Biographical Sketches of the 8 Accused Saboteurs
Ernest Peter Burger
Age (at time of trial): 35
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1927-1933 in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois.
Jobs in the USA: Motor repair, tool and die maker.
Life in Germany: Participated in "Beer Hall Putsch" of 1923; member of SA; arrested by Gestapo and charged with falsifying papers; imprisoned for 17 months; guarded English prisoners in 1941; volunteered for sabotage school.
Sabotage Team: Dasch/Long Island team
Sentence: Death, commuted to life, released to Germany in 1948.
George John Dasch
Age: 39
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1922-1941; Philadelphia, Honolulu, Chicago, New York City
Jobs in the USA: Worked for caterer, fry cook, member of Aviation Corps, fountain clerk, waiter, church sanctuary supplies salesman
Life in Germany: Entered Catholic convent at age 13, served in France during WWI, worked as painter and miner, stowawayed to America.
Sabotage Team: Leader of Group 1 (Long Island team)
Sentence: Death, commuted to life imprisonment, released in Germany in 1948.
Herbert Hans Haupt
Age: 22
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1923-1942; Chicago.
Jobs in the USA: Apprentice for an optical company.
Life in Germany: Born in Germany to American citizens, Haupt was a US citizen; upon return in 1941 was first suspected to be US spy,; invited to join sabotage school.
Sabotage Team: Florida Team (Group 2)
Sentence: Death.
Heinrich Harm Heinck
Age: 35
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1926-1939; New York.
Jobs in the USA: Tool and die worker, chauffeur, hotel worker.
Life in Germany: Worked in machine shop at Hamburg shipping company, and on ship as oiler; worked at Volkswagenwerk factory after return; joined Nazi party.
Sabotage Team: Long Island/Group 1
Sentence: Death.
Edward Kerling
Age: 33.
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1928-1940; New York City, Long Island, Greenwich, Conn.
Jobs in the USA: Smoking hams at packing house, shipping clerk, chauffeur, assistant to railroad executive.
Life in Germany: Joined Nazi Party in 1928; upon return, translated English broadcasts at a Nazi listening post in France, worked in Propaganda Ministry.
Sabotage Team: Leader of Group 2 (Florida landing team)
Sentence: Death.
Hermann Otto Neubauer
Age: 32.
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1931-1940; New York, at sea on shiiping lines.
Jobs in the USA: Cook at hotels and on ships.
Life in Germany: Joined Nazi Party in 1937, served on Eastern Front and was injured, asked to join sabotage school while convalescing in Vienna.
Sabotage Team: Group 2 (Florida team).
Sentence: Death.
Richard Quirin
Age: 34 (named defendant in case challenging legality of tribunal, Ex Parte Quirin)
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1927-1939, Schenectady and New York City, NY.
Jobs in the USA: Worked at General Electric, then various odd jobs.
Life in Germany: Grew up in Hanover and worked as mechanic's helper and farmer before moving to US; joined Nazi Party in 1933 and worked at Vokswagenwerk after his return.
Sabotage Team: Group 1 (Long Island)
Sentence: Death.
Werner Thiel
Age: 35
Time/locations in the USA prior to 1942: 1927-1941; Michigan, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York City.
Jobs in the USA: Tool and die maker at Ford, porter, handyman.
Life in Germany: Grew up in Essen and worked in railroad yards and a bicycle shop; joined Nazi Party in 1939; worked as screw machine set up man after his return.
Sabotage Team: Group 2 (Florida)
Sentence: Death.