file formal charges, he was detained in a Swedish mental institution
until the last months of the war.ATLAS. A failed attempt to foment an Arab uprising against British
rule in Palestine during World War II, Operation Atlas involved a
five-man commando team—three Germans and two Arabs—that had
been formed in Berlin in early 1944. Kurt Wieland was in charge
of technical matters, while Abdul Latif assumed responsibility for
the political connections. With the support of the Grand Mufti of
Jerusalem, then living in exile in Berlin, their plan was to arm subsi-
dized Palestinian villagers and bring the already strained relationship
with Jewish communities into open conflict. Yet mismanagement
plagued the operation from the outset. After being paradropped off
target in October, the group not only became separated and lost their
radio equipment but received a cold reception from the Palestinians.
Within a week, Wieland and two of his men had been captured and
interrogated. British intelligence had also been aided by the recent
defection of Erich Vermehren.
AUER, THEODOR (1899–?). A Gestapo officer posted to North
Africa during World War II, Theodor Auer was born in Cologne and
received a law degree before entering the foreign service. In 1934,
while serving at the London embassy, he became a member of the
Nazi Party and later the Gestapo. His key assignment was in French
Morocco beginning in October 1940, first ostensibly as the head
of the German economic office in Casablanca and then as consul
general the following year. According to his own account, the re-
cruitment of informers required little effort, and a large network was
soon established, much to the displeasure of Vichy officials. At one
point, Vice Premier François Darlan implored the German embassy
to expel Auer, citing his blatant homosexual behavior, but no action
was taken. His diplomatic career continued after the war, and he was
appointed the first ambassador to Sri Lanka from the Federal Repub-
lic of Germany in December 1958.
AUGSBURG, EMIL (1904–?). A Sicherheitsdienst (SD; Security
Service) officer who later served in the Organisation Gehlen (OG)
and the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Emil Augsburg was born
AUGSBURG, EMIL • 15