Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov: World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond

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Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov: World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond Page 39

by Larry Loftis


  First U.S. Army Group Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 273; Masterman, The Double-Cross System, 156.

  the weather at Normandy was abysmal Carell, 18.

  “Then that means” Ibid., 19.

  “There is no indication” . . . two Panzer divisions Ibid., 20.

  Hans Speidel remembered Speidel, 76–82, 86–87.

  “How many of those fine agents” Albert Speer, Inside the Third Reich (Memoirs), 422–23.

  “The enemy intelligence service” . . . “During the following days” Ibid.

  twenty-five thousand sorties Speidel, 80.

  “The reason for refusal” Ibid., 81–82.

  “Sometimes we never knew” Dusko Popov, interview with Jonathan Braun, “Superspy Dusko Popov: The Real-Life James Bond,” Parade, 27. Popov’s statement is confirmed by J. C. Masterman’s 1945 postwar evaluation: “A German map of the British order of battle as on 15 May 1944 which was later captured in Italy showed how completely our imaginary order of battle had been accepted and was largely based on the information supplied by the double cross agents.” J. C. Masterman, The Double-Cross System, 156.

  June 19 Robertson and Wilson met Ian Wilson memo, June 19, 1944, KV 2/859 (p. 134a).

  FREAK, meanwhile, had been asked by King Peter Ibid.

  had a mission for Dusko Ian Wilson, June 26, 1944, “TRICYCLE and FREAK” memo, KV 2/859 (p. 938a).

  “The present position” Ibid.

  “Had to stop” Ian Wilson July 5, 1944, memo to Robertson, Masterman, and Marriott, KV 2/859 (p. 948a).

  “News of Jebsen” Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 303.

  “Yours thirtieth June” . . . “technical difficulties” Ibid.

  CHAPTER 26 NAKED AND SHAVED

  For Ivo Popov arrest and escape, see numerous email interviews with Misha Popov (Ivo’s son) from December 2014 to May 2015; Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 303–306; Miller, Codename TRICYCLE, 232.

  radio signal from General Mihailovic Ian Wilson August 2, 1944, “TRICYCLE & DREADNOUGHT” memo, KV 2/859 (p. 969a).

  “read and walk” Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 307.

  FBI had been pestering MI5 and BSC Colonel Robertson’s June 16, 1944, memo to Frank Foley, KV 2/859 (p. 933a).

  FBI had received a story Ian Wilson June 16, 1944, memo to Robertson, Marriott, and Masterman, KV 2/859 (p. 933b).

  full report of Popov’s last year “TRICYCLE (April 1943–June 1944)” memo (p. 941g) and correspondence to M. J. Lynch of the American Embassy on June 29, 1944 (p. 944a), together at KV 2/859.

  Fisherman Inn Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 308.

  Kinlochbervie J. H. Marriott August 11, 1944, “TRICYCLE & DREADNOUGHT” memo, KV 2/859 (p. 970a).

  Four days later Ivo arrived in England on August 15, 1944. Ian Wilson memo, August 30, 1944, KV 2/859 (p. 973c). Popov doesn’t mention Kinlochbervie in his memoirs, but it appears from Marriott’s August 11, 1944, memo that the early morning message came here, rather than at Fisherman Inn near Tain. In addition, Marriott’s memo indicates that Dusko was expecting John’s call regarding Ivo’s arrival in England, rather than being surprised by it as his memoir indicates.

  Savoy Ibid. See also Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 309.

  Jacqueline Blanc Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 310–13; Miller, 234–35.

  CHAPTER 27 ULLA

  Hahn . . . Salzer Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 313; Miller, Codename TRICYCLE, 235.

  drafted a letter to Schmidtt Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 317.

  September 10, he asked Frank Foley KV 2/859 (p. 978a).

  “Dear brother Dule” Ian Wilson September 27, 1944, memo, KV 2/859 (p. 987a).

  “keener than ever” Ibid.

  request to a Lieutenant Colonel Speir Correspondence of Colonel Robertson on September 28, 1944, KV 2/859 (p. 988a).

  command and assignment from General Eisenhower September 30, 1944, correspondence of Colonel Newman, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, KV 2/859 (p. 989a).

  Dusko and Ian traveled to Paris Ian Wilson’s undated interoffice memo, KV 2/859 (p. 992a).

  gave Dusko the $10,000 Ian Wilson October 27, 1944, memo, KV 2/859 (p. 996a).

  Schmidtt . . . Oranienburg . . . Kammler Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 318.

  “Dressed in prison clothes” Ibid.

  On November 11 Popov met with Wilson Ian Wilson November 14, 1944, memo, KV 2/859 (p. 999a).

