As you know, a chatterbox is a godsend for a spy. It was no coincidence that an agent of West German intelligence entered this pub in the Soviet sector of Berlin: what if something interesting comes from the tipsy visitors? That evening he was incredibly lucky: at the next table, a well-dressed gentleman shared with his friends: "Finally, I got an artificial diamond!" It was 1951, a time when scientists from many countries were struggling to synthesize the most valuable mineral.
Modest at the minister
The reaction of the secret service was instantaneous: to double-check the information and, if confirmed, by all means deliver the inventor to Bonn, the then capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. The agent managed to get in touch with Dr. Hermann Meinke - that's how he introduced himself.
"Why are you not on the list of employees of the University of Berlin?" - "Do not ask stupid questions: who is exposing such secret specialists like me?"
It turned out that this researcher in the field of physics and chemistry has been dealing with the problem of synthetic diamond in recent years. A scientist is ready to go to Germany if he is guaranteed appropriate working conditions. And one more thing: Edeltraut's assistant will go with him.
Bonn gave the go-ahead, and a few days later Dr. Meinke and his companion left Berlin.
The level of interest in the newcomer is evidenced by the fact that he was almost immediately received personally by the Minister of Economy of the Federal Republic of Germany Ludwig Erhard. Meinke made a favorable impression on him: solid and laconic. Again, the scientist assured: he is ready to demonstrate diamond production in the very near future. The costs will be small: laboratory equipment and readily available raw materials. Meinke also negotiated a relatively modest salary for himself and the assistant, which will have to multiply after the successful showing of the first sample received.
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The laboratory and everything needed were provided in a few days. There Meinke and his assistant worked from early morning until late at night. In brief reports, the scientist reported that things were progressing and two to three weeks remained before the demonstration.
By the diamond pie
Indeed, already at the end of the summer of 1951, Dr. Meinke announced that everything was ready. On September 1, a commission of specialists and officials arrived at the laboratory. The whole process took place in front of their eyes: the processed raw materials were placed in an oven, where at a high temperature it was kept for a strictly defined time. Finally the heat-resistant tray was removed and cooled, the assistant carefully raked the ash pile and took out with tweezers … a small crystal. The expert present confirmed that this is a diamond. Later, data from a more in-depth examination came: the created mineral was practically not inferior to the natural one. Gem - so fast and at the lowest cost! The scientist warned that this is only the first step. The production of artificial diamonds still had to be put on stream, but this required the entire technological process to be improved.
The post-war budget of the FRG was limited, so the supporter of the liberal economy Ludwig Erhard proposed to create a private company and attract investors. Having heard about the fabulous future profits, they were found immediately. Among the shareholders were ministers, large industrialists and representatives of the noble elite. Through the leader of the occupation zone, John McCloy, the US government also joined: the Americans also wanted to have their share in the "diamond pie".
Colleagues let down
The project was personally signed by the Minister of Economy of the Federal Republic of Germany; a large area near Bonn was allocated for the construction of a plant for the production of artificial diamonds. The company's commercial director, Ernst Werner, was spinning like a whirligig: it was necessary to recruit 4 thousand people. To the original 10 million Bundesmark investments, without much publicity, the same amount was added.
Dr. Meinke was given a salary of 60 thousand marks - a huge sum for those times. Edeltraut's assistant was not cheated either. As a result, a couple from East Berlin received every month under 100 thousand German marks.
Almost 2 years later, the firm's expenses were growing, and the diamond safes were still empty. At the same time, Meinke categorically did not admit anyone to the secrets of the technology. He explained that she would immediately go to the GDR or the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Economics insisted: two trusted colleagues - a physicist and a chemist - would be sent to help.
It didn’t take long for experienced professionals to conclude that Meinke and his assistant were completely untenable, and this whole undertaking was a grandiose scam that respectable people bought into …
Where's the money?
The couple was taken into custody, the investigation began. It turned out that Hermann Meinke was by no means a scientist, but … a tailor's apprentice. Weighed down by his low social status, he liked to boast, being in an unfamiliar company. Who will test his harmless lie?
Once he heard on the radio that scientists were about to create a synthetic diamond. So there was a plot for another fiction: he, Herman - a great scientist - achieved such a triumph!
The occasional drinking companions with whom Herman decided to celebrate his success were people of little knowledge. As well as the agent who overheard the conversation, whose report in Bonn got to General Reinhard Gehlen himself, who later headed the foreign intelligence of the FRG. Of course, such information could not be neglected. Experts have confirmed: the world is on the verge of obtaining a synthetic diamond. This means that it is likely that this was achieved on the territory of the newly created German Democratic Republic.
When the resident came out on Meink, he decided to play along: yes, I am the one who received the diamond in the laboratory. Moreover, he personally received a lot of money. And the common-law wife Edeltraut - a dressmaker and part-time assistant to the swindler - approved the decision to take the risk. And there whatever happens!
It was she who, at the first demonstration, imperceptibly planted a diamond purchased in advance from one of the Bonn jewelers in a pile of ash. The means of a solid advance allowed her, and she was not dexterous of sleight of hand. Then it was only necessary to play for time, which the couple was not unsuccessful and did for almost 2 years.
Look for fistulas
Despite the scale of the scam, the court was swift and Hermann Meinke was sentenced to a very mild sentence - 3 years
imprisonment. Either someone paid the best lawyers, or they had to take into account the involvement in this story of very influential persons who did not want to be a laughing stock in the eyes of the whole world. Edeltraut was sentenced to 13 months in prison. She then wore parcels to her husband for almost 2 years.
After the release of Herman, the couple almost immediately disappeared in an unknown direction. No wonder: a significant part of the funds (millions of marks!) Of shareholders was never found and could well have settled on accounts outside Germany. This is indirectly confirmed by the disappearance of Ernst Werner - he already knew how best to hide money …
Well, artificial diamonds appeared in the same 1953, when the "doctor" Hermann Meinke was exposed. On September 15, they were obtained with the help of a special installation in Sweden, and since then technologies have only been improved all over the world.
"Prisoner" from Formosa
At the beginning of the 18th century a certain George Salmanazar became famous for his ability to present fiction as a real fact and make money on it. Having announced in 1704 in London, she announced that she had escaped from captivity from the distant island of Formosa (now Taiwan). The news of the happy fugitive from the aborigines reached scientists and high naval officials. For a decent fee, Shalmanazar described in detail the distant island, language and culture of its inhabitants. Moreover, he traveled all over England with lectures on exotic land (the British themselves had a vague idea of it), his information was reflected in the textbooks of geography and navigation. Only later did it become clear that the talented dreamer had never been further than Western Europe. Shalmanazar himself admitted this in a specially written book, which, according to his will, was published a year after his death.
Magazine: All the riddles of the world №18, Author: Oleg Nikolae