it Was one of the typical discussions that arise between the married couples: the woman felt nostalgia for their homeland and resented the constant absences from work of her husband.
In this case, however, the matrimonial litigation was on the verge of ruining one of the military operations the most important of the Second World War -the D-Day, as it is known to the Normandy landing – and change the course of history.
The husband in question was Joan Pujol Garcia, a double-agent, whose alias was agent Garbo.
Pujol, which has been considered “one of the most important agents of the Second World War”, provided intelligence to the nazis about the movements of the allies.
Then I was trying to convince the germans that the operation was to take place in June of 1944, which culminated with the liberation of the territories of Europe occupied by the nazis – would not start with undesembarco in Normandy but in Pas-de-Calais, France.
The Battle of Normandy in June 1944, culminated with the liberation of the territories of Europe occupied by the nazis | Photo: Getty
The secret documents of the intelligence service, british, MI5, just to get known, offer a fascinating look at the life of Pujol, and the activities “behind the scenes” of one of the eras most turbulent in Europe.
Nostalgia
In 1943, Pujol and his wife, Araceli, they lived as any other family in Harrow, northwest London.
He, however, was creating an intricate network of spies pretend that they were sending false information to the nazis, for whom Pujol has also worked with the code name of Arabel.
it was All part of a disinformation campaign orchestrated by the british whose objective was most important were the preparations for the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.
in order To protect the identity of the spy, and by the fears that Pujol’s family were to be recognized on the streets of London, were confined to stay in their home.
The mission of Pujol was sending false information to the nazis, mainly linked to the battle of Normandy | Photo: Getty
as shown by the secret documents, Araceli is not only felt frustrated by the restrictions imposed to her and her two children, whose movements were always controlled, also had nostalgia for his native land.
he Missed the Spanish food and was annoyed with the constant absences of her husband. And threatened to go to the Spanish embassy.
The time in which the lady Pujol faced the agent of MI5 in charge of the case of her husband was recorded in the secret documents.
“I don’t want to spend even five more minutes with my husband,” yelled Tomas Harris, the agent of MI5. “Even if you kill me, I’m going to go to the Spanish embassy”.
“Her”
Araceli stated that he would reveal all unless he is allowed to travel to visit his mother.
The agent Garbo, then, not only had to continue fooling the nazis, but also to his wife, to prevent this it will ruin your identity.
The agent Harris proposed to Pujol to tell his wife that he had been fired. But the dual agent is not believed that this was going to be enough to convince her.
Then invented, along with the MI5, the history of which had been arrested by them after an argument violent about the unfair treatment they were giving to Araceli.
Pujol had so much success in deceiving the germans that they even condecoraron with the Iron Cross for their efforts | Photo: Getty
According to the documents, after a “rapture hysterical” and an apparent suicide attempt, was allowed to Araceli visited her husband to a detention camp where they found him disheveled, with clothes of a prisoner.
After the meeting Araceli was convinced of the need to support the covert work of Pujol.
The british authorities were so concerned that the woman spoke with the officials of the Spanish embassy, which placed a police officer in the building to intercept it.
“People are annoying”
The legal adviser to MI5, major Edward Cussen, told Araceli that they had decided to release to her husband and allow him to continue his mission.
“(Cussen) reminded him (Araceli) I didn’t have time to lose with people annoying and that if you are returning to your name simply give the order that his incarceration”, noted Harris.
“She came home very escarmentada to wait for the return of her husband.”
German condecoraron to Pujol for their services | Photo: Getty
Thus, the dual agent contacted their operators German to tell you that the Normandy invasion would occur, but, crucially, Garbo managed to convince the nazis in Berlin that the so-called Operation Overlord was a hoax and that the real invasion of the allies would take place after and in another place on the French coast.
The delivery of false information led to the nazis deviated from the place where it occurred the true landing of the D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Pujol had so much success in deceiving the germans that they even condecoraron with the Iron Cross for his efforts.
see Also the british recognized his work and named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Pujol spent his last years in Venezuela where he died in 1988.