  “seek to do him harm” . . . Churchill Ibid. (p. 1002a).

  “by excessive expenditure or otherwise” Ibid.

  Dragica . . . George Vasic Ian Wilson correspondence to Frank Foley on November 24, 1944, KV 2/859 (p. 1004a).

  “every deserter” William Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, 1088.

  “Ulla” Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 319; Miller, 236.

  Ulla H. Moberg Extract from Bermuda Censor Comment, December 17, 1941, KV 2/849 (p. 226j).

  “Give my love” Correspondence of Dusko Popov to Ian Wilson, December 14, 1944, KV 2/859 (p. 1017B).

  He checked in at the Zum Storchen The dates revealed in Popov’s memoirs are slightly off. He mentions arriving in Zurich “exactly two weeks before Christmas,” or on December 11. Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 319. The letter to Ian Wilson on December 14, however, indicates a mailing from Paris. It appears that Popov arrived in Zurich, then, around December 15 or 16.

  “straight line-crossing agents” Ian Wilson January 11, 1945, memo, KV 2/859 (p. 1023a). See also Wilson memo, February 2, 1945, KV 2/859 (p. 1034a).

  “as a question of foreign policy” Ian Wilson February 2, 1945, memo, KV 2/859 (p. 1038a).

  Nazi collaborator, Dragica and Misha to be shot Ian Wilson correspondence to Major Desmond Bristow, February 27, 1945, KV 2/859 (p. 1039a).

  CHAPTER 28 PARTISAN POLITICS

  Dusko saw an old girlfriend in London Ian Wilson correspondence to Major Desmond Bristow, February 27, 1945, KV 2/859 (p. 1039a). For background of Velebit, see Fitzroy Maclean, Eastern Approaches, 304–305.

  Churchill’s personal representative Maclean, introduction.

  “DREADNOUGHT’s work” Correspondence of L. H. Cohen to Ian Wilson, March 14, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1044a).

  Dragica dressed in a British uniform Correspondence of Misha Popov to the author, February 14, 2015.

  April 6 he received word Correspondence from Dusko Popov to Ian Wilson, April 6, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1048a).

  Wilson and Bristow told Dusko Ian Wilson April 25, 1945, memo, KV 2/860 (p. 1054a).

  Banco Espirito . . . Schweizerische Bankverein Dusko Popov telegram to Guy Deyris, April 27, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1057a).

  American source Correspondence from Desmond Bristow to Ian Wilson, April 21, 1944, KV 2/860 (p. 1051A).

  left for England Desmond Bristow correspondence to Ian Wilson on April 21, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1051).

  “and all my friends” Dusko Popov letter to Ian Wilson, May 10, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1064B).

  “In spite and because” Allied interrogation extract of Abwehr officer Waetjen on May 26, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1071B).

  “Hansen had to” Allied interrogation extract of Abwehr officer Wilhelm Kuebart on June 6, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1074).

  Bear Hotel in Baden Ian Wilson June 9, 1945, memo, KV 2/860 (p. 1074a).

  correspondence from Dusko to Ivo Ibid.

  “You will remember” Ian Wilson correspondence to Frank Foley, June 12, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1075a).

  “Johny Jebsen hun held” SOE correspondence of June 11, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1077A).

  “Selection Trust” Dusko operated a company in London called Selection Trust, and on August 21, 1945, a Madrid mining company sent him a letter soliciting business for the sale of iron ore, tin, lead, sulfate, and other metals. KV 2/861 (p. 1103).

  “Mrs. ARTIST” Correspo
ndence from Major R. M. Hamer to Ian Wilson, June 23, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1078H).

  “If you have luck” Dusko Popov letter to Ian Wilson, June 25, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1079A). Popov spelled his name as “Quitting,” but the correct spelling appears to be “Quetting.” See November 30, 1945, correspondence from First Lieutenant Henry Hecksher to Major Forrest, KV 2/861 (p. 1120c).

  “In Berlin handed to Mueller” June 29, 1944, telegram from SHEAF to Secret War Room, KV 2/860 (p. 1079B).

  “unofficially” William Luke July 13, 1945, memo, KV 2/860 (p. 1082a).

  “even now, to suspect” Ian Wilson July 28, 1944, memo to J. C. Masterman and William Luke, KV 2/860 (p. 1088B).

  “It is eminently satisfactory” Ian Wilson July 31, 1944, memo to J. C. Masterman, William Luke, and Tomás Harris, KV 2/860 (p. 1088e).

  letters to the Army and the SOE Ian Wilson August 2, 1945, letter to Major J. Delaforce, SOE, KV 2/860 (p. 1088E); Ian Wilson letter to Major S. H. Noakes, 21 Army Group, KV 2/860 (p. 1088F).

