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Agent Zigzag

Page 35

by Ben MacIntyre


  10 “a number of small acts”: Ibid.

  11 “various people who”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  12 “Joli Albert”: Ibid.

  13 an extended “holiday”: Camp 020 report, July 11, 1944, KV2 459.

  14 “in the first or second row”: Ronald Reed report, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.

  15 “Don’t you worry”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  16 “it was hard to tell”: Faramus, p. 74.

  17 “It was hard to believe”: Ibid., p. 78.

  18 “If you do this”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  19 “I have rather”: Ibid.

  20 “anything which could”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.

  21 “You don’t mind”: Ibid.

  22 “if there was any trouble”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  23 the only “home”: Chapman, p. 107.

  24 “genuine comradeship”: Ibid.

  25 “Reichsbank, Berlin”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  26 “You have beautiful planes”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  27 “of the larynx type”: Interrogation by D. B. Stimson, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  28 “evade attack”: Ibid.

  29 “We shall be waiting”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  30 “Far from being nervous”: Interrogation by D. B. Stimson, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  Chapter Eleven. Martha’s Exciting Night

  1 “Keep a close watch”: Memo, KV2 455.

  2 “very soon be going”: Ronald Reed notes on ISOS intercepts, KV2 456.

  3 Agent X is probably: Memo, KV2 455.

  4 “It may be of intelligence”: RSS memo, October 8, 1942, KV2 455.

  5 “too many possibilities”: Memo, KV2 455.

  6 “flying column” to “pretend to be looking”: Ibid.

  7 “fully fledged saboteur”: Memo, October 1, 1942, KV2 455.

  8 “We quite realise”: Memo, October 4, 1942, KV2 455.

  9 “Who is it?”: Police report, KV2 455.

  10 “Yes,” the man said: Ibid.

  11 “just arrived from France”: Report of Sergeant J. Vail, KV2 455.

  12 very polite: Ibid.

  13 “George Clarke will do”: Report of Deputy Chief Constable Ely, KV2 455.

  14 “mentally and physically spent”: Robin Stephens report, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  Chapter Twelve. Camp 020

  1 “A breaker is born”: Camp 020, p. 107.

  2 “Italy is a country”: Ibid., p. 306.

  3 “weeping and romantic”: Camp 020, p. 54.

  4 “shifty Polish Jews”: Ibid., p. 73.

  5 “unintelligent” Icelanders: Ibid., p. 295.

  6 it had “lunatic cells ready”: Ibid., p. 40.

  7 “No chivalry”: Ibid., p. 19.

  8 “It is a question”: Ibid., p. 71.

  9 “Your name is Chapman”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  10 “That was plain, unvarnished blackmail”: Robin Stephens report, December 18, 1942, KV2 544.

  11 “with some bitterness”: Ibid.

  12 “blow hot–blow cold”: Camp 020, p.

  13 “They treated you pretty well”: See interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  14 “I don’t know what”: Cited in Ewen Montagu, Beyond Top Secret Ultra (London, 1977), p. 108.

  15 “No spy, however astute”: Camp 020, p. 105.

  16 “Physically and mentally”: Ibid., p. 58.

  17 “It is quite clear”: Ronald Reed memo, December 21, 1942, KV2 456.

  18 “He is a hostage”: Interrogation by E. Goodacre, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  19 “That was a private letter”: Interrogation by Robin Stephens, December 17, 1942, KV2 455.

  20 “natural inexactitudes”: Robin Stephens memo, KV2 455.

  21 “confessed to an experiment”: Camp 020, p. 218.

  22 “Today there is no trace”: Robin Stephens report, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  23 “one of the principal”: Ronald Reed notes on ISOS intercepts, July 28, 1942, KV2 456.

  24 “On no occasion”: T. A. Robertson memo, December 24, 1942, KV2 456.

  25 “today was the supposed start”: Eddie Chapman statement, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  26 “It is important”: Ibid.

  27 “Dr. Graumman especially”: Ibid.

  28 “in sharper focus”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459.

  29 Mon Commandant: Eddie Chapman to Robin Stephens, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  30 “If Chapman is to be believed”: Robin Stephens report, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  31 “hatred for the Hun”: Ibid.

  32 “As I figure it out”: Robin Stephens report, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  33 “he will go sour” to “My opinion”: Ibid.

  34 “In our opinion”: Joint statement by interrogators, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  35 “We have chosen”: T. A. Robertson memo, December 18, 1942, KV2 455.

