 The statements demonstrated that Gerstner (unlike most of the staff at the Paris embassy) had never been a convinced Nazi, and they included several sworn statements attesting ways in which he had helped Resistance members during the war.The Soviets were convinced, and Gerstner was released from detention on 21 January 1946.Gerstner later claimed that while he was held in Soviet detention he had succeeded in communicating with his wife using code.