  “I am still concerned” Extract of Ian Wilson August 18, 1945, note to William Luke, KV 2/860 (p. 1095a).

  OSTRO Nigel West, A Thread of Deceit, 94-95; Ladislas Farago, The Game of Foxes, 603; David Kahn, Hitler’s Spies, 356.

  he sent Ian a letter Dusko Popov letter to Ian Wilson, August 27, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1099a).

  CHAPTER 29 JOHNNY

  “You can imagine” Dusko Popov letter to Ian Wilson, August 27, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1099a).

  “I had heard” Major R. M. Hamer letter to Ian Wilson, September 6, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 1102).

  General Velebit Dragica Popov letter to General Velebit, August 29, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 1104a).

  “only lived for her children” Dragica Popov letter to Stojan Pribicevic, Esq., August 29, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 1104).

  Americans had arrested Correspondence from D. I. Vesey to Major William Luke, September 20, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 1105a).

  “As we feel some sense” William Luke letter to Major Forrest, September 27, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 1106a).

  Vrnjačka Spa Correspondence from Lieutenant Colonel Hamer to Major William Luke, October 17, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 1115B).

  “As you know” October 15, 1945, correspondence from Major Luke to Lieutenant Colonel Hamer, KV 2/861 (p. 1115a).

  Major Hope and Desmond Bristow October 28, 1945, letter from Major Peter Hope to Major William Luke, KV 2/861 (p. 1118); October 31, 1945, letter from Desmond Bristow to Major Luke, KV 2/861 (p. 1119a).

  Major Jo Stephenson . . . Bruecher November 6, 1945, correspondence from Major J. F. E. Stephenson to Major Luke and Major Hope, KV 2/861 (p. 1120B).

  “discuss the Jebsen case” November 30, 1945, correspondence from First Lieutenant Henry Hecksher to Major Forrest, KV 2/861 (p. 1120c).

  “TRICYCLE is most anxious” Colonel Robertson letter of April 3, 1946, to Lieutenant Colonel S. H. Noakes, KV 2/861 (p. 1150a).

  Jebsen assets Dusko Popov “Belongings of J.J.” memo, April 29, 1946, KV 2/861 (p. 1167c).

  letter to Lieutenant Colonel B. Melland May 13, 1946, letter from Colonel Robertson to Melland, KV 2/861 (p. 1163a).

  “Getting Salzer” Dusko Popov, interview with Frederick Bear, “Dusko [007] Popov: Exclusive Interview,” Genesis, 48.

  “to put a bullet” Ibid.

  “My superiors” Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 338–39.

  he smashed Salzer’s face Popov, Genesis, 48.

  “I vomited my sins” Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 339.

  EPILOGUE

  “Spying is not a chivalrous business” Dusko Popov, interview with Alan Road, “Double Agent Popov and the James Bond Affair,” Observer, 29.

  “Killing a German” Dusko Popov, interview with Frederick Bear, “Dusko [007] Popov: Exclusive Interview,” Genesis, 48.

  Robertson told him of Johnny’s death Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 320.

  as late as August 1947 See, e.g., August 13, 1947, internal memo of Allied HQ Intelligence Division at KV 2/861 (p. 1209a); M. Gunn memo dated April 9, 1947, for HQ Intelligence Division at KV 2/861 (p. 1205a); correspondence of M. Gunn on March 20, 1947 to Major A. F. Terry, War Crimes Investigation Unit, at KV 2/861 (p. 1203a); correspondence of J. Flinn to A. G. R. Brookland on February 24, 1947, at KV 2/861 (p. 1204); multiple letters between MI5’s R. T. Reed and USN Lieutenant Commander Winston Scott, KV 2/861; correspondence from Reed to Scott on October 31, 1946, at KV 2/861 (p. 1190a).

  hunted Walter Salzer two years prior, 1945 Popov, Genesis, 48; Popov, Spy Counter-Spy, 334.

  “was tried and served several years” Popov, Genesis, 48.

  Mrs. Petra Vermehren See notes from J. Flinn interrogation of Petra Vermehren on February 24, 1947, at KV 2/861 (p. 1204).

  “Although Dusko never actually admitted” Correspondence of Marco Popov to the author, November 27, 2014.

  Hofmeister “was responsible for everything” Petra Vermehren interrogation, KV 2/861 (p. 1204).

