HERMINA RABINOWITCH.
Hermina Rabinowitch, or Rabinovicus, alias HERMANN (?). was almost certainly a pre-war agent of the Red Army working under Poliakova in Switzerland. (Documentary evidence from Gouzenko shows that she was regarded as one of GISELA's agents and received through the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa a letter signed "GISEL" in the course of her negotiations on Rachel Dübendorfer's behalf in 1943-1944.
In Decemver 1943 she received a cable and a letter despatched by Abramson through the I.L.O. bag from Geneva to Montreal from Rachel Dübemdorfer, requesting 6700 Dollars.
Went to the Soviet Embassy, Ottawa; had unfruitful interview with Tounkin the Embassy Councellor.
On 23-12-1943 and/or 23-01-1944, cabled Dübendorfer that her visit was unproductive.
Wrote to Tounkin on 09-03-1944, enclosing a further letter from Dübendorfer. handed it to Pavlov, 2nd Secretary and NKVD representative, who referred the matter to Moscow. Pavlov was informed that Hermina was a Red Ary agent and that she should take no action.
On circa 14-04-1944 Wrote to Tounkin enclosing further appeal from Dübendorfer, this time for 10.000 Dollars. Pavlov then informed Motinov, of the Res Army intelligence, who arranged a meeting between Hermina and his agent.
On 05-05-1944 she was visited in Montreal by Koudriavtez, 1st Secretary and shown a letter addressed to Hermina and signed GISEL, authorising her to arrange for the handing of 10.000 Dollars to Helbein Watch C. in New York.
Met Koudriavtzev on 31-07-1944 and reported that she had handed over the 10.000 Dollarsto Helbein Watch Co.
Reported to Koudriavtzey that she received a telegram from Abramson thanking her for "warm greetings", presumably an acknowledgement of receipt of money from Berthe Helbein in Geneva.
Also handed over a report she had prepared on the I.L.O. and offered further information to the Soviet Embassy.
The evidence indicates that Rabinowitch had, at any rate temporarily, ceased to work for the R.I.S. after Poliakova's departure from Switzerland, but that she retained her sympathies and loyalties to the Soviet and was a willing collaborator in Canada.
Addresses.
In 1944: 539 Pine Avenue, Montreal.
From 1946 -1947: 403 St. Joseph Boulevard, W. Montreal.
In April 1947: Boulevard Brune 131, Paris XIV.
Personal particulars.
Nationality: Lithuanian Jewess.
Date of birth: 05-10-1891 in Kaunas, Lithuania, or 05-10-1901.
Documents: Lithuanian passport No. 217 issued in Zürich on 17-04-1937.
Description: Seriously crippled in both legs by infantile paralysis, walks with aid of two sticks.
Height circa 5' 0" brown eyes, dark hair fair skin, stout.
Morbidly introvert and emotionally unstable.
Speaks fluent Russian.
Relatives: Unmarried. Daughter of Ephrain Rabnowitch and Sophia nee Trachtenberg. In 1940 her parents lived Kestucio
42, Kaunas, Lithuania. Father is a wealthy gynaecologist, died in German concentration camp. Mother also
dead. Sister, Larissa, wife of Miguel Echegary, attache, Spanish Embassy, Washinton.
Cousin Alexander Abramson. Has other relatives in Moscow.
Occupation: I.L.O. Geneva from 1929 - 1945.
History.
Was at scholl with Rachel Dübendorfer in Köningsberg. Ph. D. Economics and Social Science, Heidelberg. Also studied economics in Paris and Geneva.
Was between 1929 and 1940 employed a research assistant in the International Labour Office, geneva. Intimate friend of Rachel Dübendorfer and Paul Böttcher.
Visited Moscow in 1937 and was probably interviewed by GRU officials.
Left Geneva on 21-08-1940 by car for Barcelona and Lisbon.
Sailed from Lisbon to New York on 03-09-1940.
Was employed between 1943 and 1945 by I.L.O. Montreal, paying frequent visits to New York.
Went to Paris in February 1947, to take employment under the French Government, in National Immigration section of the Ministry of Labour.
Between March and May 1947 she visited Baden-Baden to recruit German labour for France.
Source: KV3/351.