  Chapter Thirteen. 35 Crespigny Road

  1 “Ah, Mr. Reed” to “I’m going underground”: Transcript of videotaped interview with Ronnie Reed, 1994, courtesy of Nicholas Reed.

  2 “humble genius”: Interview with Charles Chilton, October 5, 2006.

  3 “lurid past”: Ronald Reed memo, December 19, 1942, KV2 455.

  4 “he would have to work”: Ibid.

  5 “Mon Commandant”: Eddie Chapman to Robin Stephens, December 19, 1942, KV2 455.

  6 “rather weakly”: Ronald Reed report, December 20, 1942, KV2 455.

  7 FFFFF HAVE ARRIVED: Ibid.

  8 “definitely Fritz”: ISOS intercepts, September 20, 1942, KV2 460.

  9 “recognised his style”: Ronald Reed notes on ISOS intercepts, KV2 456.

  10 FFFFF GET MORRIS: Ronald Reed notes, KV2 456, and ISOS intercepts, December 21, 1942, KV2 460.

  11 THANKS FOR MESSAGE: Ronald Reed notes, KV2 456.

  12 “Zigzag’s powers of observation”: Ronald Reed report, KV2 458.

  13 “the Germans had not a photograph”: Memo, KV2 456.

  14 “gratuitous” sharing of information: Memo from John Masterman to T. A. Robertson, 17.12.42, KV2 455.

  15 “a very good means”: Report, December 19, 1942, KV2 455.

  16 “It does seem rather extraordinary”: T. A. Robertson memo, January 30, 1943, KV2 458.

  17 “something queer was taking place”: Air Ministry report, January 7, 1943, KV2 458.

  18 “They pandered to his vanity”: Robin Stephens report, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  19 “a dangerous criminal”: T. A. Robertson briefing, December 21, 1942, KV2 456.

  20 “The success of this operation” to “stand his round”: Ibid.

  21 “who had looked after him”: Note, KV2 456.

  22 “permanent companions”: Ibid.

  23 “Conversation was strained”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 458.

  24 “settle in”: to “a mine of information”: Ibid.

  25 “often speaks of various methods”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 456.

  26 “what it was that made him”: Allan Tooth notes, KV2 456.

  27 “In Germany” to “I can only glean”: Ibid.

  28 “I think we should”: Ronald Reed memo, December 26, 1942, KV2 456.

  29 “Running a team”: J. C. Masterman, The Double-Cross System in the War, 1939–1945 (London, 1972), p. 90.

  30 “I had, with my memories”: J. C. Masterman, On the Chariot Wheel: An Autobiography (Oxford, 1975), p. 212.

  31 “made defeat seem impossible”: Ibid.

  32 “the rabble of the universe”: Robin Stephens report, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  33 “most fascinating case”: Ibid.

 
; 34 “What manner of man”: Camp 020, p. 105.

  35 PLEASE COME: Ronald Reed report, KV2 456.

  36 “We should know”: Ronald Reed report, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.

  37 “Eddie had moods”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 458.

  38 “a method not calculated”: Reed memo December 23, 1942, KV2 456.

  39 CALL AT 1000: Reed report, February 10, 1942, KV2 458.

  40 “My God, I believe”: Reed report, December 28, 1942, KV2 456.

  Chapter Fourteen. What a Way Out

  1 “He was non-judgmental”: Harmer, op. cit.

  2 “From the fact”: Ronald Reed report, December 28, 1942, KV2 456.

  3 “undoubtedly have done” to “They may forget”: Ibid.

  4 “Message of 14 letters”: ISOS intercepts, December 27, 1942, KV2 460.

  5 the mistake was merely “annoying”: Ronald Reed report, December 28, 1942, KV2 456.

  6 “Preparations should now”: Undated note, KV2 456.

  7 “silly joking messages”: Laurie Marshall interrogation, December 24, 1942, KV2 456.

  8 “The men must be” to “a little sinister”: Ibid.

  9 “We should do all”: John Masterman memo, December 26, 1942, KV2 456.

  10 “the principle of verisimilitude”: J. C. Masterman, The Double-Cross System in the War, 1939–1945 (London, 1972), p. 19.

  11 “also conveyed an air”: Frank Ruskell, cited in A Short History of the DH98 Mosquito.

  12 “He seemed more nervous”: Paul Backwell report, KV2 456.

  13 “would completely ruin”: Cover story narrative, KV2 459.

