RACHEL DÜBENDORFER.
Rachel Dübendorfer, alias SISSY. Formerly Caspary, nee Hepner.
was an active Soviet agent since the 1920's. Based in Switzerland at least since 1932 and working for the R.U. under the direction of Poliakova. She continued to report to Poliakova, known to her as GISELA, after the latter's recall to Moscow in 1937, probably communicating via Henri Robinson and the Soviet Embassy in Paris. She was by this time an agent of some standing and appears to have enjoyed considerably independence. Her pre-war charter is not clear but may have covered a wide field in Western Europe. She had close links certainly with the Swiss and probably with the French Communist Parties. She probably collaborated closely with Henri Robinson, who may have contacted her during his frequent pre-war visits to Switzerland.
The German invasion of France in the Spring of 1940 severed Dübendorfer's link with Moscow and she was out of touch for some months.
She might have been visited by Gurevich in March 1940. In this year certain of her I.L.O. colleagues left for the USA and South America and Dübendorfer's efforts to keep in touch many of them may be significant (Charles Becker for example).
In the autumn and winter of 1940 Robinson endesvoured to re-establish communications with Dübendorfer.
In November or December of 1940 Moscow sent money by courier to Robinson for Dübendorfer.
February of March 1941; JENNY is beleived to be Dübendorfer's sister Rose Luchinski, reached Geneva from Southern France carrying money from Robinson (2000 Dollars?).
In March 1941 she may have received a further 2000 Dollars by courier from Robinson.
Sent intelligence by courier (Aenis-Haenslin (?) or Jean Pierre Vigier) to Robinson from agents SIMON, BRUDER and CARLY.
March or April 1941; contacted by Rado. Submitted reports from sources including Roessler (LUCIE material) for transmission over Rado's WT service (see part VII. Chap 1)
Professional jealousy appears to have affected negotiations between Dübendorfer and Rado from the first, but by June 1941 Rado realised the exceptional quality of the LUCIE material and forwarded it to Moscow by WT. By autumn 1941 Moscow convinced of its value and from then on it was regarded as of supreme importance that the LUCIE reports should be sent with all possible expedition.
Dübendorfer used Christian Schneider, alias TAYLOR, as a cut-out to Roessler. She also had command of a number of other agents, notably Alexander Abramson and Jean Pierre Vigier and negotiated on Rado's behalf in dealing with the Swiss Communist Party contacts Carl Hofmaier and Pierre Nicole. She persuaded the former to assist in obtaining Swiss currency through black market deals with individuals who could be repaid in dollars in the USA.
Acted as cut-out between Rado and PAUL, but not aware of latter's true identity; communicated through a cover address in Zürich.
Utilised daughter Tamara and latter's fiance Vigier as couriers.
Had her own cipher for transmission of agent's reports, but material was edited by Rado before enciphering.
Was visited in May 1943 by a Gestapo courier who claimed to have come from Foote. This appeared to be an outcome of the arrest of Trepper, Gurevich and Robinson in France by the end of July 1943. Moscow warned Rado of probable penetration attempts by the Germans.
Dübendorfer believed the courier to have been sent by Moscow to discover the identity of TAYLOR and LUCIE.
In the spring and summer of 1943 she borrowed through Tamara, 1000 Francs from Berthe Helbein, which she subsequently repaid.
On 21-06-1943 she received 3400 Francs from Berthe Helbein.
On 06-11-1943 She received an other 5000 Francs from Berthe Helbein.
In December 1943, following the arrest of the WT operators Foote, the Hamels, Bolli and Rado's defection, Dübendorfer appealed to Hermina Rabinowitch for money, through Abramson, who utilized the I.LO bag service to Montreal (see under Rabinowitch).
As a result on 03-11-1944 received 28.000 Francs from Berthe Helbein, balance of 10.000 Dollars paid by R.U. to William Helbein in New York, after deduction of loans outstanding since 1943.
The collection of the LUCIE material continued throughout Foote's imprisonment, interrupted only by Dübeldorfer's own arrest and short term in prison in the spring of 1944 and at least until Foote's departure for Paris in November/December 1944; this material was held in safe custody by Abramson, the only member of the group bearing a quasi-diplomatic status.
