Double Cross in Cairo

by Nigel West

  The official stated that the enquiry was now concluded and that, as far as he was concerned, he had no reason for detaining Levi any further; he would that same day issue orders for Levi’s release. He was completely satisfied that Levi was innocent and thought that Levi would probably be asked to return to work for the Germans. The official took leave of Levi wishing him all the best.

  23. The same afternoon Levi was summoned by the chief warder of his section of the gaol. He confirmed that the enquiry was finished and that Levi would now be transferred to another section of the gaol (non-political) where he could mix with other prisoners until the order for Levi’s release was received from the political branch of the police. The CS, who had been handling Levi’s case, had apparently dismissed it before bringing it up for formal trial. Levi was placed in the third (transit) section of the gaol and was expecting to be released day-to-day. Up to that time Levi had been in solitary confinement in the section of the gaol reserved for political offenders. On the door of his cell was a label with instructions that he should be very strictly guarded and bearing the initials TS (Tribunale Speziale). This Tribunal tries all offences of a political, anti-fascist, or anti-national in character including espionage. During his first or second interrogation Levi had been told by the official that he would appear before the Tribunale Speziale. At a later date, however, he was told that it would probably not be necessary for him to be brought before this special court, but he was given no explanation.

  24. On the 17 October 1941 Levi was visited by an official of the Publica Sicurrezza who served Levi a summons to appear before the Provincial Commission (Commissione Provinciale) at the Rome Prefecture on 18 October. Levi was escorted to the Prefecture with other prisoners. When his case came up for trial he was charged with anti-national activity (Attività Anti Nazionali) and was asked what he had to say in his defence. Levi stated that he had already said quite enough and that if the Court were not satisfied with his previous statements he had nothing further to add, except that he protested his innocence and stated that he had been unjustly charged before the Court. He was asked whether he was of Jewish faith and explained that he was of Jewish origin but Catholic by religion. He was then led back to gaol without being informed of the Court’s verdict. This was communicated to him on the following day, in writing. The gist of it was that he was sentenced to five years confinement as a political prisoner for being socially dangerous (socialmente pericoloso).

  25. On 29 October two minor CS officials in civilian clothes fetched Levi from gaol and told him that they had instructions to accompany him to Genoa in order to inspect the contents of the strong-box at his bank. The trio travelled by train to Genoa. Levi was not handcuffed and was treated in a friendly way. On arrival in Genoa Levi was not permitted to speak to any persons other than his close relations, but his escort handled the matter tactfully. They examined the contents of his strong-box in Levi’s presence, removing the British passport belonging to his son and an old one of Levi’s, the validity of which had expired, together with a few documents of no value and foreign currency totaling $3,801 and £100. To Levi’s astonishment, his stepfather allowed him all the documents and papers which had been seized by the CS at the time of Levi’s original arrest. His stepfather said that that these documents, which included his German passport, had been brought back to Genoa personally by one of the two officials escorting Levi. Levi had a quick glance through these miscellaneous papers and does not think that the CS had retained any of the papers originally confiscated, with the exception of Levi’s small address book and two or three photographic prints, none of which, according to Levi, contained incriminating material. Levi and escort returned to Rome on 30 October 1941. On arrival he was put back in the political section of the gaol.

  26. On 10 November 1941 Levi was escorted from Rome to Manfredonia on the Adriatic coast, where he was put in gaol awaiting a ship to take him to the island of Tremiti, where his sentence was to be served. He remained in Manfredonia gaol until 20 November 1941. This gaol was of an indescribable filthiness, being built to accommodate ten prisoners whereas in fact there were six times that number under lock and key. Sanitary arrangements were almost non-existent. On 20 November 1941, in broad daylight, Levi, together with fifty-four other political prisoners, were marched in irons through the main streets of Manfredonia to the docks. During the seven-hour sea passage from Manfredonia to Tremiti the human cargo remained manacled together in the hold below decks.

