SECRET ARMIES
70
agency. Heildelk is also the son-in-law of Ernst F.
the Nazi Consul to Panama.
Neumann,
On November
15, 1937, Heildelk returned from Japan by way
Germany. Five days later, on November 20, 1937, his fatherin-law, who, besides being Nazi Consul, owns in partnership with
Fritz Kohpcke, one of the largest hardware stores in Panama,
told his clerks that he and his partner would work a little late
that night. Neither partner went out to eat and the corrugated
sliding door of the store, at Norte No. 54 in the heart of the
Panamanian commercial district, was left open about three feet
from the ground so that passers-by could not see inside unless
of
they stooped deliberately.
At eight o clock a car drew
street in front of
up
at the corner of the
Neumann & Kohpcke,
Ltd.
Two
darkened
unidentified
men, Heildelk and Walter Scharpp, former Nazi Consul at Colon
who had also just returned from Germany, ste pped out, and
stooping under the partly open door, entered the store. Once
inside Scharpp quietly assumed command. To all practical pur
poses they were on German territory, for the Nazi consulate
office was in the store.
Scharpp announced that the group had been very carefully
chosen because of their
known
loyalty to Nazi
Germany and
because of their desire to promote friendship for Germany in
Latin American countries and to cooperate with the Japanese,
who had
their
own
organization functioning efficiently in Central
and South America.
"Some
of these countries are already
friendly,"
said Scharpp,
we can work undisturbed provided we do not interfere
the Panama Canal Zone. It is North American territory, and
"and
in
you will have trouble from their
officials
and
intelligence officers
as well as political pressure from the States. You understand?"
"Panama is friendly to North America," said Kohpcke.