At time of her arrest, Dübeldorfer carried important documents concealed in the soles of her shoes. After release on bail, took flat in Rue de Lausanne 135 and through a fellow lodger, Helene Berger, attempted at Roessler's instignation to pass portions of the LUCIE reports to the British.
Helene Berger assisted Dübendorfer financially, to the extend of some 3000 Dollars om promise of repayment to Berger's sister Annie Berger in the USA.
Met Foote for the first time after his release in October 1944 and introduced him to Berger. In November she also arranged a meeting in Zürich between Foote and Roessler.
Attempts to contact PAUL after Foote's arrest proved abortive and after Foote's departure from Paris with the most valuable of the accumulated LUCIE material it is likely that Dübendorfer was unable to find further supplies of money and means of communication with Moscow and remained inactive until her escape into France with Boetcher in the summer of 1945.
In Moscow Foote found Dübendorfer's action in appealling to Rabinowitch was frowned upon and she had fallen heavily from favour.
Addresses.
At least from 1934-1944: Rue de 31 December 15, Geneva.
From 1944-July 1945: Rue de Lausanne 135, Geneva.
In September 1945: Rue de l'Observatoire 12, Paris (unconfirmed). More probably: Rue de l'Observatoire 1, c/o her daughter Tamara Vigier.
Personal particulars.
Nationality: German origin, Swiss by marriage to Dübendorfer.
Date of birth: 18-07-1901 in Warsaw.
Description: Untidy in appearance and habits. Not highly cultured. Openly opposed to Nazi regime, but cautious in showing the Communist sympathies she undoubtedly held.
Relatives: Daughter of Arcadi Abraham and Regina Hepner, who during the war lived in Boulevard Victor Hugo, Nice.
Sister of Rose Luschinsky.
Daughter is Tamara Vigier, nee Caspary.
Divorced from first husband, Kurt Caspary.
Separated from second husband, Henri Dübendorfer
Mistress of Paul Boetcher.
Second cousin of Rebecca (RIVA) Burawoy.
History.
Born in Warsaw, probably spent her childhood and youth in Leipzig.
Married Kurt Caspary, a German lawyer in 1921.
Birth of her daughter Tamara Caspay (now Vigier) in 1922.
Divorced from Caspary in the late 1920's.
In Switzerland, probably circa 1932, married Henri Dübendorfer, Swiss mechanic of Zürich, in order to obtain Swiss nationality. Separated almost immediately from him.
Was living in Geneva with Paul Boettcher in 1934, who assumed the name Dübendorfer and with whom she remained until their arrest in 1944.
Was employed by the translation section of the I.L.O. between 1934 and 1944. She and Boettcher frequented a cosmopolitan special …. in Geneva, openly expressing anti-Nazi views, but probably not aggressively Communist in their speech, although known to their friends as pro-Russian.
A report that she was a member of the Central Committee of the Swiss Communist Party is unconfirmed.
Lived at a standard beyond her I.L.O salary in the later 1930's although when she first settled in geneva she was noticeable impoverished.
Paid frequent visits to her sister, Rosy Roedi (now Luchinsky) in Zürich and also travelled frequently to France, visiting her parents in Nice.
In 1934 she was recipient of correspondence for Boettcher from the US Communist Jay Lovestone, through whom Boettcher sought assignments for left-wing US journalists.
In 1937 she received a visit, lasting several days, from her first husband Caspary, who was en route from Germany to Australia as an emigre.
She was arrested with Boettcher on 21-04-1944 by the Swiss police, probably in Rue de 31 December 135, Geneva.
She was released from prison, probably on bail. Took a small flat in Rue de Lausanne 135, Geneva. (In the same building as Helene Berger).
By the end of July 1945 she escaped into France.
On 23-10-1945 she was sentenced "in absence" by the Swiss authorities to two years imprisonment, a 10.000 Francs fine and 15 years expulsion from Switzerland.
By August 1945 she was in Paris with Paul Boettcher. May have been living in Rue de l' Oberservatoire number 1 or 12.
By the end of 1945 she may have left Paris to rejoin with Paul Boettcher in Leipzig.
Present whereabouts unknown.
Source: KV3/350.