  27. At Tremiti Levi was allotted a bed in a section of the barracks allotted to prisoners who claimed to be Fascists. About one month later he managed to obtain a room of his own, for which privilege he had to pay. (Those prisoners who had private means paid all their own expenses; those who had no resources of their own were given a government grant of 9 lira daily.) Levi estimated that from the time of his arrest to the time of his release he and his family spent on his behalf some 200,000 lire (approximately £2,000 at the then rate of exchange). This money was dispensed on Levi’s maintenance and food, bribes to prison officials, ‘gifts’ to officials to help Levi’s case, and payment to a solicitor and accountant for looking after Levi’s affairs.

  28. Some time in December 1941 Levi wrote to Rossetti informing him that he was very disappointed over the whole affair and could not understand why the Germans had not intervened on Levi’s behalf. Levi strongly protested his innocence, and begged Rossetti to do his best for him and to obtain permission for him to be given leave to go home and to settle his private family and business affairs. About the same time Levi also wrote to Scirombo, Helfferich and Travaglio in Munich, but does not think that this last letter reached Travaglio. For this correspondence Levi had to make out an official application naming all the persons with whom he wished to correspond in the future. Until such authority had been granted he was only authorised to correspond with his son, wife and stepfather. Three weeks after making his application, authority was granted for him to correspond with all the persons he had named, which included Helfferich, Scirombo, Rossetti, all Levi’s relations and his girlfriend Socci, but not Travaglio.

  On several other occasions, Levi wrote further letters to Helfferich, Scirombo, Rossetti and Travaglio asking for assistance. Levi cannot remember the exact dates of these letters. The only reply he received to these letters was from Rossetti. (See paragraph 29 below.)

  29. On 31 January 1942 Levi was ‘double’ arrested for having consumed an extra ration of bread, above his entitlement, and on 11 February 1942 was put into gaol at Lucera on the mainland. Before sailing from Tremiti for the mainland a warder informed Levi confidentially that it was a pity he was under arrest as his permit to go on leave had arrived from Rome the previous day. A few days later, when Levi was in gaol at Lucera he received a letter from ROSSETTI dated 16 January 1942. ROSSETTI stated that he had interviewed Scirombo and obtained an assurance that Levi would be granted leave. Levi thinks, but cannot be certain, that ROSSETTI also stated in this letter that he would see what he could do to help Levi in other ways.

  About April 1942, while Levi was serving a six months sentence in Lucera gaol, his stepfather and brother visited him. They told him that they had visited the Questura at Foggia, had gone through Levi’s papers and had seen the authorisation for his leave. The Chief of Police had informed Levi’s stepfather that when Levi had served his sentence for the bread incident he would see that he was sent immediately on leave.

  30. Towards the end of Levi’s sentence, the Chief of Police at Foggia issued instructions that on the date of expiry of the sentence Levi should be accompanied home on leave: unfortunately, however, a few days before his release (31 July 1942) an order from Rome cancelled his leave indefinitely, with the result that he was taken back to Tremiti. On arrival back in Tremiti Levi obtained an interview with the Governor, a certain Coviello. Levi states that Coviello was notorious for his harsh treatment of the political prisoners on the island and thinks that he was arrested by the British authorities when we occu
pied the island – Levi heard this through Field Security contacts. He describes Coviello as about 6ft 1in tall, broad, pitch-black hair, aged about fifty.

  Levi appealed to Coviello, asking him why his leave had been cancelled. Coviello explained that this was due to the bread ration incident. He permitted Levi to make a written application requesting that his leave should be regranted. Levi wrote out the application, but at the same time wrote to Scirombo, knowing that the latter had authorised his leave in the first instance. Levi explained the matter in detail and requested Scirombo to re-authorise the leave. A few days later (about mid-August 1942), Coviello received a telegram from Rome authorising Levi to proceed on leave to Montecattini (near Florence). Levi’s first impulse was to refuse this leave, on the grounds that he had no relations in that town nor any private business to settle there, which therefore made it seem as though a mistake had been made in specifying Montecattini instead of Genoa. The Governor could not give an explanation and also thought some mistake had been made. Accordingly he telegraphed Rome, at Levi’s expense, requesting confirmation. Rome confirmed that the leave was to be taken at Montecattini and that Levi could meet his family there but was not permitted to return to Genoa. Levi had no option but to accept this ruling.

