1/ Few months ago, I found declassified WWII docs showing how Germany and Nazis used honorary consuls as spies and other helpers
@debbiecenziper+@ZivaBranstetter had the smart idea to make it part of @ICIJorg+@propublica's #shadowdiplomats investigation
propublica.org/article/shadow…
@debbiecenziper+@ZivaBranstetter had the smart idea to make it part of @ICIJorg+@propublica's #shadowdiplomats investigation
propublica.org/article/shadow…
2/ All in all, @debbiecenziper and I found about 20 honorary consuls suspected of supporting the Third Reich thru espionage and other activities, including smuggling jewels, spreading propaganda.
They were based in places like Brazil, Mexico, Bulgaria, the Gold Coast and Spain
They were based in places like Brazil, Mexico, Bulgaria, the Gold Coast and Spain
3/ In one declassified U.S. army document, officials referred to possible spies being "camouflaged" as honorary consuls, those private sector, volunteer diplomats who have long held special privileges and immunities under international law and custom.
4/ News archives from the 1930s and 40s were also crucial, especially in Brazil where police unravelled a spy network allegedly involving Germany's honorary consul to Santos
We were lucky also to have input from one of Brazil's top experts in Nazis, Dr. Priscila F. Perazzo.
We were lucky also to have input from one of Brazil's top experts in Nazis, Dr. Priscila F. Perazzo.
5/ How the Third Reich used career diplomats has been told before. Just this year, Germany's foreign minister recognized the role played by full-time envoys.
We wanted to focus on honorary consuls, the under-the-radar diplomat @propublica + @ICIJorg have followed this whole year
We wanted to focus on honorary consuls, the under-the-radar diplomat @propublica + @ICIJorg have followed this whole year
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