Hillel Katz

This diagrams details the seven networks of the Rote Kapelle in France between 1940 and 1944. Katz was central to the running of the networks.

Katz met Trepper in Palestine, where his father was a teacher.[2] In Paris, Katz was one of the two main assistants to Trepper, along with Leon Grossvogel.[3] Katz was totally dedicated, both Trepper and the Communist cause. Trepper described him in a quote as: A mason, he knows how to handle the trowel and build a house.[2]

Katz was particularly interested in educational reform, specifically in the modern and anti-authoritarian approach advocated by Célestin Freinet as well as the works of Maria Montessori.[2] Katz devoted his spare time to the groups of young people that lived in Vitry-sur-Seine, where he organised hiking via the Camping and Culture Association ("Association Camping et Culture").[2]

During the late 1930's, Katz lived at 13 Quai Saint-Michel in Paris, where he was a member of the communist section of the 5th arrondissement of Paris.[4] During that period, Katz worked in a Racine bookshop where he managed the Youth fund.[4] The book shop was popular with militants and political refugees.[4]

In September 1939, Katz enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. He was captured and taken prisoner in June 1940 during the German advance, but managed to escape with Aldred Corbin by swimming across the River Somme.[4] After his escape, Katz started to use the alias André Dubois.[4] Corbin would become a chicken breeder and inventor of poultry feed.[4] Katz would later recruit him for the Trepper group, to store a radio transmitter in Giverny where his poultry farm was located. Corbin would later become the Commerical director of Simex.[4]

Katz was always cheerful and his direct and frank approach combined with his optimistic demeanour garnered him many friends.[2] These were useful in his work as a recruiter, while he worked at Simex, that enabled him to build relationships using his extensive contacts, to look for people who were Communists or favourably deposed to the group's work.[5] Katz, who knew many of Trepper's contacts and acquaintances, carried out many of Trepper operations personally.[6]

On 25 November 1942, Trepper was arrested by Gestapo officer Karl Giering[7] and immediately offered to collaborate with the Abwehr.[8] While Trepper gave up the names and addresses of most of the members of his own network,[9] the first people he betrayed were Katz and Grossvogel.[10]