The spy who fooled Hitler: The double agent who saved D-Day

 

The success of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, depended on one of the greatest deceptions in military history. At the center of this operation was a double agent who masterfully misled Hitler and the German High Command, convincing them that the real invasion would happen elsewhere.

That spy was Juan Pujol García, codenamed "Garbo" by the British. Through an elaborate web of lies, fake intelligence, and carefully crafted misinformation, he played a critical role in ensuring the success of the Normandy landings—arguably shortening World War II.

This article explores how Pujol became a double agent, how he built an entirely fake spy network, and how he successfully deceived Hitler on D-Day.

Who Was Juan Pujol García?

Juan Pujol García was an unlikely war hero. Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1912, he had no military experience or intelligence training. Yet, he possessed extraordinary cunning, imagination, and an ability to manipulate people.

During World War II, Pujol despised both Hitler and Franco’s fascist regime in Spain. Determined to help the Allies, he attempted to volunteer as a spy for Britain, but they rejected him. Undeterred, he took matters into his own hands and approached the Germans instead—posing as a Nazi supporter.

Becoming a German Spy – The Birth of “Alaric”

In 1941, Pujol contacted the Abwehr (German intelligence) in Madrid, offering his services as a spy. The Germans, desperate for intelligence from Britain, eagerly recruited him and gave him the codename "Alaric".

To maintain his cover, Pujol:

Created a fake identity as a Spanish government official working in London.

Sent fabricated reports to the Germans about British troop movements and war production.

Built an entirely fictional spy network, inventing 27 fake sub-agents who supplied him with intelligence.

In reality, Pujol was not in Britain at all—he was in Lisbon, Portugal, using newspapers, radio broadcasts, and a brilliant imagination to create reports that seemed genuine.

His deception was so convincing that the Germans trusted him completely.

Switching Sides – Becoming "Garbo"

In 1942, Britain finally recognized Pujol’s potential and recruited him as a double agent. The British Secret Service (MI5) codenamed him "Garbo" because of his incredible ability to act and deceive—just like a movie star.

Under British control, Pujol continued to feed the Nazis false intelligence, but now it was carefully crafted by Allied intelligence experts to manipulate German decisions.

His reports were so trusted by Hitler and his generals that they shaped German military strategy—especially for D-Day.

Operation Fortitude: The Great D-Day Deception

The biggest test of Pujol’s skills came in 1944, during the lead-up to D-Day (June 6, 1944). The Allies planned to land in Normandy, but they needed to fool Hitler into believing the invasion would take place elsewhere.

This deception became Operation Fortitude, a masterful plan that convinced the Germans that the real invasion would be at Pas de Calais, the narrowest point between France and England.

Pujol’s role in this deception was critical:

1. He "confirmed" false intelligence – Pujol sent messages to the Germans reinforcing the idea that the Allies would invade Pas de Calais, not Normandy.

2. He spread misinformation about a fake army – The Allies created a phantom force, the First U.S. Army Group (FUSAG), allegedly led by General George S. Patton. Pujol sent reports suggesting that this massive army was preparing to invade Pas de Calais.

3. He delayed German reinforcements to Normandy – Even after the D-Day landings began on June 6, Pujol convinced the Germans that it was just a diversion and that the "real" invasion would still come at Pas de Calais.

As a result, Hitler kept his best Panzer divisions in Pas de Calais, waiting for an attack that never came. This allowed the Allies to secure Normandy and establish a crucial foothold in France.

Hitler’s Biggest Mistake

Pujol’s deception was so effective that Hitler never realized he had been fooled. Even weeks after D-Day, the Germans continued to hold their forces at Pas de Calais, waiting for a second invasion that never arrived.

Because of this:

The Normandy invasion succeeded, allowing the Allies to push inland.

The Germans lost their best chance to stop the invasion before the Allies could fully establish themselves in France.

The war in Western Europe was effectively decided, as the Allies advanced toward Paris and eventually Germany.

Pujol’s greatest triumph came when the Nazis awarded him the Iron Cross, one of Germany’s highest military honors—for services to Hitler. At the same time, Britain awarded him the Order of the British Empire (OBE), making him one of the few people in history to be decorated by both sides in the same war.

After the War: The Spy Who Disappeared

After the war, Pujol feared that ex-Nazis might hunt him down, so he faked his own death in 1949 and moved to Venezuela. He lived in secrecy for decades, until he was discovered in the 1980s by a British historian.

In 1984, he visited Normandy for the 40th anniversary of D-Day, where he was honored for his extraordinary contribution to the Allied victory.

He died in 1988, having played one of the most crucial roles in the greatest deception of World War II.

Conclusion: The Spy Who Changed History

Juan Pujol García—Garbo—was a man who never fired a bullet, never led an army, but helped win one of the most important battles in history. His deception misled Hitler, prevented German reinforcements from reaching Normandy, and helped ensure the success of D-Day.

Without Pujol’s efforts, the war in Europe might have dragged on much longer. Today, his story remains one of the greatest espionage operations of all time—the spy who fooled Hitler and changed the course of World War II.