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by BURKHARD JÄHNICKE

Abstract

Always wanting "to do something unique," Paul Leverkuehn's lifelong desire to influence the course of political events led him to seek the company of people who pulled the levers of power. As a member of the secret Scheubner-Richter expedition in World War I, travelling to the Turkish-Persian frontier, and as spy chief in Istanbul from 1941 until 1944, Leverkuehn represents the history and development of German intelligence in Turkey. The Middle East played a vital role in the course of World War II, and a neutral Turkey was of central importance and thus became a play-ground and revolving door for agents and spies. Leverkuehn's career as lawyer and politician contrasts with the boldness and daring generally attributed to intelligence agents.  His intelligence activities ended abruptly in February 1944, when his co-worker Erich Vermehren and his wife defected to the British.