Nazi Saboteurs: Part Three–Epilogue

And when he was asked to show up in prison so the other saboteurs would know that everyone was caught and the mission was dead, he complied.

When the news of the failed mission reached Hitler, he launched into a violent tirade.

Dasch didn't want the news getting back to Germany that he was the turncoat. He was concerned that his family living in Germany would be killed. Plus, he didn't want the other saboteurs to know that he was the traitor.

"I am here to assure you that your pleading guilty before the court does not mean that you were actually guilty... It is primarily an expedient necessity to keep your part in this case away from the Nazis," Traynor explained.

"After the excitement has blown over and not more than six months after the trial, you will be freed with full presidential pardon and complete exoneration of all charges on which you will be tried."

Soon after, he told the FBI that he wasn't going to lie and plead guilty. Dasch was going to risk retribution for a chance to tell his story in federal court.

But he also thought Dasch was unstable and high-strung with grandiose ideas of himself.

On the other hand, George Dasch is the individual who is fighting for the German people, the true people of Germany who are opposed to the things that Hitler stands for. He believes these people to be in the majority in Germany at the present time but feels they are coerced into following Hitler's methods and program.

Before Traynor began to waver, others had doubts about Dasch's motivation in coming forward to confess.

In almost every criminal prosecution of groups of men, one or more of them will attempt to save his own skin either after his complicity has been discovered or when he feels reasonably certain that it will be discovered, by coming to the prosecuting officials and telling a part of the story.

One may always be certain that anyone who will sell out in an effort to secure either exemption from prosecution or leniency will minimize in every way possible his participation in the offense.

He acknowledged that "DASCH's character is difficult to fathom."

Whereas, the safety of the United States demands that all enemies who have entered upon the territory of the United States as part of an invasion or predatory incursion...should be promptly tried in accordance with the Law of War...

Whereas, the safety of the United States demands that all enemies who have entered upon the territory of the United States as part of an invasion or predatory incursion...should be promptly tried in accordance with the Law of War...

...all
 persons who are subjects, citizens or residents of any nation at war with the United States...or act under the direction of any such nation...and are charged with committing or attempting or preparing to commit sabotage, espionage, hostile or warlike acts...shall be subject to the law of war and to the jurisdiction of military tribunals.

The military tribunal would be composed of seven generals to serve as the judges, with President Roosevelt presiding over the proceedings.

The rules regarding admissible evidence are more lenient, allowing hearsay, or rumors.

The rules regarding admissible evidence are more lenient, allowing hearsay, or rumors.

The verdict does not have to be unanimous among the judges, and appeals are not guaranteed.

Military tribunals are also controversial because they deny the accused the right to habeas corpus. This allows the accused the opportunity to make the government prove to a judge that their arrest and imprisonment is justified.

"This is no time to be squeamish," the Chicago Daily News reported. "This case is one for martial law and military tribunals, no matter who made the arrests. The people expect stern action, fully publicized by radio to the entire world. Americans are not softies, and they certainly do not want more spies here by ill-timed leniency."

Dasch felt utterly hopeless and fearful.

For days they had been insulated from the outside world and the reporting on their capture.

"In deference to the commission and in order that
 we may not waive, for our clients, any rights which may belong to them, we desire to state, that in our opinion, the order of the President of the United States creating this court is invalid and unconstitutional," Royall said.

"In deference to the commission and in order that
 we may not waive, for our clients, any rights which may belong to them, we desire to state, that in our opinion, the order of the President of the United States creating this court is invalid and unconstitutional," Royall said.

"The Commission does not sustain the objection of the defense."

In a last-ditch effort to save the Nazi saboteurs' lives, Royall referred to the Milligan case from the Civil War, which states that as long as the civil courts are open, defendants are entitled to a civil trial. He argued that it set the precedent.

The Supreme Court ruled that "the spy who secretly and without uniform passes the military lines of a belligerent in time of war, seeking to gather military information and communicate it to the enemy, or an enemy combatant who without uniform comes secretly through the lines for the purpose of waging war by destruction of life and property...[are not] entitled to the status of prisoners of war...[and are] subject to trial and punishment by military tribunals."

He refused to believe the verdict and emphatically denied that he had committed any of the crimes he was charged with, nor did he ever intend to commit any crime.

Years later, Dasch would finally learn why the commission had found him guilty: "a last minute change due to fear when he arrived in the United States."

But Dasch bitterly maintained that he had always planned on betraying the mission before his feet ever touched the sand in Amagansett. To Dasch, his intentions were clear and consistent in his actions...

"He goes out of his way to antagonize [other prisoners] by belittling their intelligence."

Peter Burger, on the other hand, was a model prisoner.
"His conduct here under very unfavorable circumstances has been exemplary," the prison warden wrote.

He has been a diligent worker.

When they finally arrived back in war- devastated Germany, instead of being welcomed home, they were called traitors.

He believed that all Muslims (followers of the religion of Islam) should rise up in jihad, or holy war, and create a single Islamic state.

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 were allegedly a retaliation for America's support of Israel (territory that Jews consider their ancestral homeland while some Muslims consider it their land), its involvement in the Persian Gulf War (code-named Operation Desert Storm), and America's ongoing military presence in the Middle East.

One major difference was that President Bush's order was wider in scope, to include anyone who was "not a United States citizen" that he had reason to believe is or was a member of al-Qaeda; has engaged in, aided or abetted or conspired to commit acts of terrorism; or has knowingly harbored an al-Qaeda terrorist.

It wasn't until 2008 that they were arraigned and charged with conspiracy, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily harm, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, hijacking an airplane, murder in violation of the law of war, and terrorism.

Soon after their arraignment, newly elected President Obama suspended the case and considered trying it in a federal court in New York City. The idea was eventually nixed, and in 2012, the suspects were arraigned again.