10. Cashing in on the Carefully Crafted Double Cross
To cement Juan Pujol Garcia’s credibility with the Abwehr, British intelligence had him send a message alerting the Germans to the invasion a few hours before its commencement. It was a carefully calculated risk, as Pujol’s handlers figured that by the time the warning worked its way from German intelligence to commanders in the field, the invasion would have already taken place. Thus the warning would have done the Germans no actual good on the ground, but still, enhance Pujol’s reputation with his German handlers.
They then went in for the kill: building upon the years of trust, Pujol informed the Germans that the Normandy landings were diversionary. The real blow, he informed them, would fall upon the Pas de Calais a few weeks later.