  14 FFFFF WENT DOWN: Memo, KV2 456.

  15 PLEASE SEND SPECIFIC: Ronald Reed report, KV2 458.

  16 PLEASE GIVE NAME: Memo, KV2 456.

  17 FFFFF LANDED TWO MILES: Ibid.

  18 “well known and accepted”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 458.

  19 “Eddie soon began” to “terribly restless”: Ibid.

  20 “feelings of nihilism”: Allan Tooth notes, KV2 456.

  21 “His inherent boisterousness”: Ronald Reed report, KV2 459.

  22 “quite impossible to run him”: Minutes of meeting, December 31, 1942, KV2 456.

  23 “cloistered life”: T. A. Robertson report, January 11, 1943, KV2 457.

  24 “very pale”: Allan Tooth notes, KV2 456.

  25 “reference to secret inks”: Ibid.

  26 “I have another”: Ronald Reed report, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.

  27 “I believe he has”: Ibid.

  Chapter Fifteen. Freda and Diane

  1 “He wants to provide”: Paul Backwell report, KV2 456.

  2 this was “impossible”: Ibid.

  3 “know of his existence”: Laurie Marshall report, January 15, 1943, MI5 ref. 133B, KV2 457 (additional).

  4 “Personal matters”: Paul Backwell report, KV2 456.

  5 “My sources of information”: Handwritten note, accompanying Paul Backwell note of January 12, 1943, KV2 457 (additional).

  6 “He feels his present position”: Paul Backwell note, January 12, 1943, KV2 457 (additional).

  7 “The question of Freda”: Ibid.

  8 “if she bore any malice”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  9 “truculent and moody” to “feminine relaxation”: Ibid.

  10 “Luckily there was a pub”: Paul Backwell report, KV2 458.

  11 “just back from abroad”: Ibid.

  12 “There was one amazing thing”: Ibid.

  13 “cat-burglar”: Laurie Marshall report, January 7, 1943, KV2 457(additional).

  14 “slightly drunk”: Allan Tooth notes, January 7, 1943, KV2 457 (additional).

  15 “some jocular remark”: Ibid.

  16 “The man apologised”: Paul Backwell report, KV2 458.

  17 “I suppose it is natural”: Ronald Reed report, January 7, 1943, KV2 457 (additional).

  18 “so far our inquiries”: Ronald Reed memo, January 13, 1943, KV2 457 (additional). 143

  19 “it was not in the interests”: Laurie Marshall report, January 15, 1943, MI5 ref. 133B, KV2 457 (additional).

  20 “talk to him” to “folly of expressing”: Laurie Marshall report, January 23, 1943, KV2 458.

  21 FFFFF DISGUSTED: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  22 “not to reap”: Ibid.

  23 “new arrangements”: Ibid.

  24 “Kalium”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.

  25 “This kept Eddie busy”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 458.

  26 “In this frame of mind”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  27 “tends to break down”: Laurie Marshall report, January 15, 1943, MI5 ref. 133B, KV2 457 (additional). 146–7

  28 “serious and intimate” to “Do you consider”: Ibid.

  29 “a most valuable character study”: Ronald Reed handwritten note on ibid.

  30 “He would now join”: Ronald Reed report, January 1, 1943, KV2 456.

  31 “part of the household”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 458.

  32 “quite content to limit” to “to get Freda up”: Ibid.

  33 “Eddie, we’re on the air” to “Oh no, not just fifteen minutes”: Interview with Ronnie Reed, 1994, Nicholas Reed.

  34 “Freda must have got very used”: Paul Backwell notes, KV2 458.

  35 “Although she knew”: Ibid.

  36 “Since he has seen Freda”: Allan Tooth notes, 26.1.43, KV2 458.

  37 “his capacity to live”: Allan Tooth notes, KV2 456.

  38 “would fulfill his need”: Ibid.

  39 “Previously, he had”: Allan Tooth notes, January 26, 1943, KV2 458.

  40 “What a man!”: Ronald Reed handwritten note on ibid.

  41 “It is extraordinary”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  42 “this resolution provides”: Ibid.

  Chapter Sixteen. Abracadabra

  1 “look, from the air”: Charles Fraser-Smith, The Secret War of Charles Fraser-Smith (London, 1981), p. 121.

  2 “danger that the Germans”: John Masterman handwritten note on Ronald Reed memo, January 7, 1943, KV2 457.

  3 “vast hole”: Fraser-Smith, Secret War.

