Agent Zigzag
Page 34
For a secretive organization, MI5 has been a model of openness: not only providing access to hitherto classified files, but assisting in the search for additional material. To the other individuals who prefer not to be named: You know who you are, and how grateful I am.
Robert Thomson, Keith Blackmore, Anne Spackman, Daniel Finkelstein, and all my colleagues on the Times have been supportive and tolerant, and occasionally both. Michael Evans was typically generous with his expertise. Denise Reeves performed several miracles of picture research.
John Glusman has been, as always, a delight to work with.
Finally, my thanks and love to Kate Muir, as always, for her support, patience, and fine editorial judgment. This book is dedicated to her.
NOTES
Unless otherwise noted, all interrogations are of Chapman by the MI5 officer named.
Where three or more subsequent note entries refer to the same source, only the first and last entries from the main text are shown as prompts. Any comments not taken directly from the source material quoted are the author’s own.
Chapter One. The Hotel de la Plage
1 “with all the trimmings”: Interview with Leonard Maxie, former waiter at Hotel de la Plage, Jersey, July 2006.
2 “in the film business”: Interview with Betty Chapman, Amersham, November 25, 2005.
3 “I shall go”: Ibid.
4 “How would you like to go”: Edward Chapman, The Real Eddie Chapman Story (London, 1966), p. 32. Hereafter cited as Chapman.
5 “prince of the underworld”: Robin Stephens, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.
6 “off the rails”: Interview with Betty Chapman, November 25, 2005.
7 “jail-crop haircut”: Chapman, p. 27.
8 “three days doing crowd work”: Laurie C. Marshall report, January 15, 1943; MI5 ref. 133B. This file, newly released by MI5, has been allocated to KV2 457. Hereafter, material in this file will be cited as KV2 457 (additional).
9 “wire and whipcord body”: Frank Owens, foreword to ibid., p. 9.
10 “I mixed with all types”: Ibid., p. 27.
11 “behaving in a manner”: Police record, KV2 455.
12 “with good looks”: Owens, foreword, p. 9.
13 “women on the fringes”: R. “Tin Eye” Stephens, Camp 020: MI5 and the Nazi Spies (London, 2000), p. 218. Hereafter cited as Camp 020.
14 “infected a girl of 18”: Ibid.
15 “best cracksmen”: KV2 457.
16 “cool, self-possessed”: Chapman, p. 28.
17 “shivering with fear”: Interrogation by Ronald Reed, January 7, 1943, KV2 457.
18 “He was able”: Interview with Terence Young, January 22, 1943, KV2 458.
19 “He is a crook”: Ibid.
20 “I don’t go along”: Sunday Telegraph, March 23, 1963.
21 “went back to ‘work’ ”: Paul Backwell report, KV2 456.
22 “Be prepared for trouble”: Jersey Evening Post, February 13, 1939.
Chapter Two. Jersey Gaol
1 “done with deliberation”: Jersey Evening Post, February 14, 1939.
2 “dangerous criminal who had failed”: Ibid.
3 “dreary little cage”: Anthony Charles Faramus, The Faramus Story (London, n.d.), p. 12. Hereafter cited as Faramus.
4 the governor’s personal batman: Minutes of the Jersey prison board, Jersey Historical Archive.
5 “keep an eye on Chapman”: Ibid.
6 “At that moment”: Warder Packer’s evidence to Jersey prison board, Jersey Historical Archive.
7 “Do you know”: Jersey Evening Post, July 6, 1939. 16–18
8 “interested in quarries” to “Your name is Chapman”: Ibid.
9 a free-for-all ensued: Daily Express, July 8, 1939.
10 “This appeared to distress”: Jersey Evening Post, July 6, 1939.
11 “gross misconduct”: Minutes of the Jersey prison board, Jersey Historical Archive.
12 “You have never”: Ibid.
Chapter Three. Island at War
1 “Nationalism as a God”: H. G. Wells, Outline of History (London, 1920), p. 209.
2 “sort of dispossessed”: Faramus, p. 10.
3 “Look, we’ve reason”: Interrogation, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
4 “If I could work a bluff”: Interrogation, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
5 “It all sounds fine talk”: Chapman, pp. 48–49.
6 “His whole theme”: Faramus, p. 29.
7 “tale of loathing”: Ibid., p. 30.
8 “The British police”: Interrogation, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
Chapter Four. Romainville
1 “stank of drink”: Faramus, p. 39.
2 “How would you”: Ibid., p. 36.
3 “Alles verboten”: The Trial of German Major War Criminals, vol. 6 (London, 1946), p. 141.
4 “Madame prisonniers”: Faramus, p. 40.
5 “professional denouncer”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.
6 “It wasn’t safe to talk”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
7 “were real love affairs”: Faramus, p. 43.
8 “the scholarly, staid”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 28, 1943, KV2 458.
9 “What happened?”: Faramus, p. 48.
