WWII Spying on Hitler from Bush Hill

During World War II, the United States authenticated Adolph Hitler’s voice on radio broadcasts at a clandestine spy operation headquartered at the Bush Hill estate in what was then part of Franconia. Bush Hill no longer exists, and the land it occupied is near Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria. The house was located on ground that was part of a land granted by Lord Fairfax in 1706.

Ernst (Putzi) Hanfstangz, former Counselor of Foreign Affairs for Hitler’s Nazi regime, lived under guard at the Bush Hill house, which had been leased from the Gunnell family. He was a graduate of Harvard University, and an accomplished pianist and art dealer who was born in Germany. He was part of Hitler’s movement in the 1930s that gained control of the government.

After falling out of favor and fearing assassination, Putzi escaped to Switzerland in 1937. He then went to Great Britain where he was arrested and jailed as a foreign spy. The British then sent him to Canada before he was transferred to the United States to provide information to President Franklin Roosevelt and the American government about Hitler and his fellow Nazi leaders. He listened to German broadcasts to authenticate Hitler’s voice, and wrote long reports describing the German leader and his fellow Nazi leaders. Included was Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s right-hand man whom Putzi had disparaged in public and feared retribution. Roosevelt reportedly was fascinated by the reports and brought Hanfstangz to the White House for consultations on several occasions.

While at Bush Hill, Hanfstangz was guarded by a contingent of soldiers from Fort Belvoir. The house was in a remote location, reachable only by a long road from Franconia Road that crossed the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad tracks. The mailbox was on Franconia Road. Bush Hill was equipped with a large antenna so German broadcasts could be intercepted.

Hanfstangz’ mother, Katherine Wilhemina Heine, was an American and a descendant of Civil War Union General John Sedgwick. Hanfstangz married Helene Elise Niemeyer from Long Island, NY, and they had two children before being divorced in 1936.

Ironically, a son, Eyon Ludwig, served as a member of the United States Air Corps during World War II, helping prepare plans for war-time missions. The elder Hanfstangz was released after the war and became an art dealer in New York City. He died in 1976.

The Bush Hill house was burned by vandals in 1977. The only remaining indication of its history is a marker along Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria. You can read more about the house by visiting Franconiamuseum.org. Click on newsletters and go to the Fall 2018 issue index.

January marked the beginning of the Franconia Museum’s annual membership drive. We can’t do it without your support, so please consider becoming a member for this year. Contributions in excess of the membership fee are encouraged. The Museum is a volunteer effort, but there are costs for insurance of our artifacts, printing and postage. Please help! Join or Renew with the application below.

2024 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW:
Join us in celebrating our 23rd year of preserving and protecting the history of our unique community. Our collections are growing, and we are starting to purchase electronic equipment for displays that will be available in the new Franconia Govt. Center coming in 2024 next to Lane Elementary and Beulah Park. Make the move with us by becoming a member! Additional donations are especially welcome! We are a tax-exempt volunteer organization. There are no fund-raising costs! Come see us and learn about our past, present and future! Join us as a new member, renew your 2024 membership, or become a Lifetime or Founding member. We need to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, and need volunteers to help man the Museum on Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat.

FRANCONIA REMEMBERS:
This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area’s history. If you would like a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconia.museum.newsletter@gmail.com. Membership is also encouraged, so that we can continue our work. The Museum is located in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, as approved by the Internal Revenue Service.