Hi,

Can anyone produce a short biography of Carl Marcus (or should it be
Karl Markus?).

Marcus was a British agent (known as 'Dictionary') who worked for
German Intelligence during the thirties. He 'crossed over' to the
British shortly before the end of the war.

After the war, Marcus apparently became Mayor (or somesuch) of Munchen
Gladbach.

If the answer is 'Yes' ... then I'll pose a further question (or
questions) based on a more appropriate Price. (Or prices ... if more
than one Researcher wants to have a go with something different to
offer.)

Many thanks

Bryan

---

Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 27 Oct 2003 16:58 PST

Dear Bryan,

I post this as a clarification request to make sure you read it; it's
quite important information.

By using the alltheweb.com search engine, and using the search terms
"Karl Marcus" and "Oberbürgermeister" (= lord mayor) I found the web
site of Dr. phil. Christoph Waldecker, a German historian and resident
of Mönchengladbach.

He lists the essays he published in "Mönchengladbach Aktuell", a
monthly information magazine issued by the city of Mönchengladbach.
Among them, there is one you will find without any doubt most
interesting:

"April 2003 
- War der Oberbürgermeister ein Spion? Vor 55 Jahren trat Karl Marcus
als Rheydter OB zurück, S. 16-17."

"April 2003
Has the Lord Mayor been a spy? 55 years ago, Karl Marcus resigned as
lord mayor of Rheydt. Page 16-17."

Now you will surely ask: Can this be the right Karl Marcus, since he
was mayor of Rheydt, not of Mönchengladbach?
It is the right one. Rheydt is a neighbour town of Gladbach. From 1929
to 1933, were merged into the town of Gladbach-Rheydt. Thus Rheydt was
automatically part of the greater community of Mönchen-Gladbach. Reich
propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, a native of Rheydt, seperated his
birth town again from Gladbach in 1933.
In 1975, Rheydt became again part of Mönchengladbach (no hyphen since
1963), and this has not changed to the present day.

When Karl Marcus resigned as lord mayor of Rheydt in 1948, it was
still a seperate town; today it's part of Mönchengladbach, and that
can lead to some confusion.

Maybe you would like to contact the historian? Obviously, he has
useful information concerning Karl Marcus' biography:
Website: http://hometown.aol.de/chwaldecker/
Professional E-Mail: chwaldecker@aol.com

Regards,
Scriptor

---

Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 27 Oct 2003 17:14 PST

I have found some information, in English, in a book on MI6.  It's not
a comprehensive biography, to say the least, but it provides some
useful material about Marcus's activities towards the end of the war
and in the early post-war period.  Perhaps you know some of the
information already, but perhaps it will give you some new
information.  You would be able to read the relevant excerpts online
if you register for free with the web site on which I found this
material.

Would this be sufficient as an answer?

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 27 Oct 2003 21:17 PST

Hi, Scriptor & Justaskscott

Many thanks for both your efforts.

1) Scriptor ... I am sure that you've dug up some great stuff ... I'll
follow the line of enquiry you have suggested, and report back.

2) Justaskscott ... Could it be that 'the book on MI6' is the one by
Steve Dorrill (another pal of mine)? If so, I already have a copy,
thanks.

Kindest regards

Bryan

---

Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 27 Oct 2003 22:05 PST

Hmmm, it could be the very same book (in fact, it is) ... oh, well, I
guess I've nothing new for you then.

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 27 Oct 2003 22:25 PST

Hi, Justaskscott

Many thanks, anyway.

Bryan

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 28 Oct 2003 06:32 PST

Hi, Again, Scriptor

Please post an answer and then, if you find anything else, prompt me
for a new question.

Kindest regards

Bryan

Dear Bryan,

As you requested, I hereby post an answer. Since I did not find
something new to the present moment, I insert a copy of my previous
text here:

By using the alltheweb.com search engine, and using the search terms
"Karl Marcus" and "Oberbürgermeister" (= lord mayor) I found the web
site of Dr. phil. Christoph Waldecker, a German historian and resident
of Mönchengladbach.
 
He lists the essays he published in "Mönchengladbach Aktuell", a
monthly information magazine issued by the city of Mönchengladbach.
Among them, there is one you will find without any doubt most
interesting:
 
"April 2003  
- War der Oberbürgermeister ein Spion? Vor 55 Jahren trat Karl Marcus
als Rheydter OB zurück, S. 16-17."
 
