The Willoughby Affair

It was ninety degrees and crazy humid. The Insular electric trolley ran through Havana to Marianao. Franz von Papen looked out through the open trolley car as it rumbled over the Calle San Pedro. He left the docks below and was heading to Vedado. At the docks stores of munitions and black powder were ready for transport to Germany.

America’s policy was ‘hands-off’ and had been since the termination of The Spanish-American War. Cuba did not want U.S. involvement. Cuba was in a state of unrest, near the brink of revolution. The American President couldn’t get involved in a tiny country ninety miles from Florida when he refused to get involved in a world war, where important allies like England had literally begged for involvement, raging across the Atlantic. Therefore, Cuba provided a perfect origin for shipment of arms and war goods by the German underground from Western factories, whereas it was impossible to ship out of U.S. ports.

Franz von Papen played two roles in his life. Officially he was military attaché to the United States and secretly doubled as an agent of Germany. His objectives, unknown to the Americans included sabotaging U.S. interests and prolonging the war in Europe. For the next few weeks he played the council’s confidant assisting to bring a quick conclusion to Europe’s troubles. Papen served only one master though - Deutschland and he planned to use the council’s plan to do just that.

Franz von Papen had an appointment to meet with Karl Boy-Ed at Vedado. Boy-Ed had been dispatched to the United States in 1911 as Germany’s Naval Attaché. Boy-Ed worked for von Papen. Boy-Ed and von Papen convinced a Jewish man named Louis Weinstein, who had a contact named Bailey at the New York harbor to help them with an upcoming itinerary. The two believed their concealed plan would serve Germany’s interests. They planned on secretly smuggling explosives into New York Harbor. Papen walked off the trolley in Vedado and into a cantina where Boy-Ed sat waiting. The two ordered tequila.

“Tell me you had success.” Von Papen said

“My man has agreed to produce two manifests. One will be presented upon sailing and the second will be substituted later.”

“And the cargo?”

“There is a shipment of furs traveling on the Pennsylvania Railroad even as we speak. The powder is hidden in the crates. It moves from DuPont de Nemours in Hopewell, Virginia. They will not be listed on the initial manifest. We expect no inspection of the crates in New York. When they are discovered at sea our friends in America will be forced to explain.”

“Kapitänleutnant Schwieger?” von Papen asked.

“He is sailing U-20. The boat refuels then leaves for Ireland in two weeks. He is to sit and wait in the Bristol Channel off of Ireland. He has authorization to attack other vessels, but must hold two torpedoes back. I will continue to be in radio contact with him.”

“Commander Herman Bauer has approved our plan. It is he who will order ‘Goldfish’.” Papen assured him.

“This is good Franz. Did your council vote to embark on their mission?”

“Yes. I came from Boston three weeks ago. It is all set.”

“The cards have been dealt. The council feels their plan will promote their objectives.”

“And our plan will promote ours as well.”

“Yes Karl, ours as well.”