Hermann Giskes

Abwehr Major Hermann Giskes was a wartime intelligence operative primarily stationed in the occupied Netherlands, and head of Abwehr Section IIIF. He is best known as one of the leading lights behind the ´´Englandspiel´´ operation. Giskes´ activities were responsible for supplying a great deal of disinformation to British intelligence services for a great deal of World War II, and the arrest of more than 50 Allied agents.

When it became apparent that the penetration had been uncovered, Giskes sent the following message in clear to London (in Marks, p499):

To [the SOE section chiefs] Messrs Blunt, Bingham and Succs Ltd., London. In the last time you are trying to make business in Netherlands without our assistance stop we think this rather unfair in view our long and successful co-operation as your sole agents stop but never mind whenever you will come to pay a visit to the Continent you may be assured that you will be received with the same care and result as all those who you sent us before stop so long.

(In the above quotation, Blunt refers to a pseudonym used by a Major Blizzard, and not Anthony Blunt the Soviet spy). At the end of the war Giskes was interrogated by Robert Maxwell at Camp 20, Iserlohn, before release.

See also

• Leo Marks - the SOE cryptographer largely responsible for uncovering Giskes´ penetration of the Dutch circuit

References

• Between Silk and Cyanide - Leo Marks account of wartime cryptography in the SOE
• The Eureka-Rebecca compromises: another look at special operations security during World War II. - [1]
• London Calling North Pole - H.J. Giskes, Bastei Lübbe, Bantam (publ.), 1982, (original publication London ruft Nordpol : das erfolgreiche Funkspiel der deutschen militärischen Abwehr)
• Time Review of London Calling North Pole