  31. A few days later a minor official of the CS department arrived from Foggia to escort Levi on leave. He was handed over to two other CS officials in Foggia and taken to Rome. Here he was passed on to two other officials of Warrant Officer rank who had orders to accompany him to Montecattini, guard him the whole time, and bring him back when his leave had expired. In order to obtain the maximum amount of freedom, Levi deliberately treated those officials well, paying for their accommodation in the same hotel he was staying in, as well as liberal entertainment expenses. They had absolutely no scruples about accepting these indirect bribes.

  One of the two WOs told him that the reason for his confinement was not of very great importance, and that the final decision that he should be interned had depended upon the casting vote of one CS official (unnamed).

  When Levi met his relations in Montecattini they told him that they had approached Travaglio in Genoa to enlist his aid in securing Levi’s release. Travaglio informed them that he was unable to help as the matter was out of his hands.

  32. After ten days’ leave Levi was escorted back to Tremiti. During the rest of his confinement on the island, Levi was ‘double’ arrested on two occasions, the first time for undesirable political talk, and the second time for having bought a stolen chicken. On each of these occasions he was brought for trial to Manfredonia on the mainland. On both occasions the case against Levi was dismissed before coming up for trial as a result of the palm-greasing activities of Levi’s legal representative, a ‘smart’ solicitor. Apparently it was a standing joke among the prisoners on the island that the authorities were wasting their time ‘double’ arresting as he would always find some way of getting away with it.

  33. About November 1942 a Sardinian political prisoner named Pirie was released. Levi had given him his address in Genoa, with the object of helping him find work. Some time later Levi was summoned before the CS official who had conducted Levi’s original interrogations. Levi gathered from his questions that Pirie had been re-arrested in Cagliari and that incriminating documents had been found on him. Levi’s address had also been noted in his address book. Levi explained that he had merely hoped to assist Pirie in finding work. Levi took this opportunity of approaching the official on the subject of his continued detention and possibilities of being released. The official replied that Levi remained on the island for a reason which he could not explain. After the official left, one of the warders told Levi that the official had informed him that Levi ought really to be released.

  34. About mid-March 1943, after making continued applications and bribing the medical official concerned, Levi obtained authority to be sent to the Civil Hospital at Foggia. He states that at that time he was seriously ill and needed treatment for cardiac trouble, which had been aggravated by the rigours of the island climate. He remained in this hospital for about a month and was then sent back to the island. On return he immediately resumed his attempts to return to hospital, as by this time the physical and psychological strain of living on the island was bearing heavily on him and he realised that if he did not get away again he would have a serious breakdown.

  (During his stay on the island several people went out of their minds and others deliberately committed offences against the regulations in order to be given sentences to be served in civil jails on the mainland.)

  Levi succeeded in returning to the hospital at Foggia for the second time in mid-May 1943 on the pretext that his teeth badly needed attention. He remained in hospital until 19 August 1943. During this period and also during his first visit to the hospital, he received visits from his relations in Genoa, his stepfather being a very frequent visitor. The latter had been trying to arrange for Levi’s transfer from the island to the mainland and had hopes of arranging this through the Police Commissioner of Foggia, with whom he was on good terms.

  A few days before 19 August the Police Commissioner fetched Levi from hospital and took him to the provincial doctor, who had been ‘fixed’ by Levi’s stepfather and who wrote out a certificate recommending on medical grounds that Levi should be transferred to the mainland.