10 “All right for you”: Ibid., p. 37.
11 “Supposing you didn’t feel like coming back”: Faramus, p. 49.
12 “You’d have to trust”: Ibid.
13 “They’ll probably send you”: Faramus, p. 37.
14 “simply a trained brute”: Chapman, p. 62.
15 “a man of understanding”: Ibid., p. 62.
16 “no use”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.
17 “In times of war”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
18 “half-threat”: Ibid.
19 “Supposing you slip up”: Faramus, p. 37.
20 “Goodbye and good luck”: Ibid., p. 49.
21 “You are among friends”: Chapman, p. 64.
22 “Welcome to the Villa”: Ibid., p. 66.
Chapter Five. Villa de la Bretonnière
1 “one of the most important”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
2 “respectable business man”: Ibid.
3 “surprisingly soft”: Ibid.
4 “Look, you will see”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.
5 “absolutely first-class”: T. A. Robertson (attributed), report of SOE training course, KV4 172.
6 “by the time of the fall”: John Curry, The Security Service, 1908–1945: The Official History (London, 1999), KV4 1–3.
7 “There is a well-defined”: Cited in Emily Jane Wilson, “The War in the Dark: The Security Service and the Abwehr, 1940–1944,” Ph.D. diss., Cambridge University, 2003, p. 42.
8 “typically Prussian neck”: Ibid.
9 “Suspect everyone”: Evelyn Waugh, cited in ibid.
10 “was left with the”: Curry, Security Service.
11 “Chiefly line of Clan”: Letter by Walter Praetorius, 1979, on Thomas family website.
12 “kind, gentle type”: Walter Praetorius file, KV2 524.
13 “rabid Nazi”: Ibid.
14 “superiority of the German”: Ibid.
15 “might be trained”: ISOS intercept, February 2, 1942, KV2 456.
Chapter Six. Dr. Graumann
1 “He just got hold”: Interrogation, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
2 “pocket money”: Ibid.
3 “He liked life”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
4 “Had a good trip?”: Interrogation, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
5 “What do you want”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.
6 “take it out and light a cigarette”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
7 “Good God!”: Interrogation by Robin St
ephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
8 “Look here, if you”: Ibid.
9 “more or less reckless”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 28, 1943, KV2 458.
10 “Mary had a little lamb”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.
11 “These were things”: Ibid.
12 “terribly English accent”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 3, 1943, KV2 456.
13 “very good private tutor”: Interrogation by Ronald Reed, December 21, 1943, KV2 456.
14 “I’ll show you a photograph”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 3, 1943, KV2 456.
15 “really good brandy”: Chapman, p. 66.
16 declared the experience “uncomfortable”: Interview with Ingeborg von Gröning, Bremen, May 22, 2006.
17 “He was delightful”: Ibid.
18 “illicit association”: Gladys von Gröning, immigration file, HO 405/16169.
19 “He could mix in”: Interview with Ingeborg von Gröning, Bremen, March 22, 2006.
20 “Home corner”: Chapman, p. 73.
21 “German spirit”: Ibid., p. 71.
22 “Heil Hitler”: Ibid., p. 69.
23 “the hopes of every man”: Ibid., p. 72.
24 uniforms “of every kind”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
25 “a fairly high bug”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 19, 1942, KV2 455.
26 “one of our best men”: Ibid.
27 “like a gigolo”: Report by Ronald Reed, January 1, 1943, KV2 457.
28 “an old Gestapo man”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
29 “black senders”: Ibid.
30 the code was “unbreakable”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459.
31 “my little mottoes”: Interrogation, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
32 “It is very cold”: ISOS intercept, October 20, 1942, KV2 460.
33 “A man went”: Ibid., October 23, 1942.
34 “What silly business”: Ibid., October 14, 1942.
35 “I had everything”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
Chapter Seven. Codebreakers
1 “Dear France”: ISOS intercept, October 13, 1942, KV2 460.
2 “brilliant guesswork”: Peter Twinn, in F. H. Hinsley and Alan Stripp, eds., Codebreakers: The Inside Story of Bletchley Park (Oxford, 2001).
3 “It’s amazing how people smile”: Cited in Penelope Fitzgerald, The Knox Brothers (London, 2001), p. 98.
4 “My Golden Eggs”: Cited in Emily Jane Wilson, “The War in the Dark: The Security Service and the Abwehr, 1940–1944,” Ph.D. diss., Cambridge University, 2003.
5 “By means of the double-cross”: J. C. Masterman, The Double-Cross System in the War, 1939–1945 (London, 1972), p. 3.
6 “Immensely personable”: Address by Christopher Harmer at memorial service for T. A. Robertson at Pershore Abbey, Worcestershire Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, London.
7 “Tar was in no sense”: J. C. Masterman, On the Chariot Wheel: An Autobiography (Oxford, 1975), p. 219.
