About Karl Plättner and KAPD's "Illegal" Group in Bremen

Referring to the report introduced above, it is respectfully communicated that no harmful reports regarding the theft of explosives on the railway have become known. However, the investigations initiated on the occasion of this report have shown that traces of material thefts are of extraordinary significance.

The well-known former member of the KAPD, the bank robber Karl Plättner, who recently came into the public eye through his extremely radical pamphlet, is traveling around the country and appears to be organizing gangs that are prepared to act in the spirit of the pamphlet. Such gangs consist of individuals who belong to the KAPD or even more left-leaning groups and are ready for the most audacious acts. Although the KAPD leadership officially distances itself from Plättner, it is certain that during his stay in Bremen in December 1921, Plättner frequently met with the local KAPD chairman and initiated the formation of an illegal gang.

The following information was gathered about this illegal KAPD gang and its tasks, as well as about the local KAPD branch itself:

The KAPD in Bremen currently has 122 members. Its membership meetings are consistently well-attended. The most reliable comrades—approximately 60—belong to the so-called "Illegal" group. This group constitutes the Combat Organization (KO) of the KAPD. The leader of the KAPD is Onasch, who is simultaneously one of the most radical and daring comrades. The task of the 60 "Illegals" is to carry out planned acts of sabotage, arson, looting, and the like. According to a reliable source, these 60 individuals have been personally and thoroughly vetted by the KAPD leaders by being individually involved in supposedly planned bombing attempts, which were canceled at the last moment at the target site. Firearms appear to be available to the KAPD only to a very limited extent, but they possess hand grenades, infernal machines, and loose dynamite. The extent to which these materials are available is unknown. In the event of unrest, bombings are to be carried out everywhere according to a plan issued uniformly by the central leadership for the entire Reich. In Bremen, the bombing of the stock exchange during a session of the citizens’ assembly is under consideration. However, there is a reluctance to destroy vital facilities, such as the gasworks or the electricity plant, as this would most severely affect the working population itself. The bombing of the stock exchange is intended to be carried out in such a way that, during unrest in the Reich and a session of the citizens’ assembly, an infernal machine in the form of a package is brought into the restroom located in the stock exchange and placed in a corner. Furthermore, the KAPD possesses a list of individuals who must be eliminated under all circumstances during unrest. The names on this list are not yet known. It is planned that, during unrest, hand grenades will be attached to the front doors of the targeted individuals in such a way that they explode when the doors are opened. This is easily feasible in the dark. Every KAPD membership card contains a short horizontal line on the front, in the "Profession" column or under the words "Membership Card," the position of which relative to a vertical centerline indicates the member’s weapon type. Membership lists exist only in the form of two card indexes. One is in the possession of Onasch, while the holder of the second card index is unknown. The card indexes are kept in hidden locations to prevent inspection by the police.

From these reports, it is clear that in the event of new communist unrest, a significant increase in bombings, looting, and attacks compared to previous unrest must undoubtedly be expected. Which buildings and facilities are designated for such bombings will be adapted to the respective circumstances. The activities of Plättner, the establishment of such gangs, and the related looting, attacks, and dynamite thefts must be given the utmost attention from all sides.

It is respectfully requested that, if further occasion arises, this report be used only in terms of its content and without indicating its place of origin, so that the extremely difficult investigations regarding the secrecy of this gang’s intentions can continue undisturbed.