WWII’s greatest spy almost exposed after ‘neurotic and tiresome’ wife grew homesick and threatened to reveal all
Double agent's web of deception was key to D-Day’s success and the downfall of the Nazi regime
WORLD War Two’s greatest double agent was almost exposed by his “neurotic and tiresome” wife, secret files reveal.
Juan Pujol Garcia — codenamed Agent Garbo — tricked the Germans into thinking he was one of them while actually working for MI5.
The Spanish national’s web of deception was key to D-Day’s success and the downfall of the Nazi regime.
But Security Service documents made public for the first time show how leading a double life almost destroyed his marriage — and led to his downfall.
The papers released to the National Archives also shed light on the extraordinary ruse he came up with to keep his “attractive” young wife Araceli onside.
To carry out his intrigues Pujol had moved with Araceli and their two children to Harrow in North West London in 1942.
Despite being an accomplice in his spy work the pretty brunette grew homesick and was increasingly angered by the strict control Pujol placed her under.
Fears that fellow Spaniards in London would recognise her led him to confine Araceli at home with the kids.
Matters came to a head in June 1943 — a year before D-Day — after the couple had an explosive quarrel.
Araceli threatened to go to the Spanish embassy and reveal all unless she was allowed to travel home to see her mum.
She screamed at Pujol’s alarmed MI5 handler Tomas (CORR) Harris: “I don’t want to live five minutes longer with my husband.
“Even if they kill me I am going to the Spanish embassy.”
To stop Araceli carrying out her threats and bring her back into the fold Pujol devised an elaborate charade.
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First Araceli was told that her husband had been detained following a heated argument with MI5 over her treatment.
She reacted with a “hysterical outburst” and threatened to disappear with the children.
An MI5 agent sent to check up on her reported that she had turned on all the gas taps in her house in an apparent suicide bid.
The next day she was blindfolded and taken to an interrogation centre near Ham Common in West London.
After Pujol was brought in to meet her unshaven and dressed in camp clothing Araceli broke down in tears.
I don’t want to live five minutes longer with my husband
Juan Pujol Garcia's wife
She promised that if he was released from prison she would help with his work “with even greater zeal than before”.
MI5’s legal adviser, Major Edward Cussen, gave her a final dressing down before telling her he had decided Pujol should be released to carry on his work.
It allowed him to continue send his unsuspecting German spymasters fake intelligence reports.
His deceptions helped convince the Nazis that the Allied invasion of France would take place at the Pas de Calais.
They diverted forces away from Normandy in the lead up to the invasion — saving countless Allied lives and marking the beginning of the end for Hitler.