By the beginning of 1951, the belligerents of the Korean War had been locked in a brutal struggle since June of the previous year. Ground combat had seesawed up and down the peninsula, at first seeming to favor the North Koreans, then the United States, then the Chinese, and then finally no one. China’s momentous entry into the war as American forces approached its border had sent the United States reeling; only by an extreme effort had the Americans been able to stabilize the front and prevent a complete collapse. The winter cold now brought unrelenting misery and disease to the Chinese, grinding their progress to a sickly halt.
Equipped only with quilted cotton uniforms and plagued by inadequate provisions, they had suffered immensely, far more than their American antagonists. But the orders from Peking (not yet called Beijing) were clear: attack and evict the Americans from the peninsula now, with one final push to Pusan. The spring of 1951 promised to bring a massive series of coordinated Chinese-North Korean offensives.
It was against this background that the director of CIA operations in Japan, Hans Tofte, received an intelligence report of great interest. A well-placed source in the Indian government had reported that a cargo of battlefield medical supplies was soon to leave Bombay, aboard a Norwegian vessel chartered by the Chinese government, and was bound for some communist port in North Korea or Manchuria.
Should those supplies reach the enemy, Tofte was warned, they would provide an immense material aid to the coming communist offensives. Regardless of the cost, the ship had to be stopped. To make sure that Tofte got the message, his superiors gave him $1 million in cash to work with, a vast sum by the CIA standards of the day.
Tofte’s plan called for Chinese Nationalist forces, disguised as pirates, to intercept the ship near Taiwan (then called Formosa) and seize the cargo. Chiang Kai-shek, whom Tofte had known personally before the war, promised men and material aid to the plan. The operation went off nearly seamlessly; without a shot being fired, the entire cargo had been stolen, in what had appeared to be a “random act” of piracy on the high seas.
It was the type of daring operation—which the agency had code-named “TP Stole”—that the twentieth century’s greatest commando, Otto Skorzeny, would probably himself have admired. The success of the operation without doubt saved many lives: deprived of medical logistics, the Chinese were unable to mount many of the offensives that they had planned for in 1951.
Who was this Hans Tofte? Joseph C. Goulden’s excellent book Korea: The Untold Story of the War contains the most complete account of Tofte’s colorful career and exploits. Goulden interviewed Tofte in the early 1980s while researching his book and was amazed by the scope of Tofte’s exploits in the 1940s and 1950s. Yet he remains an obscure figure today.
Born in 1911 in Denmark to a maritime merchant family, Tofte had been stationed at age 19 to live in China as an employee of a Danish shipping firm that did business in east Asia. Living in Manchuria, he learned to speak Chinese, and gained an intimate knowledge of the country’s geography, political factions, and political personalities. The Second World War brought him back to Denmark, where he saw some service in the anti-German resistance.
Eventually escaping from Denmark, he enlisted with Allied American intelligence services–first the Office of Strategic Services (“OSS”) and later the regular US military–and participated in many operations, most notably running supplies to Chinese guerrillas fighting against Japan, and smuggling weapons under Mussolini’s nose to Tito’s partisans in Yugoslavia.
But the end of the war had come suddenly, and with it came a need to reinvent himself as a humdrum man of peace. America’s rapid post-1945 demobilization left little opportunities for a man of action like Tofte. Promises that his skills would be used in some new intelligence agency came to nothing, and so he took up the life of a middle-class small businessman, marrying an American woman and moving to Mason City, Iowa. Yet he promised his friends who remained in the intelligence business that, should another war break out, he would certainly come in with both feet.
Hans Tofte (on right)
He did not need to wait long. In June 1950, North Korean forces burst across the border into South Korea, and there was an immediate need for anyone with operational combat experience. He was restored to an equivalent position in the fledgling CIA, only just created, and sent to Japan to run special operations against communist forces in Korea. In Tokyo, he quickly found out that he and his detachment of CIA men faced severe institutional resistance from Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters.