In January 1941 Robinson received a message from Dübendorfer telling him that HERMANN was "overseas". This probably referred to Hermina Rabinowitch's departure from Switzerland for the USA in August 1940.
Source KV3/350, "HERMANN".
In Decemver 1943 she received a cable and a letter despatched by Abramson through the I.L.O. bag from Geneva to Montreal from Rachel Dübemdorfer, requesting 6700 Dollars.
Went to the Soviet Embassy, Ottawa; had unfruitful interview with Tounkin the Embassy Councellor.
On 23-12-1943 and/or 23-01-1944, cabled Dübendorfer that her visit was unproductive.
Wrote to Tounkin on 09-03-1944, enclosing a further letter from Dübendorfer. handed it to Pavlov, 2nd Secretary and NKVD representative, who referred the matter to Moscow. Pavlov was informed that Hermina was a Red Ary agent and that she should take no action.
On circa 14-04-1944 Wrote to Tounkin enclosing further appeal from Dübendorfer, this time for 10.000 Dollars. Pavlov then informed Motinov, of the Res Army intelligence, who arranged a meeting between Hermina and his agent.
On 05-05-1944 she was visited in Montreal by Koudriavtez, 1st Secretary and shown a letter addressed to Hermina and signed GISEL, authorising her to arrange for the handing of 10.000 Dollars to Helbein Watch C. in New York.
Met Koudriavtzev on 31-07-1944 and reported that she had handed over the 10.000 Dollarsto Helbein Watch Co.
Reported to Koudriavtzey that she received a telegram from Abramson thanking her for "warm greetings", presumably an acknowledgement of receipt of money from Berthe Helbein in Geneva.
Also handed over a report she had prepared on the I.L.O. and offered further information to the Soviet Embassy.
The evidence indicates that Rabinowitch had, at any rate temporarily, ceased to work for the R.I.S. after Poliakova's departure from Switzerland, but that she retained her sympathies and loyalties to the Soviet and was a willing collaborator in Canada.
Addresses.
In 1944: 539 Pine Avenue, Montreal.
From 1946 -1947: 403 St. Joseph Boulevard, W. Montreal.
In April 1947: Boulevard Brune 131, Paris XIV.
Personal particulars.
Nationality: Lithuanian Jewess.
Date of birth: 05-10-1891 in Kaunas, Lithuania, or 05-10-1901.
Documents: Lithuanian passport No. 217 issued in Zürich on 17-04-1937.
Description: Seriously crippled in both legs by infantile paralysis, walks with aid of two sticks.
Height circa 5' 0" brown eyes, dark hair fair skin, stout.
Morbidly introvert and emotionally unstable.
Speaks fluent Russian.
Relatives: Unmarried. Daughter of Ephrain Rabnowitch and Sophia nee Trachtenberg. In 1940 her parents lived Kestucio
42, Kaunas, Lithuania. Father is a wealthy gynaecologist, died in German concentration camp. Mother also
dead. Sister, Larissa, wife of Miguel Echegary, attache, Spanish Embassy, Washinton.
Cousin Alexander Abramson. Has other relatives in Moscow.
Occupation: I.L.O. Geneva from 1929 - 1945.
History.
Was at scholl with Rachel Dübendorfer in Köningsberg. Ph. D. Economics and Social Science, Heidelberg. Also studied economics in Paris and Geneva.
Was between 1929 and 1940 employed a research assistant in the International Labour Office, geneva. Intimate friend of Rachel Dübendorfer and Paul Böttcher.
Visited Moscow in 1937 and was probably interviewed by GRU officials.
Left Geneva on 21-08-1940 by car for Barcelona and Lisbon.
Sailed from Lisbon to New York on 03-09-1940.
Was employed between 1943 and 1945 by I.L.O. Montreal, paying frequent visits to New York.
Went to Paris in February 1947, to take employment under the French Government, in National Immigration section of the Ministry of Labour.
Between March and May 1947 she visited Baden-Baden to recruit German labour for France.
Source: KV3/351.
In January 1941 Robinson received a message from Dübendorfer telling him that HERMANN was "overseas". This probably referred to Hermina Rabinowitch's departure from Switzerland for the USA in August 1940.
Source KV3/350, "HERMANN".