Duško Popov was a Yugoslav double agent who worked for both the British and the German intelligence during World War II. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful spies of the war, and the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s fictional character James Bond.
Popov was born in 1912 in Titel, a town in present-day Serbia. He came from a wealthy family of landowners and lawyers, and he enjoyed a privileged upbringing. He studied law in Belgrade and Freiburg, where he became fluent in several languages and developed a taste for gambling and women. He also befriended Johnny Jebsen, a German aristocrat who would later become his handler in the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service for the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht from 1920 to 1945.
In 1939, Popov was recruited by the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6, as a spy, codenamed Tricycle. He agreed to work for them out of his anti-Nazi sentiments and his desire for adventure. He also reported to the Yugoslav intelligence service, which assigned him the codename Duško.
Popov was sent to Germany to infiltrate the Abwehr, posing as a pro-Nazi businessman. There, he met Jebsen again, who was also working as a spy for the Germans. Jebsen convinced his superiors that Popov was a valuable asset and gave him the codename Ivan.
Popov soon became a double agent, feeding false information to the Germans while passing on valuable intelligence to the British. Popov was part of the Double-Cross System, a British operation that fed false information to the Germans to deceive them about Allied plans and movements. He traveled extensively across Europe and America, using his charm and charisma to gain access to high-ranking officials and influential circles. He also received large sums of money from both sides, which he spent lavishly on his lavish lifestyle.
One of Popov’s most famous missions was in 1941, when he was sent to the United States by the Germans to gather information on American defense plans. He carried with him a questionnaire that contained detailed questions about Pearl Harbor, indicating that the Japanese were planning an attack there. Popov tried to warn the FBI about this, but he was ignored by J. Edgar Hoover, who distrusted him and considered him a playboy. Popov later claimed that he could have prevented the Pearl Harbor attack if he had been taken seriously.
Another notable mission was in 1944, when he was involved in Operation Fortitude, a deception plan to mislead the Germans about the location of the Allied invasion of Normandy. Popov fed false information to the Germans that suggested that the invasion would take place in Pas-de-Calais, rather than Normandy. Popov’s efforts helped to divert German troops and resources away from Normandy, contributing to the success of D-Day.
One of the most intriguing episodes in the history of espionage was the meeting between Ian Fleming and Dusko Popov in 1941. Fleming, who would later create the iconic character of James Bond, was working as a naval intelligence officer in Lisbon, Portugal. During World War II, Portugal was a neutral state and Lisbon was an important espionage hub. Fleming checked in at the Palácio Hotel in Estoril, a place favored by exiled royals where he met Popov.
Fleming’s superior, Rear Admiral John Godfrey, Director of Naval Intelligence, had instructed Fleming to monitor Popov’s actions. Fleming was also curious about Popov, a double agent who shared his penchant for women and drink. Popov was a notorious playboy who seduced many women during his missions, including the actress Simone Simon.
Fleming later admitted that he used Popov as an inspiration for some of his fictional characters, such as Bond himself and the villain Le Chiffre from Casino Royale. Some historians have even suggested that Fleming witnessed Popov playing baccarat at a casino in Estoril, Portugal, and based his novel on that scene. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim.
Popov survived the war and continued to work as a spy for the British until 1949, when he retired from espionage. He moved to France and later to Monaco, where he lived a comfortable life as a businessman and a writer. He published his memoirs in 1974, titled Spy/Counterspy. He died in 1981 at the age of 69.
Popov was a remarkable spy who played a crucial role in World War II. Popov’s life story is a fascinating example of how one man can change the course of history with his intelligence and courage. He has been the subject of a number of non-fiction books and documentaries.
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