MacArthur had always hated special operators, presumably because they were beyond his direct control; in MacArthur’s theatre, there could be no secrets kept from him. Tofte’s abilities to navigate the perilous bureaucracy became the stuff of legend. With deftness, cunning, and an incredible ability to scrounge resources from nothing, Tofte amassed a team of operators that pulled off some incredible missions during the war.
In the beginning, most of his efforts focused on establishing a covert network of guides in North Korea to help downed fliers escape to the coasts, where they might be rescued by a fleet of CIA-controlled “fishing boats” that patrolled coastal waters. But one of his more amusing coups came in late 1950, when the Soviet Union released a large number of Japanese prisoners who had been held in captivity since the end of the Second World War. The Soviets intended to use the issue to score sympathy points with Japanese labor unions, many of which in those days were communist sympathizers.
Anti-communist partisans ready for action
Tofte came up with the idea of making a movie about the abuse of Japanese prisoners in Soviet gulags. On a shoestring budget, he used the secret diary of a former Japanese prisoner as the basis for anti-Soviet propaganda film that caused anti-Russian feeling in Japan to reach new heights. It was so successful, in fact, that it actually turned a profit, netting Tofte at least $400,000 which was turned over to his superiors.
Another chance for distinction came early in the war when Tofte learned that the Chinese were using an underwater cable stretched across the Yellow Sea to communicate with its North Korean ally. If the cable could somehow be cut or disabled, it would force the enemy to rely more on wireless communications, which the National Security Agency could more easily monitor. From his prewar years of living in Manchuria, Tofte had a good general knowledge of where the cable left China; and assembling his fleet of “fishing boats,” he had them converge on the cable, raise it from the ocean floor, and sever it.
For all his distinguished service and incredible wartime feats, things eventually soured for Tofte in civilian life. Like many warriors, he discovered that the skills needed to survive in a wartime environment bear little resemblance to those needed in a peacetime bureaucracy. He remained in the employ of the CIA during the 1950s and 1960s until being unceremoniously booted out in 1966.
According to his obituary, which appeared in the Los Angeles Times of September 13, 1987, Tofte in 1966 had put his Washington D.C. home up for sale. Apparently without his knowledge, his real estate agent showed residence to a prospective buyer, who happened also to be a CIA officer. The buyer claimed to have seen “classified documents” in plain view in Tofte’s basement, and reported the matter for an investigation.
Although Tofte claimed that it was customary for high-ranking agency officials to take classified work home with them, the investigators were unconvinced, and Tofte was dismissed. So ended one of the most distinguished and colorful Cold War intelligence careers. It was a great pity that a man who had rendered such long service had been brought down by such an apparently middling transgression, but such are the ways of large organizations.
Here we see a theme played out countless times in history: a man of action, perhaps resented by his peers and having worn out his organizational welcome, finding himself given a final push out the door. Men of ability invariably arouse envy among those who prefer to lurk in obscurity behind the comfortable partitions of stifling bureaucracies. So it has always been.
Although the full circumstances of Tofte’s are not public record, we may still overlook this sad last chapter in his professional to the incredible achievements he produced in his operational roles. The handprint of Tofte will remain forever pressed on the history of Cold War covert operations. Those who wish to know his work need only read the history of the times.
The grammarian Aemilius Probus, writing during the reign of emperor Theodosius II in the early part of the fifth century A.D., is said to have composed this epigram at the end of one of his works, in a poignant exhortation to readers:
If he may ask for the author, then little by little reveal our name to the Lord. Let him know that I am Probus. In this work is the hand of my father, my grandfather, and myself…It is a happy hand that merits the Divine.
Tofte would have liked this. Great deeds produce their own garlands, and need no others.
Read More: The Age Of Commerce
Great story. I love hearing about covert operations of past generations.
I have been debating a piece on the great Otto Skorzeny, who was Hitler’s hand-picked problem solver. He conducted numerous operations towards the end of the war, including the rescue of Mussolini, preventing the surrender of Hungary (Operation Panzerfaust) and a few others.
The research and thought you put into your pieces is much appreciated by many ROK readers I assure you.
Thanks, John. My goals are to try to stimulate guys to think of things, or to inspire them to do things, that they might not have thought of before.
