Editing CIA and the Nazis (section)

==1945–1949: Post-War Nazi Immigration and CIA Formation==
===1945: Operation Paperclip Begins===
The OSS initiates Operation Overcast (renamed Paperclip in 1946) to recruit German scientists, including Wernher von Braun. Files are sanitized to hide Nazi ties, violating Truman’s written policies.  Paperclip’s recruitment of scientists like von Braun is historical, per Operation Paperclip by Annie Jacobsen. The claim of widespread file sanitization is supported by declassified JIOA records, per The Nazi War on Cancer by Robert Proctor.
===1945–1946: Gehlen Organization and Nazi Recruitment===
[[Reinhard Gehlen]], Nazi intelligence chief, surrenders with microfilmed Soviet data, forming the [[Gehlen Organization]] under U.S. control. Supported by [[Allen Dulles]], [[Walter Bedell Smith]], and [[William J. Donovan]], Gehlen recruits SS and Gestapo officers, violating agreements with the Soviet Union.  The Gehlen Organization’s formation is historical, per Blowback by Christopher Simpson. U.S. intelligence prioritized anti-communism, per The CIA and the Cold War by John Prados.

===1946: Vatican Ratlines and Nazi Escape===
Allen Dulles and [[James Jesus Angleton]] allegedly collaborate with the Vatican to smuggle Nazi war criminals via ratlines to South America. A 1946 Treasury Department memo cites 200 million Swiss Francs hidden by the Vatican for Nazis.  Vatican ratlines are documented, per Unholy Trinity. 
===1947: CIA Established and Subversion===
The National Security Act of 1947 creates the CIA, with a vague “other functions” clause exploited by Allen Dulles, [[Frank Wisner]], and James Angleton for covert actions. The CIA’s covert role expansion is historical, per The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence by Victor Marchetti, Truman approved some covert operations, per Truman by David McCullough.

===1948: Italian Election Interference===
The CIA spends $350 million to influence Italy’s 1948 election, supporting the Christian Democrats with Nazi-looted funds via the Vatican. CIA funding of the Italian election is documented, per The CIA and the Marshall Plan by Sallie Pisani, but the $350 million figure and Nazi fund specifics are debated.
===1948: False Clay Telegram===
General Lucius D. Clay, Military Governor of Germany, sends a telegram (March 5, 1948) warning of imminent Soviet war, allegedly orchestrated by Lt. General Stephen Chamberlin to bolster Operation Paperclip funding. The scare revitalizes Paperclip, shifting focus to smuggling scientists to deny Soviet access.  The Clay telegram is historical, per The Berlin Airlift by Andrei Cherny. Paperclip’s expansion is confirmed, per Operation Paperclip.
===1948–1950: Project Bloodstone and Nazi Immigration===
Project Bloodstone (1948–1950) allows 250 Nazis annually into the U.S., including war criminals like Gustav Hilger and Nikolai Poppe, for intelligence and covert operations. The text claims Frank Wisner and Robert Lovett circumvented immigration laws.  Bloodstone’s existence is documented, per Blowback.
===1949: Lodge Act and Nazi Recruitment===
The Lodge Act allows 2,500 (later 12,500) alien nationals, including Nazis, to enlist in the U.S. Army with citizenship promises, forming the Green Berets. The Lodge Act’s recruitment is historical, per The Green Berets by Robin Moore.