During World War II, Long Island became an unexpected battleground for espionage, where covert Nazi operatives engaged in a high-stakes intelligence war. Utilizing sophisticated radio communications and the intricate workings of double agents, these spies gathered crucial information while the Allies fought to intercept and thwart their efforts. This clandestine struggle, which culminated in the largest espionage case in U.S. history, stands as a testament to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s relentless pursuit of justice. Here, we uncover ten riveting facts about this daring spy network and its profound impact on the war.
The Duquesne Spy Ring
The Duquesne Spy Ring, led by South African-born Nazi agent Fritz Joubert Duquesne, consisted of over 30 individuals who gathered intelligence and conducted sabotage for Nazi Germany. Operating in the New York metropolitan area, including Long Island, they transmitted messages via shortwave radio and had ties to the pro-Nazi German American Bund, headquartered in Yaphank. The ring was dismantled by the FBI in 1941, resulting in the arrest and conviction of its members.
Infiltration and Radio Transmissions
The Nazi spies used false identities and blended into the local community, posing as ordinary citizens to gather intelligence. The FBI’s engineers constructed a clandestine shortwave radio station on Long Island, which became a vital communication link between German spies in New York and their handlers in Germany. For 16 months, FBI agents transmitted over 300 authentic-sounding messages and intercepted about 200 from Nazi operatives.
Covert Operations and Counterintelligence Stings
The spy ring operated under the guise of legitimate businesses, using front companies and engaging in seemingly innocuous transactions to conceal their true intentions. Allied counterintelligence agencies, aware of the ring’s presence, set up elaborate sting operations involving intricate deception tactics and surveillance techniques to entrap its members.
Double Agent William Sebold
William Sebold, an American of German origin, was coerced into espionage by Nazi intelligence during a visit to Germany in 1939. Threatened with exposure for a past offense, he agreed to cooperate but informed the U.S. consulate upon his return. As a double agent, Sebold set up a front company in New York and disclosed receiving $22,000 from Nazi Germany over two years to pay network members.
Collaboration with Sympathizers
The spy ring collaborated with sympathetic individuals within the local community, some of whom were associated with the National German American Bund in Yaphank. This organization, initially advocating German values, eventually espoused Nazism and anti-Semitic sentiments, aiding the spy ring’s activities.
Notable Figures: Everett Roeder and Lilly Stein
Everett Roeder, a Nazi spy from Merrick, held a prominent engineering position at the Sperry Gyroscope Company in Garden City. His role gave him access to critical technologies. In June 1941, the FBI arrested Roeder, finding 100,000 rounds of ammunition in his basement.
Lilly Stein, a 24-year-old Austrian-born spy, used her charm to gather intelligence and transmit it to Germany. Stein, who arrived in New York with the help of Nazi military intelligence, eventually pleaded guilty to espionage charges and received a prison sentence.
The Benson House in Wading River
The Benson House in Wading River was repurposed by the FBI into a covert radio facility after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From this location, FBI operators exchanged encoded messages with German intelligence agents, feeding them a mix of accurate and false information to deceive the enemy. This operation continued until the end of the war in May 1945, playing a crucial role in misleading German and Japanese forces.
The Ineffectiveness of Nazi Spy Efforts
Despite the spy ring’s elaborate operations, Nazi intelligence efforts in the United States were often ineffectual. Lacking skilled agents and robust support, the network’s activities resembled farcical escapades more than serious threats. As war loomed, opportunities to build a substantial network diminished, and Nazi intelligence relied on amateur agents.
Smaller Spy Rings
Even after dismantling the large spy rings, Long Island continued to face smaller espionage threats. One notable case was Frank Hart of North Babylon, who joined the Nazi party in Germany before enlisting in the Army Air Corps. Hart leaked military plane weaponry intel to Nazi agents, highlighting the persistent though diminished espionage activities in the region.
Photo: FBI, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