Let’s just not lose sight of the importance of thinking and questioning before acting. A lot of wartime heroes are brave men of action, but not brave men of thought.
The accusation was hearsay. However, I do believe that if true, the security violation was a valid one, not trumped up. Tofte’s claim of high-ranking spooks taking their work home with them may or may not have been true in Tofte’s time, I’m not sure (sounds like a stretch, but with no iphone in every pocket, it might be a fair security policy), but he still would have been responsible for ensuring that none of that material was available to others to observe in his home. It’s still possible he was “booted” by internal CIA politics, but it’s also equally possible that he was just careless and tired of peacetime bureaucracy.
…currently in the UK soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are put through years of trials and investigations for things like shouting at detainees when questioning them, touching one suspect on the face with a sheet of paper during interrogation and also in one case a soldier was reprimanded for blowing down the neck of a suspect while they were blind folded – it was decided this was an invasion of personal space. Often the detainees are guilty of executions, massacres and mutilations of Western Soldiers.
Haven’t times changed.
“MacArthur had always hated special operators, presumably because they were beyond his direct control; in MacArthur’s theatre, there could be no secrets kept from him. Tofte’s abilities to navigate the perilous bureaucracy became the stuff of legend. With deftness, cunning, and an incredible ability to scrounge resources from nothing, Tofte amassed a team of operators that pulled off some incredible missions during the war”
And oh look what has become of the CIA now. Torture. Black ops. Drug smuggling.
MacArthur was right to hate “special operators” and we’ll all be hating them when the smoke clears.
Not sure what you are identifying as “special operators,” but compared to conventional military, they are infinitely more capable human beings. And you won’t find a higher percentage of “red pill” philosophy than in a USSOF unit.
My involvement in the world of guns has put me in the same room as some “operators” and people who I would not be afraid to say were real life Rambos.
Only one of them, who was probably a red pill man but would not know that term himself, told me with a straight face that he would not hesitate to take a contract operating on US soil taking away people’s guns and putting them in camps, seperating families, and putting troublemakers “away”.
I said nothing, for my mind shifted into strange imagery of what I would do to him if we captured him. And I’m probably more level-headed to most people he would be dealing with.
Fortunately this fellow is rare most of the “operator as fuck” guys don’t buy into that. There is however a new growing younger generation of guys with the training and experience creds who don’t give a fuck and will do anything you pay them to. They are a lot like the Jack Payne character from “Shooter” complete with the same perverted vibes.
It certainly attracts sociopaths. Not doubting that. I knew plenty of guys that simply didn’t value any human life at all and a select few that genuinely enjoyed killing people. The vast majority have a very laissez-faire approach to life.
You mean like ROK occasional commenter Cody Stark?
Remember, our tax dollars end up paying these guys’ salaries one way or another.
There’s an optimistic idea that if the US military was ordered to do something unlawful that there would be a mass mutiny or a coup led by “Oathkeepers.” A few would, no doubt. But most would do as they were told.
Mercenaries that simply like killing.
Just finished Chris Kyle’s book. Hate to criticize the dead, but Chris and his wife fit almost all the manosphere tropes of blue pill “conservative” Churchians. Although his telling the girl he met in a bar that he drives an ice cream truck was a good red pill pickup line.
The guy is a sky crane and so is anyone else publicizing their actions. Including the supposed Bin Laden killer. And much of the SOF community feels that way. Most SEALs are fine, but they do have more of a culture of self-promotion than other organizations. BTW, some fun ones we used were Zoo animal trainer and Google Mapper.
Don’t forget about usurping democratically elected governments. But that’s just our betters keeping us proles in line.
Very, very good point.
Fair point, but don’t think this makes a saint of MacArthur, he had his own skeletons/problems.
The problem with specialized groups whose funding does not come under congressional scrutiny is they immediately become a tool of any sufficiently high official/executive/appointee with clearance to understand their operations/capabilities. I would wager that most of the time, the people involved are not evil themselves, but if your entire world/existence/career is intelligence, then you’re prone to tunnel vision to get a “win” for your side, especially if your superiors are harping you on it.
