Man who helped saboteurs given 18 years: 1943
Helmut Leiner, one of fourteen people charged in civilian courts with aiding eight Nazi saboteurs who landed by submarine on U.S. shores In July 1942, is shown in a full frontal photograph after his arrest.
Helmut Leiner was a close friend of Edward John Kerling, the leader of a group of German Nazi saboteurs who landed by U-boat near Jacksonville, Florida on June 17, 1942.
Leiner had been approved by the German High Command as a secret contact for the saboteurs in the United States.
Kerling contacted Leiner in New York City immediately after arriving in the United States and Leiner assisted him in making other contacts in the area. Leiner changed large American bills into smaller denominations and brought Kerling up to speed on travel regulations.
Leiner was born in Germany in August 1909 and first arrived in the U.S. in 1929. He was a member of the Nazi Party in Germany and associated with the German American Bund-a pro-Nazi organization in the U.S.
While in Germany he received the golden insignia, emblematic of pioneer service with the Nazi party.
Leiner worked as a gardener in the United States and was not a citizen. At the time of his arrest he was living in Astoria, Queens, New York.
The eight Nazi saboteurs who landed in the U.S. in Florida and New York were almost immediately arrested after one of them, George Dasch, contacted the FBI and turned himself in.
The eight saboteurs were quickly convicted--six of whom were executed in August 1942, including Kerling; one received a life sentence; and one received 30 years imprisonment following a Washington, D.C. military trial.
Fourteen other people, including Leiner, were charged with aiding the eight saboteurs. Leiner was charged with treason and the government was seeking the death penalty.
However Leiner was acquitted by the Judge John W. Clancy of treason on technical grounds November 30, 1942.
The government quickly moved to detain Leiner as an enemy alien for the duration of the war. They brought new charges against Leiner in 1943. Leiner in turn pled guilty to the lesser charge of trading with the enemy June 18, 1943 and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Of the others charged with aiding the saboteurs some received various prison terms, some had charges dropped, some were detained as enemy aliens and deported after the war ended.
For more information and related images, see flic.kr/s/aHsmPiRmT4
The photographer is unknown. The image is believed to be a U.S. government photograph. It is housed in the D.C. Library Washington Star Collection.
Man who helped saboteurs given 18 years: 1943
Helmut Leiner, one of fourteen people charged in civilian courts with aiding eight Nazi saboteurs who landed by submarine on U.S. shores In July 1942, is shown in a full frontal photograph after his arrest.
Helmut Leiner was a close friend of Edward John Kerling, the leader of a group of German Nazi saboteurs who landed by U-boat near Jacksonville, Florida on June 17, 1942.
Leiner had been approved by the German High Command as a secret contact for the saboteurs in the United States.
Kerling contacted Leiner in New York City immediately after arriving in the United States and Leiner assisted him in making other contacts in the area. Leiner changed large American bills into smaller denominations and brought Kerling up to speed on travel regulations.
Leiner was born in Germany in August 1909 and first arrived in the U.S. in 1929. He was a member of the Nazi Party in Germany and associated with the German American Bund-a pro-Nazi organization in the U.S.
While in Germany he received the golden insignia, emblematic of pioneer service with the Nazi party.
Leiner worked as a gardener in the United States and was not a citizen. At the time of his arrest he was living in Astoria, Queens, New York.
The eight Nazi saboteurs who landed in the U.S. in Florida and New York were almost immediately arrested after one of them, George Dasch, contacted the FBI and turned himself in.
The eight saboteurs were quickly convicted--six of whom were executed in August 1942, including Kerling; one received a life sentence; and one received 30 years imprisonment following a Washington, D.C. military trial.
Fourteen other people, including Leiner, were charged with aiding the eight saboteurs. Leiner was charged with treason and the government was seeking the death penalty.
However Leiner was acquitted by the Judge John W. Clancy of treason on technical grounds November 30, 1942.
The government quickly moved to detain Leiner as an enemy alien for the duration of the war. They brought new charges against Leiner in 1943. Leiner in turn pled guilty to the lesser charge of trading with the enemy June 18, 1943 and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Of the others charged with aiding the saboteurs some received various prison terms, some had charges dropped, some were detained as enemy aliens and deported after the war ended.
For more information and related images, see flic.kr/s/aHsmPiRmT4
The photographer is unknown. The image is believed to be a U.S. government photograph. It is housed in the D.C. Library Washington Star Collection.