significant was the wave of deep mistrust felt by both existing and
prospective BND agents in Eastern Europe. Despite the gross mis-
management revealed by the trial, Gehlen refused to assume personal
responsibility in the matter and managed to remain in office.
Sentenced to a prison term of 14 years, Felfe served only six before
being exchanged for 21 German citizens held in the German Demo-
cratic Republic and the Soviet Union. Clemens was released halfway
through his 10-year term because of poor health and died shortly
afterward. Tiebel received a three-year sentence. Returning to East
Berlin, Felfe completed his doctorate in law and became a professor
of criminology, retiring in 1983. His memoirs—Im Dienste des Geg-
ners (In Service of the Enemy)—appeared in 1986. The book contains
numerous inaccuracies, having been a joint effort of the KGB and the
Ministerium für Staatssicherheit to discredit the Western services.
From all indications, his activity on behalf of the KGB stemmed
from deep ideological conviction, although he also confirmed being
the recipient of a regular pension from the Soviet Union. See also
KRICHBAUM, WILLI; WITTIG, CARL.FELIX. An abortive German plan to seize Gibraltar from Great Britain
during World War II, Operation felix was scheduled to be launched
on 10 January 1941. According to the 12 November 1940 directive of
Adolf Hitler, advance reconnaissance units dressed in civilian clothes
were to be followed by Luftwaffe attacks on the British fleet in the
harbor and the assault of German troops on the mainland. Minimal
Spanish and no Italian participation was also envisioned. Yet Hitler’s
meeting with Francisco Franco at the Hendaye border station on 23
October 1940 failed to secure the Spanish leader’s cooperation in this
operation. Although Wilhelm Canaris of the Abwehr had helped
draw up the siege plans, his strong desire for the preservation of
Spain’s neutrality led him to brief several key Spanish officials prior
to the meeting. Partly as a consequence, Franco’s demands proved
excessive, and the western Mediterranean was soon abandoned as a
strategic target.
FELIX DZERZHINSKY WACHREGIMENT. The only unit of the
Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS) that regularly appeared
in military uniform and openly bore arms, the Felix Dzerzhinsky
104 • FELIX