Description:

"CICERO" - GERMANY'S GREATEST SPY
ELYESA BANZA (1904 - 1970) Albanian who spied for the Germans during the World War II, in what widely became known as the Cicero Affair. From 1942 Bazna was the valet of the British ambassador Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen in Ankara. He began photographing secret British documents for profit on Oct. 21, 1943 and was given the codename "Cicero". Banza provided information on the raids on Ploesti and even the D-Day landings, but the Abwehr, under anti-Hitler Canaris, sidetracked his reports, and the British thought him "too stupid" to be a threat. Banza was paid £300,000 by the Abwehr which he kept hidden. After the war he tried to go into business, but when his money was deposited, his British Pounds were found to be counterfeit! Banza later tried unsuccessfully to sue the West German government for outstanding pay. He lived in Istanbul for the rest of his life, giving singing lessons and working as a used car salesman. Ultra-rare A.L.S., 1p. 4to., Munich, Feb. 11, 1963 in German requesting a reply to an earlier letter and apologizing for the delay in sending a book. Fine. Ex: Charles Hamilton.

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January 21, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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