Rachel Dübendorfer (née Hepner, 18 July 1900 - 3 March 1973) was an anti-Nazi resistance fighter. During the Second World War, her codename was Sissy, and she was in a section of the Red Three Swiss resistance movement.
Dübendorfer was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1900. She was the daughter of Adolf Hepner, and was Jewish. She moved to Germany in the 1920s and moved to Nürensdorf, Switzerland in 1933. She was married twice: first to German lawyer Kurt Caspary in c.1921, then to Swissman Henri Dübendorfer, which allowed her to gain Swiss citizenship in 1934. She divorced in 1946 and became the lover of Paul Böttcher. She died in 1973 in East Berlin, East Germany.
In 1918, Dübendorfer joined the Communist Party of Germany. In 1927, Dübendorfer joined the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), where she worked alongside Paul Böttcher. At the start of the Second World War, she worked as a secretary at the League of Nations International Labour Organization and also led a group of Swiss communist informants in Geneva, Switzerland. Dübendorfer began receiving sensitive information from sources in the organisation. She received intelligence reports from German refugee Rudolf Roessler (nicknamed Lucy) in return for not revealing his identity. Their operation was known as the Lucy spy ring. In 1942, Dübendorfer received German military information about the planned Case Blue invasion of the Soviet Union (USSR), which was eventually transmitted to the Soviet Union.
In 1941, Dübendorfer met Alexander Radó for the first time. In 1942, she was in a section of Rado's Red Three resistance movement. Others in the movement included Georges Blun and Otto Pünter. Initially, Dübendorfer did not mention to Radó the name of Roessler, her most important informant. In November 1943, Dübendorfer became the lone Red Three member after leaders, including Radó, were arrested and imprisoned. Dübendorfer tried unsuccessfully to contact Moscow through Hermina Rabinovitch, a friend who lived in Montreal, Canada. Afterwards, Dübendorfer refused to co-operate with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and did not want to send information back to Moscow. She provided information to MI6 officers in Switzerland, under the proviso that this information was not shared with Moscow. In April 1944, Dübendorfer and Böttcher were captured. She was imprisoned in the USSR and later East Germany from 1946 until 1956 and so she never became a leader.
Source: Wikipedia.
was an active Soviet agent since the 1920's. Based in Switzerland at least since 1932 and working for the R.U. under the direction of Poliakova. She continued to report to Poliakova, known to her as GISELA, after the latter's recall to Moscow in 1937, probably communicating via Henri Robinson and the Soviet Embassy in Paris. She was by this time an agent of some standing and appears to have enjoyed considerably independence. Her pre-war charter is not clear but may have covered a wide field in Western Europe. She had close links certainly with the Swiss and probably with the French Communist Parties. She probably collaborated closely with Henri Robinson, who may have contacted her during his frequent pre-war visits to Switzerland.
The German invasion of France in the Spring of 1940 severed Dübendorfer's link with Moscow and she was out of touch for some months.
She might have been visited by Gurevich in March 1940. In this year certain of her I.L.O. colleagues left for the USA and South America and Dübendorfer's efforts to keep in touch many of them may be significant (Charles Becker for example).
In the autumn and winter of 1940 Robinson endesvoured to re-establish communications with Dübendorfer.
In November or December of 1940 Moscow sent money by courier to Robinson for Dübendorfer.
February of March 1941; JENNY is beleived to be Dübendorfer's sister Rose Luchinski, reached Geneva from Southern France carrying money from Robinson (2000 Dollars?).
In March 1941 she may have received a further 2000 Dollars by courier from Robinson.
Sent intelligence by courier (Aenis-Haenslin (?) or Jean Pierre Vigier) to Robinson from agents SIMON, BRUDER and CARLY.
March or April 1941; contacted by Rado. Submitted reports from sources including Roessler (LUCIE material) for transmission over Rado's WT service (see part VII. Chap 1)
Professional jealousy appears to have affected negotiations between Dübendorfer and Rado from the first, but by June 1941 Rado realised the exceptional quality of the LUCIE material and forwarded it to Moscow by WT. By autumn 1941 Moscow convinced of its value and from then on it was regarded as of supreme importance that the LUCIE reports should be sent with all possible expedition.