  4 FFFFF WALTER READY: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459.

  5 “extremely difficult”: John Masterman memo, January 27, 1943, KV2 458.

  6 “publish a small paragraph” to “not having taken place”: Ibid.

  7 “meant him deliberately publishing”: John Masterman memo, January 27, 1943, KV2 458.

  8 “the censors”: Ibid.

  9 FFFFF ARRANGEMENTS: Ronald Reed report, KV2 458.

  10 “to see if high high altitude”: Colonel Sir John Turner memo, KV2 458.

  11 “something had occurred”: Ronald Reed memo, KV2 458.

  12 “inky blackness”: Ronald Reed report, January 31, 1943, KV2 458.

  13 “in a state of great excitement” to “scene of destruction”: Ibid

  14 “masterpiece”: Fraser-Smith, Secret War.

  15 FFFFF WALTER BLOWN: Ronald Reed report, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  16 “champagne all round”: Robin Stephens report, January 7, 1942, KV2 457.

  17 CONGRATULATIONS: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  18 “The Security Service”: T. A. Robertson memo, January 11, 1943, KV2 457.

  19 “to depart in a blaze of glory”: Ronald Reed Report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  20 had been “vague”: Ibid.

  21 “to be immortalised”: Ibid.

  22 “declined to encourage”: J. C. Masterman, The Double-Cross System in the War, 1939–1945 (London, 1972), p. 132.

  23 “Perhaps we missed an opportunity”: Ibid.

  24 “frank and straightforward”: Reed report, March 13, 1943, KV2 459.

  25 “a man whose stock-in-trade”: Shanks report. January 6, 1943, KV2 457.
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  26 “a spark of decency” to “whether a patriot or opportunist”: Ibid.

  27 “a refined manner”: Laurie Marshall report, January 15, 1943, MI5 ref. 133B, KV2 457 (additional).

  28 “His natural and instinctive speech”: Ibid.

  29 “the bogus certainties of science”: Malcolm Muggeridge, Chronicles of Wasted Time, vol. II (London, 1979), p. 222.

  30 “When one takes a fuse”: Cited in Kenneth Rose, Elusive Rothschild: The Life of Victor, Third Baron (London, 2003), p. 67.

  31 “I think it’s terrific”: Interrogation by Victor Rothschild, January 2, 1943, KV2 456.

  Chapter Seventeen. The Greater the Adventure

  1 “I consider you”: T. A. Robertson report, February 2, 1943, KV2 458.

  2 “few, a very few”: Camp 020, p. 176.

  3 “far too valuable”: Ronald Reed note, KV2 456.

  4 “I am not at all keen”: T. A. Robertson report, February 2, 1943, KV2 458.

  5 “people for whom” to “We are preparing”: Ibid.

  6 “Always speak slowly”: T. A. Robertson (attributed) report on SOE training course, KV4 172.

  7 “procuring mental breakdown”: Ibid.

  8 “one with a brutal manner”: Ibid.

  9 FFFFF PICK UP BY: Ronald Reed notes on ISOS intercepts, KV2 456.

  10 IMPOSSIBLE PICK YOU UP: Ronald Reed report, March 13, 1943, KV2 459.

  11 the “normal” way: Ibid.

  12 “The suggestion was absurd”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1949, KV2 459, document 254 B.

  13 “any attempt to return”: Ibid.

  14 “not over-anxious to pay him”: Ronald Reed report, March 13, 1943, KV2 459.

  15 “not prepared to offer”: T. A. Robertson memo, KV2 457.

  16 “unenviable and practically impossible”: Ronald Reed report, March 13, 1943, KV2 459.

  17 “provided the man”: Memo, KV2 457.

  18 “Points I would like”: Eddie Chapman note, n.d., KV2 458.

  19 “in a position to repay”: Laurie Marshall report, February 2, 1943, KV2 456.

  20 “Zigzag is fully convinced”: Ibid.

  21 “to get as much money”: Ibid.

  22 “paying for his stay”: Allan Tooth notes, KV2 456.

  23 “principle of generosity”: J. C. Masterman, The Double-Cross System in the War, 1939–1945 (London, 1972), p. 18.

  24 “the risk to his life”: Laurie Marshall report, February 2, 1943, KV2 456.

  25 “If Zigzag successfully” to “substantial payment be made now”: Ibid.

  26 “It was almost too good”: Ronald Reed report, March 15, 1943, KV2 459, document 254 B.

 

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