  35. On 19 August 1943 Foggia was heavily bombed by the USAAF and the hospital was rendered unserviceable. The majority of the fifty political prisoners from Tremiti who were in hospital at this time took the opportunity of escaping during the general chaos and confusion of the bombing. Levi himself, with three or four other prisoners, remained behind to assist the medical staff in dealing with the wounded. The hospital was ordered to close down and transfer all patients to the civil hospital at San Severo. Levi assisted in the evacuation of the patients and left with the last truck, which arrived in San Severo in the early hours of 20 August 1943. There was no accommodation available in the civil hospital for the political prisoners, who were put in the military hospital. They were not guarded as all the carabinieri had run away, and could have escaped without difficulty, but they considered that as they had no documents of identity it would be advisable to remain in the military hospital and await orders for their release. They were expecting such orders to come through at any time following Mussolini’s resignation one month earlier. The chief medical officer, however, on learning that there were some political prisoners among his newly-arrived patients, instructed the local carabinieri to remove them. The carabinieri did not know where to accommodate them, and, owing to the complete disruption of communications, had no means of sending them back to the island; they were accordingly handcuffed and put into the local gaol at San Severo. Levi remained here from 22 August 1943 until 17 October 1943 when he was released by Captain Cooley, AMG officer in San Severo.

  36. Captain Cooley employed Levi as an interpreter-clerk. Levi states that in December 1943 he wrote a letter addressed to the British Military Intelligence authorities in Cairo giving a brief outline of events since returning to Italy. He gave this letter to Captain Cooley with a request that it should be forwarded. Some time elapsed, and by chance Levi found this letter which had remained in Captain Cooley’s office and had not been forwarded, accordingly Levi took steps to write a further letter, the onward transmission of which he arranged privately through contact in the Army Post Office, and which was received by the British authorities in Cairo on 18 February 1944.

  III Comments

  37. The pattern of Levi’s narrative provides very considerable evidence that the Italians, and not the Germans, were responsible for his arrest and confinement.

  Levi himself believes that his arrest was due to Italian Secret Service jealousy of the Abwehr, Scirombo being the most jealous of all, having seen his own espionage organisation in Egypt fail miserably, with the result that the Germans had to step in. This may well be true.

  38. It seems likely that Alessi (although ap
parently employed by the Germans) was assigned the task by the Italians of making a check on Levi’s loyalty. His behaviour and approach to Levi were typical of the agent provocateur. The ‘slight suspicion’ on which Levi was arrested by the Italians may have been merely that he was too lukewarm in his devotion to the Axis, having failed to ‘inform’ on Alessi. The questions put to Levi concerning the wireless set being in British hands may have been shots in the dark with little or no basis of concrete suspicion.

  39. It is probable that the Germans had no knowledge of the Italians’ intention to make trouble for Levi since Annabella telephoned him the day prior to his arrest to enquire on Rossetti’s behalf when he would be leaving to return to the Middle East.

  40. Three weeks after his arrest, Levi was told by the Italian official conducting his interrogation that both Travaglio and Rossetti had given him excellent references and were prepared to re-employ him once his case was settled. Again, in October 1941, Levi was asked whether he would be prepared to re-enter the service of the Germans if he were released.

  According to reports from Most Secret sources, Rossetti (in Istanbul) received information from Scirombo in early April 1943 that Levi was to be released. Rossetti requested that Levi should be sent to Sofia or Athens and put at his disposal. Evidently the decision to release Levi was cancelled, as on 27 May 1943 Rossetti was asking Athens what had happened to Levi.

  41. We know from Most Secret sources (original not at present available in Cairo) that in November 1941 the hand of the British Intelligence Service was regarded by the Germans as apparent in the CHEESE traffic. This would not necessarily compromise Levi in German eyes as they might well consider that Levi’s agents had been captured or their organisation penetrated by the British authorities after they had been functioning for several months. Hence the fact that the Germans were apparently perfectly prepared, and even eager, to re-employ Levi.