Dübendorfer used Christian Schneider, alias TAYLOR, as a cut-out to Roessler. She also had command of a number of other agents, notably Alexander Abramson and Jean Pierre Vigier and negotiated on Rado's behalf in dealing with the Swiss Communist Party contacts Carl Hofmaier and Pierre Nicole. She persuaded the former to assist in obtaining Swiss currency through black market deals with individuals who could be repaid in dollars in the USA.
Acted as cut-out between Rado and PAUL, but not aware of latter's true identity; communicated through a cover address in Zürich.
Utilised daughter Tamara and latter's fiance Vigier as couriers.
Had her own cipher for transmission of agent's reports, but material was edited by Rado before enciphering.
Was visited in May 1943 by a Gestapo courier who claimed to have come from Foote. This appeared to be an outcome of the arrest of Trepper, Gurevich and Robinson in France by the end of July 1943. Moscow warned Rado of probable penetration attempts by the Germans.
Dübendorfer believed the courier to have been sent by Moscow to discover the identity of TAYLOR and LUCIE.
In the spring and summer of 1943 she borrowed through Tamara, 1000 Francs from Berthe Helbein, which she subsequently repaid.
On 21-06-1943 she received 3400 Francs from Berthe Helbein.
On 06-11-1943 She received an other 5000 Francs from Berthe Helbein.
In December 1943, following the arrest of the WT operators Foote, the Hamels, Bolli and Rado's defection, Dübendorfer appealed to Hermina Rabinowitch for money, through Abramson, who utilized the I.LO bag service to Montreal (see under Rabinowitch).
As a result on 03-11-1944 received 28.000 Francs from Berthe Helbein, balance of 10.000 Dollars paid by R.U. to William Helbein in New York, after deduction of loans outstanding since 1943.
The collection of the LUCIE material continued throughout Foote's imprisonment, interrupted only by Dübeldorfer's own arrest and short term in prison in the spring of 1944 and at least until Foote's departure for Paris in November/December 1944; this material was held in safe custody by Abramson, the only member of the group bearing a quasi-diplomatic status.
At time of her arrest, Dübeldorfer carried important documents concealed in the soles of her shoes. After release on bail, took flat in Rue de Lausanne 135 and through a fellow lodger, Helene Berger, attempted at Roessler's instignation to pass portions of the LUCIE reports to the British.
Helene Berger assisted Dübendorfer financially, to the extend of some 3000 Dollars om promise of repayment to Berger's sister Annie Berger in the USA.
Met Foote for the first time after his release in October 1944 and introduced him to Berger. In November she also arranged a meeting in Zürich between Foote and Roessler.
Attempts to contact PAUL after Foote's arrest proved abortive and after Foote's departure from Paris with the most valuable of the accumulated LUCIE material it is likely that Dübendorfer was unable to find further supplies of money and means of communication with Moscow and remained inactive until her escape into France with Boetcher in the summer of 1945.
In Moscow Foote found Dübendorfer's action in appealling to Rabinowitch was frowned upon and she had fallen heavily from favour.
Addresses.
At least from 1934-1944: Rue de 31 December 15, Geneva.
From 1944-July 1945: Rue de Lausanne 135, Geneva.
In September 1945: Rue de l'Observatoire 12, Paris (unconfirmed). More probably: Rue de l'Observatoire 1, c/o her daughter Tamara Vigier.
Personal particulars.
Nationality: German origin, Swiss by marriage to Dübendorfer.
Date of birth: 18-07-1901 in Warsaw.
Description: Untidy in appearance and habits. Not highly cultured. Openly opposed to Nazi regime, but cautious in showing the Communist sympathies she undoubtedly held.
Relatives: Daughter of Arcadi Abraham and Regina Hepner, who during the war lived in Boulevard Victor Hugo, Nice.
Sister of Rose Luschinsky.
Daughter is Tamara Vigier, nee Caspary.
Divorced from first husband, Kurt Caspary.
Separated from second husband, Henri Dübendorfer
Mistress of Paul Boetcher.
Second cousin of Rebecca (RIVA) Burawoy.
History.
Born in Warsaw, probably spent her childhood and youth in Leipzig.
Married Kurt Caspary, a German lawyer in 1921.
