The Interrogator

The Interrogator

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The Interrogator

The Story of Hanns-Joachim Scharff, Master Interrogator of the Luftwaffe




Author:Raymond F. Toliver
Language:English text
Format:Hardback
Dimensions:9" x 6"
Pages:352
Photos:150 b/w images
Publisher:Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN:9780764302619



This is the story of Hanns Scharff the master interrogator of theLuftwaffe who questioned captured American fighter pilots of the USAAFEighth and Ninth Air Forces in World War II. This Intelligence Officergained the reputation as the man who could magically get all theanswers he needed from the prisoners of war. In most cases the POWsbeing interrogated never realized that their words, small talk orotherwise, were important pieces of the mosaic Hanns Scharff wasconstructing for the benefit of Germany\s war effort. In the words ofone erstwhile POW; "What did Scharff get from me? Nothing, yet there isno doubt he got something. If you talked about the weather or anythingelse he no doubt got some information or confirmation from it. Histechnique was psychic, not physical." Another POW commented, "HannsScharff could probably get a confession of infidelity from a Nun!" Theyare right. To this day ex-POWs fret and worry over what they said oreven might have implied during their interrogations, and over what useScharff may have made of their slip-ups. This book delves into thequestion: What was this magic spell or formula used by Scharff whichmade prisoners drop their guard and converse with him even though theyare conditioned to remain silent? The tortures and savagery of the NorthKoreans and North Vietnamese caused prisoners to resist to the death.Hanns Scharff\s methods broke down barriers so effectively that the USAFinvited him to speak about his methods to military audiences in theUnited States after World War II. Raymond Toliver is also the author(with Trevor Constable) of Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe (available fromSchiffer Publishing Ltd.).