Karl von Clemm
Encyclopedia
Karl F. von Clemm was born into a German family that married into German nobility, the Nazi party and prominent American families.
He was a representative of the German international banking firm Hardy & Co. Through a German banker William Rhodes Davis
, a U.S. oil man had arranged to meet him. The two would become good friends and ship large quantities of oil from America
and Mexico
and then to Germany
. He was a liaison between Eurotank, Davis' main operation in Germany
and the Nazi government. It was his job to arrange barter with the Economic Ministry on Davis' oil imports. Davis appointed von Clemm to the board of directors of Crusader Petroleum Industries and as head of Eurohandel, both of which were involved in Nazi oil imports used to build up the German war machine. Karl's brother, Werner
was also involved with Davis and Karl played a part in his brothers diamond smuggling operation. He was also an agent of Abwehr
, the German intelligence agency.
He married Audrey Zimmermann, who was the mistress of Rudolf Diels
, head of the Gestapo
.
He was a representative of the German international banking firm Hardy & Co. Through a German banker William Rhodes Davis
William Rhodes Davis
William Rhodes Davis was an American businessman, named in assistant U.S. Attorney General O. John Rogge's Nazi Report, published in 1961, as Abwehr agent C-80, financed with the personal approval of Hitler, engaged in supplying petroleum to Germany.-Biography:William Rhodes Davis first married...
, a U.S. oil man had arranged to meet him. The two would become good friends and ship large quantities of oil from America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and then to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was a liaison between Eurotank, Davis' main operation in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Nazi government. It was his job to arrange barter with the Economic Ministry on Davis' oil imports. Davis appointed von Clemm to the board of directors of Crusader Petroleum Industries and as head of Eurohandel, both of which were involved in Nazi oil imports used to build up the German war machine. Karl's brother, Werner
Werner von Clemm
Werner C. von Clemm was born into a German family that married into German nobility, the Nazi party and prominent American families. His father-in-law was a Vice President of Citibank. In 1922 he immigrated to the United States. Prior to this he had served in the German army during World War I...
was also involved with Davis and Karl played a part in his brothers diamond smuggling operation. He was also an agent of Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
, the German intelligence agency.
He married Audrey Zimmermann, who was the mistress of Rudolf Diels
Rudolf Diels
Rudolf Diels was a German politician and SS-Oberführer. A protégé of Hermann Göring, Diels was in charge of the Gestapo from 1933 to 1934....
, head of the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
.