degen and Obersteuermann Kunert during the night of 9 July 1942, the first evening that the U-701 survivors were in the hospital at Naval Operating Base Norfolk.  So far as the administrator is aware this is the only such incident involving the use of such methods.   

 

The first document below is an excerpt of the summary of a room conversation between Kapitänleutnant Degen (C.O. of U-701) and Leutnant zur see (Sonderführer) Oskar Bernhard (Navigator of U-352).  The conversation was recorded August 10, 1942 at 22:35 at the Joint Interrogation Center at Fort Hunt, Virginia.

 

 
 
 
 

DEGEN INTERROGATION AT NORFOLK
 
 
(S.R.    Degen - Bernhard)
 
 
 
 
Degen said he remembered having previously had morphin injections, principally because he suffers from gall-bladder trouble.  He stated that he heard the watch being relieved at night.  Two men were being relieved.  He heard them say:
 
 
        "How late is it?"
 
 
        Then someone said:
 
 
        "How are you, Captain."
 
 
        About an hour later one or two men came in and gave him an injection. 
 
 
----"Hat mir eine Nadel ins Blut gesteck und dann gespritzt, aber heftig." and immediately they began to question him, shouting at him such questions as when did you sail, you must tell us, how many torpedoes did you carry.
 
 
        Degen said he could do nothing as he was quite helpless and had not yet recovered from his experience in the water.
 
 
 
 
. . . . . . . .
 
 
 
 
(.R. Degen Bernhard 8.10.42 2235.
  
 
 
 
d - Jetzt kommt etwas dass ich noch gar nicht angeschnitten have die etwas uebel ist.  In Norfolk, nachts um drei Uhr ist die Wache, so ein Marine, reingekommen, und hat mir gefluestert: "How are you?"  Dann, ist einer reingekommen und hat mir eine Nadel ins Blut gedrueckt und etwas eingespritzt ganz stark and faengt sofort an mich anzubruellen:  "Wann sind sie ausgefahren, sagen Sie wiefiel Torpedoes hatten Sie. . . . " und ich konnte mich ja nicht wehren weil ich voellig/ . . . . . . .
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

August 12, 1942
 
 
INTERROGATION OF KUNERT (U-701) BY LIEUT.-COMDR ALBRECHT
 
 
 
 
        During the first night that he was in Norfolk, (Thursday, July 9th) he woke up to find the lights shining into his eyes.  He recollects a severe pain in the arm at that time.  There were a number of people in the room including a young officer who sent everyone else out of the room, then placed his hand on his pistol and said to him, "What was the number of your boat?".
 
 
 
 
        About 1500 on Friday, July 10th a narrow-faced civilian entered his room.  His hair was brunette or black, and he looked like a Jew.  He was around 50 years or more of age.  He spoke German to him with an accent that appeared to Kunert to be a Jewish accent.  Kunert had been resting when this person entered his room.  The latter at once attempted to hypnotize him.  He kept up a running chatter for about 15 minutes stating to him, "Now just relax, - - you are relaxed - - you are getting more tired, - - gradually you will be asleep, - - etc."  Then this person lifted Kunert's arm, and the latter permitted it to drop limply.  Kunert became interested in this performance and offered no opposition, but refused to answer when the man started to question him after he thought he had hypnotized Kunert.  As he got no answer to his questions, Kunert's visitor soon left.
 
 
 
 
        On a subsequent occasion another civilian entered his room.  He was big and portly and was probably between 40 and 50 years of age.  He shook hands with Kunert.  This Kunert thought to be rather odd, as he was, after all, a prisoner of war.  The man sent the guard out of his room and then started to talk German to him.  He spoke a much better German than the first man.  His efforts caused the portly visitor to perspire a great deal.  This person too tried to hypnotize Kunert and worked on him for about 15 minutes before he started to question him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Copy No. 3 of 3.
 
 
Op-16-Z
  
 
(SC) A16-2(4)
 
 
SECRET
  
 
 
 
                                                                                                     September 1, 1942.
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM
  
 
 
 
From: Op-16-Z.
To    : The Director.
Via   : Op-16-1.
   
SUBJECT: Prisoners of War, Interrogation of.
   
Enclosures: (A)  Ltr. from Commandant 5th ND, (01) A16-Z/ND5 Serial 7197 dated 21 August 1942
  (B) Comments of Lieut. H. T. Gherardi, USNR, on Enclosure (A).
 
 
 
 
        1.        Although this incident can well be closed I feel that as a matter of record enclosure (B) should be forwarded for your information in justice to the interrogating officer.
 
 
 
 
        2.        Lieutenant Gherardi was under definite instructions as to the interrogation procedure and also was aware that he had neither the right nor authority to grant permission to anyone to violate the then existing orders.  He reported the difficulties he was encountering in Norfolk to me by phone and had his original instructions confirmed.  I do not believe that he disobeyed them.
 
 
 
 
        3.        The use of injections and the attempts to use hypnosis were confirmed from another member of the crew of the U-701 in independent interrogation and without possibility of collusion.  The use of such methods is, of course, contrary to existing treaty agreements and may cause repercussions at a later date.
 
 
 
 
        4.        I am convinced that all the officers sent to the Fifth Naval District on this interrogation conducted themselves properly and in accordance with their orders.  They were in fact commended both by the Admiralty and by the Director of Naval Intelligence, Ottawa, for the excellence of their report and the speed with which it was made.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                          John L. Riheldaffer.
 
 
 
 
Dictated 8/31/42
  
 
Dictated by Cdr. Riheldaffer.
 
 
Typed by London.