Bernard Gufler

Bernard Anthony Gufler (1 June 1903 – 6 September 1973) was a distinguished American diplomat and member of the United States Foreign Service.

[1] He was born on 1 June 1903, in Lawrence city, Douglas County, Kansas, United States[2] to a Catholic family.

He joined the United States Foreign Service in 1929 and served in postings in Canada, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania during the years before and during World War II[5] and was US chief of mission in Berlin, East Germany, during 1955–58.

[11] During the peak of the Cold War in Berlin, he is remembered by other senior diplomats as the 'de facto ambassador' , in fact running the United States mission effectively, in 'counterpoise' to Soviet actions and intentions.

[12][13] About his role in South Asia[14] a Pakistani senior diplomat commented that his services were 'invaluable' in promoting the United States' positive image and winning people 'towards realizing the Cold War imperatives' as espoused by the Americans.