Churchill's German Spy: Revelations on Appeasement, Operation Torch and Nazi Intelligence from Double Agent Harlequin

HARLEQUIN was a short-lived MI5 double agent who provided insights into the Appeasement process, the Czech crisis, Franco-American businessman, espionage activities, Admiral Canaris, and the German intelligence services. He revealed the German Armistice Commissions involvement in espionage and their links to the Abwehr.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Harlequin's career as a double agent for MI5 was relatively brief, lasting only a few months in 1943. Despite this, during that time, he provided invaluable insights into a range of significant events and activities. These included his observations of the various parties involved in the Appeasement process in 1938, the Czech crisis of 1939, the enterprises of a Franco-American businessman who hosted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's marriage in France, the espionage activities of an aristocratic German family, Admiral Canaris, the head of the Abwehr, and many of the Abwehr's personalities with whom he had come into contact or had known about. He also exposed the involvement of the German Armistice Commissions in espionage and their links to the Abwehr.

MI5 shared this intelligence with the FBI and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) before Harlequin requested to be returned to American custody, where he remained for the rest of the war. In order to evaluate his effectiveness as a double agent, this essay will rely on newly-released official files as primary sources.

Harlequin's insights into these various aspects of the Second World War were crucial in helping to understand the complex web of espionage and intrigue that was prevalent at the time. His ability to infiltrate and gather information from these different organizations and individuals demonstrated his skill and dedication as a double agent.

However, it is important to note that Harlequin's career as a double agent was not without its risks. He was operating in a highly dangerous and unpredictable environment, and his actions could have had serious consequences for himself and those around him. His decision to return to American custody at the end of the war was a testament to his understanding of the risks involved and his commitment to the cause of defeating **** Germany.

In conclusion, while Harlequin's career as a double agent for MI5 was short-lived, it was nonetheless significant in terms of the information he provided and the insights he gained into the activities of the German intelligence services. His effectiveness as a double agent will be examined using newly-released official files as a primary source, and his story serves as a reminder of the bravery and dedication of those who worked to defeat **** Germany during the Second World War.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 166 x 242 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399053846