Sorry to hear about your situation Morland. The central consulate in Dusseldorf were incredibly helpful with me, despite not budging on the requirement to send in my first passport for checking.
I guess the nightmare will come when I renew my first passport and still have several valid 10 year US Visas on it so will have to rubber band that to the new one and hold three passports (albiet two valid ones)... Shame they won't let you transfer the visa foils.