"April 2003 
Has the Lord Mayor been a spy? 55 years ago, Karl Marcus resigned as
lord mayor of Rheydt. Page 16-17."
 
Now you will surely ask: Can this be the right Karl Marcus, since he
was mayor of Rheydt, not of Mönchengladbach?
It is the right one. Rheydt is a neighbour town of Gladbach. From 1929
to 1933, both were merged into the town of Gladbach-Rheydt. Thus
Rheydt was
automatically part of the greater community of Mönchen-Gladbach. Reich
propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, a native of Rheydt, seperated his
birth town again from Gladbach in 1933.
In 1975, Rheydt became again part of Mönchengladbach (no hyphen since
1963), and this has not changed to the present day.
 
When Karl Marcus resigned as lord mayor of Rheydt in 1948, it was
still a seperate town; today it's part of Mönchengladbach, and that
can lead to some confusion.
 
Maybe you would like to contact the historian? Obviously, he has
useful information concerning Karl Marcus' biography:
Website: http://hometown.aol.de/chwaldecker/ 
Professional E-Mail: chwaldecker@aol.com 


Search terms used:
"karl marcus" oberbürgermeister
http://www.alltheweb.com/search?avkw=fogg&cat=web&cs=utf-8&q=%22karl+marcus%22+oberb%C3%BCrgermeister&_sb_lang=pref
 
Thank you very much and kindest regards, 
Scriptor

Brilliant, Scriptor .... as usual.

Dankeschoen (imagine an umlaut).

If you turn up anything else, please let me know.

Bryan

Or could it be "Karl Marcus" mentioned on the following pages?

1944:
http://www.serendipity.li/wod/nsmith_chron.htm

http://www.d2kla.org/pipermail/d2kdiscuss/2000-June/000094.html

Also mentioned here:

http://www.namebase.org/main3/Karl-Marcus.html

Hi, fp

Yes! Sure enough it's the same man.

Very many thanks for the links ...

Kindest regards

Bryan

Dear Bryan,

No answer so far, but it might help you (and my Fellow Researchers)
that the town's correct name is: "Mönchengladbach". Since it consists
of two formerly seperate towns that were merged, it is possible that
the name was written "Mönchen-Gladbach" in earlier decades, when the
newly formed community was still younger.

Greetings,
Scriptor

Hi, Scriptor

Very many thanks for your advice on the spelling ... I am not
absolutely sure which town it was but I intend phoning someone tonight
who actually met him. He may know.

I do remember driving through Mönchengladbach many years ago, even
though I previously couldn't spell it.

Glad to know that you are on the case.

Kindest regards

Bryan

Hi, Again, Scriptor

I've just spoken to my friend who met Marcus on several occasions. He
has confirmed that he did become Mayor of Mönchengladbach and he tells
me that there is (or was) a photo of him in the Public Library there.

Apparently, Marcus's son lives (or lived) in Berlin but he refuses to
discuss his father ...

Kindest regards

Bryan

München-Gladbach was indeed the former name of Mönchengladbach:

http://www.4reference.net/encyclopedias/wikipedia/Moenchengladbach.html

http://www.grandurbo.de/cities.htm

A link concerning Marcus and Rheydt (as mentioned by scriptor in his
request for clarification). This time the name is written "Carl
Marcus". It is a book review, however in German:

http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/rezensionen/type=rezbuecher&id=1081&verlage=107

The book itself is available in the British Library
http://blpc.bl.uk/

Shelfmark:  Ac.8956.e(2)[Vol.88]

Hi, fp

(Please let me know if you have a more user-friendly name ... Fred? Frank?)

Great stuff ... Many thanks ... You certainly turn up some useful links!

Kindest regards

Bryan (Or bc)

Hi, Again, fp

I am impressed ... Even the Shelf Mark.

You obviously work for one of the 'Security Services' ... but Which One?

Give me a clue ... is your office by the Thames, near Vauxhall Bridge?

Bryan

Hi, Bryan

Hm, ...
So I'm working for one of the 'Security Services'? Well, let me see. 
Well, currently I'm on my way to Switzerland - to spend a few days there.
Hope you'll get some more comments and answers in the mean time.

Regards
Freddy

Hi, Freddy

As I had expected, a suitably discreet response.

I do understand.

And have a great time in Helvetica.

Regards

Bryan