Tactics of Nazi Master Interrogator Hanns Scharff

Especially when it comes to the subject of Nazis, you will probably think of torture methods, cruelty may come. However, this is not the case at all. With Hanns Scharff’s interrogation technique, prisoners of war were given the desired information as if they were being told to a friend. He was giving all the information. and most captives were not even aware of what information they were giving away.

throughout the war Interrogating more than 500 pilotsNazi Germany, which is used as a role model by the intelligence community even today. “Master Inquisitor” When you learn not only the life of Hanns Scharff, also known as Hanns Scharff, but also his interesting tactics, without pressure You will see that many things can be done.

It is worth mentioning Hanns Scharff’s life before he became an interrogator. Because the education he receives and the way he lives have nothing to do with the work he does.

Hanns Scharff was born on 16 December 1907 in East Prussia (now Poland), the second child of the family. his father Prussian Army officerhis mother was the daughter of the founder of one of Germany’s largest textile factories.

Scharff, who lives in Germany, in various branches of art He received training, but Scharff was expected to take over another textile factory owned by his grandfather. Scharff also received training in textile, weaving, merchandising, marketing and export at a young age.

To gain experience in south africa Scharff, who also worked in the Foreign Office, did not return to Germany even though he was successful in his job and To Overseas Division Director was promoted. II. He continued to stay in South Africa for 10 years due to World War II. He got married here and had three children.

Hanns Scharff’s life turned towards the profession for which he became famous.

Scharff returned to Germany in 1939, but due to the war stranded. He was drafted into the army and after two months of training he was assigned to the Russian front. However, this did not please Hanns Scharff’s wife and she said that Scharff was a soldier who knew both English and German. will be wasted on the front He convinced the German general about this. By the general’s decision, Scharff was sent to the translation company.

Scharff, who received training in British military organization, after a while interpreting for interrogators He was sent to the interrogation center for Scharff began serving in the interrogation center for Allied Air Force personnel and later served in the American fighters section. assistant interrogator happened.

Scharff was observing interrogation techniques here and did not receive any formal training on the subject. The interrogator who served in the unit was a member of the Luftwaffe death in plane crash It was the step that changed Scharff’s life. Because his colleague was replaced by Scharff.

Let’s talk about Scharff’s famous technique.

Since Scharff got into this business, he’s been helping prisoners He was against physical abuse and relied on his dead friend’s approved technical list. The most important of these techniques was to treat the interrogator as the prisoner’s biggest advocate. The Luftwaffe told the prisoners that if they did not give any information other than the name of the unit and air base and ranks and serial numbers, it had no choice but to turn them over to the Gestapo.

Scharff used this tactic to kill the prisoners. Fear of the Gestapo He was feeding them, telling them that he was their ally in their situation and that he wanted them to be sent to a safe prison camp instead of being handed over to the Gestapo. He said he couldn’t do anything unless he gave him information. He made the prisoners believe.

So far everything may seem normal. But Scharff’s real tactic is more than that.

After the prisoners’ fear subsided, Scharff offered them homemade food, He was giving alcoholic drinks and making jokes. Fluent command of English and command of American customs to gain trust It was also helpful. Making allegations and hoping that the prisoner would deny or confirm these allegations were also among his tactics.

Scharff, who organized trips to the German airport with high-profile allied airmen, also allowed one prisoner to board a BF 109 (German fighter plane) and take it for a test ride. And any escape attempt It didn’t happen either. Tea and lunches, pool trips, forest walks These were just a few of the programs Scharff organized for the prisoners.

So what was Scharff doing when he encountered a tight-lipped prisoner?

At this point, there was another tactic that Scharff put into action. It provides files with personal information on any commander or pilot in the enemy air wing, anyway. By asking the prisoner a question he knows the answer to He was getting to work.

The prisoner who thinks he knows everything about himself By answering the questions you really want to learn Scharff was making his job easier. When the information Scharff requested was received, the prisoners thought that this answer was already in the file, but in fact they were giving the answer Scharff wanted.

“Has anyone ever gotten an answer?” you may be wondering. There were also prisoners who never answered the requested questions.

There was a prisoner that Scharff wanted from him. could not get any information. Among the most famous prisoners he interrogated was the man who was the best American warrior in Europe during the war. It was Lieutenant Colonel Francis Gabby Gabreski.

Scharff had been waiting for his arrival for some time and when he arrived he expressed his pleasure to meet him, but it was not enough. Gabreski said Scharff could not get any information. He was one of the few captives. But this interrogation made them more than just an interrogator-captive relationship, and they had a friendship that lasted long after the war.

Who were among those questioned by Scharff?

There were also important names among the people Scharff questioned. These:

• Fighter Pilot in the United States Air Force, praised as “The Greatest Fighter Group Commander” Colonel Hubert Zemke
• American Fighter Pilot and World War II soldier who served in the United States Air Force. Flying ace of World War II Major Duane Beeson
• He was a flying ace in the United States Army Air Forces. Captain John T. Godfrey

These were just a few of the famous fighter pilots. An important question in Scharff’s career is that he was a propagandist. US Army Air Force pilot It was for. to USA Lieutenant Martin J. Monti, who pleaded guilty to treason Scharff went to the USA for questioning. In addition to interrogation, Scharff was imprisoned in the Pentagon and various other places. He gave lectures on interrogation techniques.

Scharff’s influence on modern inquiry today

In 2009, the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group was established. in the group Intelligence experts from the FBI, CIA and the US Department of Defense met and researched Scharff’s techniques. Each unit in the group empathy, be friendly, not pressure, He adopted and began to use techniques of the illusion of knowing that you know almost everything the prisoner knows.

“Direct Approach” Thanks to his tactic, Scharff was actually only able to fight in World War II. He brought non-violent interrogation techniques to the world of interrogation, not during the World War, but also today.

Coming from art, Scharff returned to art again.

After his departure to the United States, Scharff decided to utilize the art education he had received and mosaic art He started to deal with it. With his success, Scharff expanded his business and did business in many areas from the public to the private sector and became the man of choice.

California State Capitol, Florida Disney Epcot Center, University of Southern California Campus and many private homes, hotels, shops, schools, shopping malls host Scharff’s mosaics.

Scharff on September 10, 1992 After his death His daughter-in-law, Monika, continued Scharff’s work until her death in 2022.

There is also a book for those who are curious about Hanns Scharff’s life.

Moving to America, Scharff began writing memoirs about his time as an interrogator, some of which were published in a magazine. “Without Torture” It was published as an article under the title. After Military Writer Raymond Toliver contacted Scharff, it was decided to publish a book.

The author contacted the prisoners Scharff interrogated and arranged their letters chronologically, combining Scharff’s personal reflections with his complete life. Book, “The Interrogator: The Story of Hanns Scharff, the Luftwaffe’s Master Interrogator” It was first published under the name in 1978. Later, another publishing house republished the book in 1997.

Although Scharff worked in Nazi Germany, according to many of us even though it’s on the wrong side In fact, it seems to have shown the whole world that something can be achieved without torture and cruelty.