8 “involved a great deal”: Harmer address.
9 “Passion Pants”: Ibid.
10 “almost obsessively anxious”: Masterman, On the Chariot Wheel, p. 108.
11 “My predominant feeling”: Ibid., p. 114.
12 “real genius”: Cited in Wilson, “War in the Dark,” p. 105.
13 At 58, St James’s Street: Masterman, On the Chariot Wheel, p. 377.
14 “Some had to perish”: Masterman, Double-Cross System, p. 54.
15 “certain persons who”: Ibid., p. 1.
16 “see with the eyes”: Ibid., p. 22.
17 “is prone to be vain”: Ibid., p. 24.
18 “principle of generosity”: Ibid., p. 25.
19 “of high intelligence”: Masterman, On the Chariot Wheel, p. 219. 69 “We were obsessed”: Ibid.
20 “Could any intelligence service”: Ewen Montagu, Beyond Top Secret Ultra (London, 1977), p. 134.
21 “now prepare sabotage material”: Ronald Reed notes of ISOS intercepts, June 30, 1942, KV2 456.
22 “any connection with the enemy”: Ibid., July 28, 1942.
23 only succeeded “in making corrupt characters”: Ronald Reed report, August 20, 1941, KV2 455.
24 “When he arrives”: RSS report, September 19, 1941, KV2 455.
25 “practically every day”: Memo, KV2 455.
26 “learned to recognise”: Ibid.
27 “Is my message decipherable?”: Ronald Reed report, August 20, 1941, KV2 455.
Chapter Eight. The Mosquito
1 “to shoot his way out”: Ronald Reed report, February 8, 1942, KV2 458.
2 “I was suffering more”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.
3 “made all the right”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
4 “Monsieur Ferdinand”: Ibid.
5 “a tremendous bloodbath”: Interrogation by Major D. B. “Stimmy” Stimson, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
6 “very cleverly planned”: Ibid.
7 “courage and daring”: KV2 457.
8 “full-scale attack”: Paul Backwell report, December 30, 1942, KV2 456.
9 “terrific Blitz”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
10 “You can imagine”: Ibid.
11 “It is rather awkward”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.
12 “He insisted on exact proportions”: Ibid.
13 “like bloody monks”: Interrogation, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
14 “There was a hell of a lot”: Ibid.
15 “undesirable emotional activity”: ISOS intercept, October 2, 1942, KV2 460.
16 “nihilistic” frame of mind: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 456.
17 “Could something be done”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.
18 “impossible”: Ibid.
19 “if he could return”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 456.
20 “I don’t suppose”: Memo, KV2 456.
21 “It makes me furious”: See A Short History of the DH98 Mosquito, bbc.co.uk.
22 “preliminary detailed”: ISOS intercepts, October 12, 1942, KV2 460.
23 “Things seem at last”: Memo, September 24, 1942, KV2 456.
Chapter Nine. Under Unseen Eyes
1 “terrific Chrysler”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
2 “the chief wanted”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
3 “Let Fritz go first” to “Each time I looked”: Ibid.
4 “Americans?”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.
5 “No, it’s just two”: Ibid.
6 “Well, we would like”: Ibid.
7 “a big mission”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
8 “in all probability”: Memo, KV2 456.
9 “West End”: Ibid.
10 “You have remembered”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 3, 1943, KV2 456.
11 “I am highly satisfied”: Ibid.
12 “exploding in all directions”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
13 “in a rotary motion”: Interrogation by R. Short, December 18, 1943, KV2 455.
14 “a faint greeny color”: Ibid.
15 “like a mosaic”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 3, 1943, KV2 456.
16 “Look, don’t think”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456. 84–5
17 “If you feel you’re not” to “I don’t think”: Ibid.
18 “Fritz is spiritually”: ISOS intercepts, September 26, 1942, KV2 460.
19 “Show Fritz photos”: Memo, KV2 456.
20 “safer than anywhere else”: Ibid.
21 “new operational objective”: Ronald Reed not
e, ISOS intercept, December 7, 1942, KV2 456.
22 “made familiar in every detail”: ISOS intercepts, December 7, 1942, KV2 460.
23 most appeared “apathetic”: Interrogation, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.
24 “There were no scenes”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
25 “Why should I send them”: Chapman, p. 103.
26 “Rendez-vous with so-and-so”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.
27 “very small fry”: Ibid.
28 “I think it was to see”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
Chapter Ten. The Drop
1 “visibly relieved”: Ronald Reed note, ISOS intercept, December 10, 1942, KV2 456.
2 “some place further inland”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
3 “British red tape”: Eddie Chapman statement, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.
4 “Young couple require”: Memo, KV2 455.
5 “nuisance work”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, 2.1.43, KV2 456.
6 “Take your time”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.
7 “Of course our agents”: Ibid.
8 “Walter is ready to go”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.
9 “give as little information”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.