Birth of her daughter Tamara Caspay (now Vigier) in 1922.
Divorced from Caspary in the late 1920's.
In Switzerland, probably circa 1932, married Henri Dübendorfer, Swiss mechanic of Zürich, in order to obtain Swiss nationality. Separated almost immediately from him.
Was living in Geneva with Paul Boettcher in 1934, who assumed the name Dübendorfer and with whom she remained until their arrest in 1944.
Was employed by the translation section of the I.L.O. between 1934 and 1944. She and Boettcher frequented a cosmopolitan special …. in Geneva, openly expressing anti-Nazi views, but probably not aggressively Communist in their speech, although known to their friends as pro-Russian.
A report that she was a member of the Central Committee of the Swiss Communist Party is unconfirmed.
Lived at a standard beyond her I.L.O salary in the later 1930's although when she first settled in geneva she was noticeable impoverished.
Paid frequent visits to her sister, Rosy Roedi (now Luchinsky) in Zürich and also travelled frequently to France, visiting her parents in Nice.
In 1934 she was recipient of correspondence for Boettcher from the US Communist Jay Lovestone, through whom Boettcher sought assignments for left-wing US journalists.
In 1937 she received a visit, lasting several days, from her first husband Caspary, who was en route from Germany to Australia as an emigre.
She was arrested with Boettcher on 21-04-1944 by the Swiss police, probably in Rue de 31 December 135, Geneva.
She was released from prison, probably on bail. Took a small flat in Rue de Lausanne 135, Geneva. (In the same building as Helene Berger).
By the end of July 1945 she escaped into France.
On 23-10-1945 she was sentenced "in absence" by the Swiss authorities to two years imprisonment, a 10.000 Francs fine and 15 years expulsion from Switzerland.
By August 1945 she was in Paris with Paul Boettcher. May have been living in Rue de l' Oberservatoire number 1 or 12.
By the end of 1945 she may have left Paris to rejoin with Paul Boettcher in Leipzig.
Present whereabouts unknown.
Source: KV3/350.
Rachel Dübendorfer (née Hepner, 18 July 1900 - 3 March 1973) was an anti-Nazi resistance fighter. During the Second World War, her codename was Sissy, and she was in a section of the Red Three Swiss resistance movement.
Dübendorfer was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1900. She was the daughter of Adolf Hepner, and was Jewish. She moved to Germany in the 1920s and moved to Nürensdorf, Switzerland in 1933. She was married twice: first to German lawyer Kurt Caspary in c.1921, then to Swissman Henri Dübendorfer, which allowed her to gain Swiss citizenship in 1934. She divorced in 1946 and became the lover of Paul Böttcher. She died in 1973 in East Berlin, East Germany.
In 1918, Dübendorfer joined the Communist Party of Germany. In 1927, Dübendorfer joined the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), where she worked alongside Paul Böttcher. At the start of the Second World War, she worked as a secretary at the League of Nations International Labour Organization and also led a group of Swiss communist informants in Geneva, Switzerland. Dübendorfer began receiving sensitive information from sources in the organisation. She received intelligence reports from German refugee Rudolf Roessler (nicknamed Lucy) in return for not revealing his identity. Their operation was known as the Lucy spy ring. In 1942, Dübendorfer received German military information about the planned Case Blue invasion of the Soviet Union (USSR), which was eventually transmitted to the Soviet Union.
In 1941, Dübendorfer met Alexander Radó for the first time. In 1942, she was in a section of Rado's Red Three resistance movement. Others in the movement included Georges Blun and Otto Pünter. Initially, Dübendorfer did not mention to Radó the name of Roessler, her most important informant. In November 1943, Dübendorfer became the lone Red Three member after leaders, including Radó, were arrested and imprisoned. Dübendorfer tried unsuccessfully to contact Moscow through Hermina Rabinovitch, a friend who lived in Montreal, Canada. Afterwards, Dübendorfer refused to co-operate with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and did not want to send information back to Moscow. She provided information to MI6 officers in Switzerland, under the proviso that this information was not shared with Moscow. In April 1944, Dübendorfer and Böttcher were captured. She was imprisoned in the USSR and later East Germany from 1946 until 1956 and so she never became a leader.
Source: Wikipedia.