Helmut Clissmann (11 May 1911 – 6 November 1997)[1] was an Ireland-based NaziAbwehr agent during World War II.[2][3][4]
He engineered the release ofFrank Ryan from a Spanish prison.[citation needed][how?] Before World War II, Clissmann was active in the German academic exchange service in Dublin.[5] He was involved in bothOperation Lobster andOperation Sea Eagle which were both failed operations with the intent of getting Clissmann into Ireland.[6]
In 2012, a Danish research paper revealed that during his time as anAbwehr agent Clissmann was responsible for training two Danish pro-Nazi covert anti-partisan groups calledSchiøler Group andPeter group. He was surprisingly let off during the post-war Nazi court cases in Denmark and travelled shortly afterwards to Ireland.[7]
He became a businessman and set up an agency to import pharmaceutical products. He was also a founding member of what is now the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association andAmnesty International Ireland. St Killian's German School was co-founded by him and he was made its honorary president-for-life.[6]
Clissmann was friends with fellow German spy Jupp Hoven.[5] He married aCounty Sligo republican, Elizabeth "Budge" Mulcahy. They had multiple children.[6]
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