West and East Germany played diametrically opposed roles in #Chile's history, which we will be exploring in an article later this week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the putsch against #Allende.
To look at just one example: the role of the German intelligence services 🧵
A recent investigation by @mdrde found concrete evidence that the BND (West Germany's intelligence agency) had worked with a German sect in #Chile to smuggle weapons to fascist groups in opposition to the Allende government.
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ardmediathek.de/video/fakt/chi…
This German sect – the "Colonia Dignidad" – was led by Paul Schäfer, a German preacher that fled West Germany to escape an arrest warrant for child abuse. West Germany used the "Colonia Dignidad" as a conduit for smuggling arms to Chilean anti-communist groups.
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Gerhard Mertins, a ex-SS officer and staunch Nazi, revealed in 1989 that the BND had ordered him to establish contact with the "Colonia Dignidad". #Pinochet's intelligence chief Manuel Contreras also confirmed Mertins' role in securing arms for the coup against #Allende.
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While West Germany was conspiring with the @CIA and Chilean fascists, the DDR committed itself to unconditional support for the Unidad Popular and Salvador #Allende.
Alongside economic, technical and scientific agreements, solidarity donations from DDR citizens financed ...
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... equipment for a complete polyclinic, medicines, vaccines, school materials, etc., which were then shipped to #Chile.
Following the coup on 11 Sept. 1973, the DDR took in some 2,000 Chilean refugees.
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East Germany's intelligence service (MfS or "Stasi") helped to rescue members of #Allende's government, including Carlos Altamirano, the leader of the Socialist Party of #Chile. In an elaborate operation, he was smuggled out of the country in the trunk of a Stasi agent's car.
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On the "Friendship" research platform, we will be publishing interviews with those involved in the DDR's solidarity, including with an exiled Chilean communist, and an analysis of the contrasting roles of the two German states in #Chile's history.
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ifddr.org/en/studies/fri…
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