Rheinhard Gehlen was a General in the German Army during the Second World War and served as Chief Intelligence Officer(FHO)Foriegn Armies East, on the Eastern Front obtaining accurate information about strength and capabilities of the Red Army. Which were often interpreted as defeatism in the Hitler Headquarters.
An important fact is the German High Command along with Adolf Hitler assessed the Red Army at 200 divisions prior to the German attack of June 1941. After 6 months into the war on the eastern front Gehlen had correctly identified 360 divisions. Which did give to many people in the intelligence field the lack of proper intelligence information to the High Command.
Gehlen was involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler's life in July 1944. He allowed many of the plotters to hold meetings at his section offices.
After the failed attempt on the life of Adolf Hitler - Gehlen's part in the operation was covered up and he was not arrested.
Gehlen had amassed files and an index system of the Red Army and their methods of communications and operations. This he used to barter his worth to the American Army when he was interviewed. The American Intelligence Officers were quick to establish the value of Gehlen and he went to work for the Americans during the cold war period. Many ex-gestapo officers were also employed in the Gehlen Organisation or the Org as it became known.
Although Gehlen was not a member of the nazi party he was known to be a fervent anti-communist, many of the Gestapo Officers who came to work for the Gehlen Organisation were sadistic officers and some were wanted war criminals. The Gehlen Organisation had become an haven for Ex-Gestapo Officers who were escaping justice. He also attended many funerals of staff officer generals in the 1970's. Gehlen escaped two attempts on his life in the late 40's and early 1950's - this confirmed to the Americans the high-value of their German spy master.
Gehlen was instrumental in the formation and structure of Mossad.
He also allowed his organisation to be used by ex-nazi's escaping to South America. It became known in the late 1970's via information from defecting KGB individuals...the Gehlen Organisation had been penetrated by the KGB and they had known a lot of details of this organisation.
Ten years after the Second World War the Gehlen Organisation was handed over to the West German Government and it became the BND or Federal Intelligence Service. Gehlen held the top post of President of BND.
He retired in 1968 - receiving a pension of the most senior civil servant grade and also (most likely) a pension from the C.I.A.
He died age 77 - in 1979.
In the Intelligence Sector Gehlen is considered to be one of the most efficient and capable...Cold War Spy Masters.
He received...the German Cross in Silver during WW2.
Federal Cross of Merit with Shoulder Ribbon in 1968.
also: Knight of Malta.