Reinhard Gehlen (1902-1979) was a Nazi spymaster, one of Hitler's chief intelligence officers. In 1942 he was promoted to colonel, and appointed Chief of Foreign Armies East. He was in charge of intelligence gathering on the Soviet Union. After World War II, Gehlen was given immunity to Nazi war crimes tribunals, in return for working for the CIA. Working for the United States, the Gehlen Organization was formed in Munich, made up mostly of former Nazi intelligence officers. In 1956 he became director of the BND, West Germany's intelligence agency, a post he held until 1968.
Gehlen was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit by the Knights of Malta in 1948.