The only solution is to end large government bureaucracies. Military intelligence and obfuscation/spycraft do have their place in wartime. The fact that we have standing organizations that do this should tell you something about whether the politicians/elites of the world consider us in a “peaceful” time period or war.
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Agreed. I tend to think the infrastructure and beauacracy is corrupt trickle down policy
Agreed. I am a nonviolent person (at least or especially when it comes to invading and murdering strangers in a strange land), but there are levels of evil. The regular German soldiers were nothing compared to the SS. The CIA/NSA operate on an entirely different level of evil than the regular troops. Although I will point out that many of the disgusting torture treatments in Abu Gharaib came from national guard members.. people who are not career military who have real jobs back home. So there is always the capacity for evil, and this tends to exert itself in military endeavors, when morality is tested.
If I had to pick CIA torture or any other nation’s prisoner treatment, I’d pick CIA torture.
Then you, sir, are a masochist.
http://mic.com/articles/81233/norway-treats-its-inmates-like-people-the-result-is-a-system-america-can-only-dream-of
(And to be clear, just because one tortures slightly harder than another, does not make it any more just or moral; this type of reasoning begs the entire question of what is morality)
Excellent read.
Well done as usual, Quintus. Also, didn’t MacArthur demand secrecy because he suspected a leak in high office, since the communists seemed to know his plans in advance? Didn’t that leak turn out to be Kim Philby who had access to our top secrets before he defected to the Kremlin?
Philby was a mole in British intelligence. I don’t know if he had access to MacArthur’s plans. It seems MacArthur’s dislike of commando units was more because he was a military traditionalist.
Another awe inspiring post that motivates men to live with guile and guts. It certainly motivates me explore and tap the full potential of my manhood.
Regardless of what feminazi might spew from their sewer orifice keep in mind that being born as a man is a gift so live independently without being bogged down by shackles of society.
IMO there will be a time when this war needs to be ended… with the defeat of North Korea. Yes I am a warmonger. Deal with it.
I agree with you. The problem is that China won’t allow it…they use North Korea as an attack dog to rattle the US.
“Here we see a theme played out countless times in history: a man of
action, perhaps resented by his peers and having worn out his
organizational welcome, finding himself given a final push out the door.
Men of ability invariably arouse envy among those who prefer to lurk in
obscurity behind the comfortable partitions of stifling bureaucracies.
So it has always been.”
Law 1: Never outshine the master.
You need to disrespect in order to gain respect from our superiors. So I’ll outshine the master all I want, I’ll be a threat to him, and eventually take his crown. I’ve read the 48 laws of power as well, but I don’t think the first law is beneficial because you’re putting someone else on a pedestal.
@quintuscurtius:disqus
Quintus. What’s your opinion on the French Foreign Legion. Are they what they are cracked up to be?
And what about special forces in general nowadays with the current cultural environment?
Titan:
I have very little direct knowledge of them. An fellow officer I knew at Camp Lejeune had spent some time with the Legion’s jungle warfare school in French Guiana, and told me some crazy stories. So, I have heard a lot of hard-core anecdotes. They are tough guys and they’ve earned every bit of their reputation, in my opinion.
But they don’t really do joint ops with other Western nations unless they really have to. The French are kind of on their own program, more or less. The Legion goes wherever the French gov’t says to go, but Africa and the Middle East are still the primary places for their work.
I have seen a few pretty good TV specials on them, and the training they undergo. I think you can find them on YouTube.
Interesting that the French Foreign Legion should come up in a topic such as this. Based on what I know (which is admittedly third-hand, so take it for what it’s worth), its members very often suffer from the same kind of peacetime adaptation problems as the protagonist of this article. Serving a five-year term in the Legion makes you eligible for French citizenship, but most who serve end up re-enlisting or just staying in it forever, having had the Legion and its ways too deeply ingrained in them.
Very interesting Quintus Curtius! Merci pour le texte!
I like the article; a valuable piece which points in the right direction. Gives a sense of dedication, direction and ingenuity. But with that last quote, I am won over. I raise my glass to this work ! Thank you Quintus!
Tofte is known as the second best killer machine handmade in WW2. His knife skills were awesome and this man did the job he had to do.