Heinrich Albert
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- For the composer, please see Heinrich Albert (composer).
Heinrich Friedrich Albert (February 12, 1874, Magdeburg, Province of Saxony – November 1, 1960) was a German lawyer who served as commercial attaché to the Imperial German Ambassador to the United States Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff during World War I. He was also the paymaster for German espionage and sabotage operations in the United States. In addition, he also arranged for forged passorts and documents for German-Americans who wanted to return to fight for the German armed forces.
Albert and Naval Intelligence Captain Franz von Rintelen established a cover firm called the Bridgeport Projectile Company to purchase and destroy munitions that would otherwise be shipped to the Allied Forces. This operation has become known as the Great Phenol Plot.
He was exposed as a spy because of his association with George Sylvester Viereck, the editor of The Fatherland, a pro-German publication, who was himself under surveillance. He left his briefcase, which contained sensitive documents, on a tram, and it was picked up by a counter-intelligence officer who was tailing him. The papers were published in the New York World. However, no official actions was taken against Albert, and he did not return to Germany until the U.S. entered the war.
Back in Germany, Albert was given responsibility for foreign assets in the country. After the war, he was charged with the sale of army surplus. He would become Treasury and Reconstruction Minister in Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno's government. In 1923, he was asked by Chancellor Gustav Stresemann to help form a government, but was unsuccessful.
He was a successful lawyer in Berlin, representing many foreign corporations. After World War II, he resumed his career in international business.