  Quetting was the officer in charge of Johnny’s investigation Quetting was also the one Johnny expected to question him regarding his troubles with the Gestapo. April 27, 1944, memo at KV 2/858 (p. 907a).

  “If you have luck” Dusko Popov letter to Ian Wilson, June 25, 1945, KV 2/860 (p. 1079A).

  looked after Johnny’s widow after the war Correspondence of Ian Wilson to Tar Robertson, October 1, 1947, KV 2/861 (p. 1210b).

  gave his entire Yugoslav army salary Tar Robertson August 6, 1946, memo, KV 2/861 (p. 1179a).

  more operations See Appendix 2.

  more actual sub-agents See, e.g., Nigel West, MI5, 204. All of GARBO’s sub-agents were notional.

  “Dusan POPOV is a Jugo-Slav” Official MI5 application for Popov’s recommendation for an OBE, September 22, 1945, KV 2/861 (p. 18a).

  “the most important and most successful” Graham Greene, cited on the cover of Popov’s Spy Counter-Spy.

  Tarlair, Ltd. See, e.g., September 30, 1947, correspondence of Dickie Metcalfe to Tar Robertson, KV 2/861 (p. 1210a).

  significant business for the company in Krefeld November 3, 1947, memo of A. F. Joslin, H.Q. Intelligence Division, KV2/862 (p. 1214); correspondence of Peter Hope to Tar Robertson on November 14, 1947, KV 2/862 (p. 1225).

  “I just want to thank” Dusko Popov letter to Colonel Robertson, June 17, 1946, KV 2/861 (p. 1167c).

  King’s Medal of Courage Colonel Hinchley-Cooke delivered Ivo’s KMC at Room 055, Friday, April 18, 1947, per file note by Colonel Robertson, April 21, 1947, KV 2/870 (p. 241B).

  naturalized as a British citizen List of Naturalized Aliens, London Gazette, November 21, 1947, 5497 et seq.

  “Serving Officer in His Majesty’s Forces” Ibid.

  The Ritz bar Colonel Robertson noted for the MI5 file on December 1, 1947: “I handed Popov his O.B.E., with apologies for the way in which I had to do it, in the Ritz Bar on 28th November, 1946.” KV 2/862 (Table of Contents notation). See also Colonel Robertson letter to Montague Brown, March 3, 1948, KV 2/862 (p. 1237A).

  secretary-general of the European Movement Miller, Codename TRICYCLE, 249.

  Château Castellaras See http://www.chateaucastellaras.com.

  divorce in 1960 Correspondence of Marco Popov to the author, December 3, 2014.

  La Grande Bastide Correspondence of Marco Popov to the author, December 3, 2014; Dusko Popov letter (letterhead) to Senator Hugh Scott, February 11, 1975, Record Group 65, Box 13, Part 19, 65-36994, NARA.

  “Dusko was such fun” Miller, 250.

  “man of mystery” Ibid., 251.

  “including his wife” Correspondence of Marco Popov to the author, April 14, 2014.

  “In some ways” Dusko Popov, interview with Jonathan Braun, “Superspy Dusko Popov: The Real-Life James Bond,” Parade, 24.

  “That’s a very foolish
question” Ibid., 27.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  ARCHIVES AND OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

  2.ª Conservatória do Registo Predial de Cascais, Portugal

  American Historical Association, Washington, D.C.

  Arquivo Municipal de Cascais, Portugal

  Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa, Portugal

  Arquivo Nacional, Torre do Tombo, Portugal

  Arquivo Salazar, Biblioteca Nacional, Lisboa, Portugal

  Bundesarchiv Berlin-Lichtenfelde, Germany

  Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv Freiburg, Germany

  Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal

  Câmera Municipal de Cascais, Departmento de Cultura, Portugal

  Casas das Historias Paula Rego, Cascais, Portugal

  Central Intelligence Agency (OSS) Secret Control Intelligence Reports

  Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge University

  Federal Bureau of Investigation Library and Vault

  Franklin D. Roosevelt Library

  Fundação Alexandre de Gusmão, Brasilia, Brazil

  Geneva Convention: Laws and Customs of War on Land (Hague IV, October 18, 1907) and Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Geneva, July 27, 1929)

  Imperial War Museum, London

  Liddell Hart Center for Military Archives, King’s College, London

  National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland (NARA)

  National Archives of the UK

  Polícia de Vigilância e Defesa Estado, Serviços de Informação, Biblioteca Nacional, Lisboa, Portugal

  Records of the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, NARA

  The Ian Fleming Collection, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington

  The Wiener Library, London

  Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal, Official Text English Edition, Nuremberg

  U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.

  USS Arizona Memorial, National Park Service

 

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