The duquesne spy ring remains the largest espionage case in u. Ritter achieved several major successes with abwehr, most notably the norden bombsight, in addition to an advanced aircraft autopilot from the sperry gyroscope company, and also intelligence operations in north africa in support of field marshal erwin rommel but some of ritters recruits became double agents who catastrophically exposed his spy rings. In june 1941, the federal bureau of investigation arrested all of the agents. Ritter recruited william sebold who later joined to fbi and resulted in the arrest of the 33 abwehr agents of the duquesne spy ring. During world war ii, he was among the military officers involved in the clandestine opposition to nazi germany leadership. Nikolaus ritter 8 january 1899 9 april 1974 is best known as the chief of air intelligence in the abwehr. On january 2, 1942, 33 members of a german spy ring headed by frederick fritz joubert duquesne were sentenced to serve a total of over 300 years in prison. Peter duffy is the author of double agent, a meticulously researched book that reads like the best spy fiction. Owens exposed so many abwehr covert agents operating in britain that by the end of the war mi5 had enlisted some 120 double agents.
It was a german ring operating within the united states during world war ii and was run by frederick joubert duquesne, a south african who became a naturalized american citizen in december 19. Plus the parts devoted to spies stein and duquesne are hilarious. A total of thirtythree members of a german espionage network headed by frederick fritz joubert duquesne were convicted after a lengthy espionage investigation by the federal bureau of investigation fbi. Grainy footage, shot clandestinely, shows a new york city street and the interior of an office. In a fascinating new book, double agent, peter duffy reveals the. In his new book double agent, journalist peter duffy uncovers how sebold. Youll meet the first double agent in fbi history, william sebold, who was an astonishingly brave and clever guy. The duquesne spy ring was the largest espionage operation case in the history of the united states that ended in convictions.
Peter duffy described the story of an fbi double agent who helped expose a nazi spy ring in new york. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. New yorker risks life as double agent in nazi underground, brings down duquesne spy ring. The duquesne spy ring is the largest espionage case in united states history that ended in convictions. With the assistance of another german agent, fritz duquesne, he recruited 33 agents that became known as the duquesne spy ring. Duquesne nazi germany spy ring fbi files bacm research on. The last time he was captured and imprisoned was in 1941 when he and 32 other members of the duquesne spy ring were caught by william g. It was a german ring operating within the united states during world war ii and was run by frederick joubert duquesne, a south african who became a. There were two major espionage efforts by the third reich, and in part i of episode n, kate and kathleen tell you all about the duquesne spy ring. Double agent william sebold talks with captain fritz joubert duquesne, german spy, who was unaware that fbi agents were taping the whole episode behind a twoway mirror.
Despite her assertion that she was forced into the espionage business because she wasnt purely aryanand therefore faced being put in a forced labor camp, deported, or worse when the nazis took austria if she refused to. Initially a supporter of adolf hitler, by 1939 he had turned against the regime. The first hero of world war ii and how the fbi outwitted and destroyed a nazi spy ring 9781451667950 by duffy, peter and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Informed american cg in germany and became double agent for fbi. Agents used this suitcase for the cash provided by the sinatra family. Impoverished and delusional, he was committed to napa state hospital in 1965. By jean jennings bartik truman state university press, 20 double agent. Wilhelm franz canaris 1 january 1887 9 april 1945 was a german admiral and chief of the abwehr, the german military intelligence service, from 1935 to 1944. William sebold, fbi double agent who broke apart a nazi spy ring. Duquesne was a german spy at the time and for this act he was awarded the. Duquesne himself was sentenced to 18 years in prison. To ensure safe delivery of the books to germany in case they did not reach eilers, heine. There are several spy rings that overlap and converge in journalist duffys the killing of major denis mahon.
But some of ritter s recruits became doubleagents who catastrophically exposed his spy rings. The duquesne spy ring the largest espionage case in united states history that ended in convictions, a total of 33 members of a german espionage network led by fritz joubert duquesne born in cape colony, south africa, on september 21, 1877, and naturalized a citizen of the united states in 19. Fbi agents william sebold double agent after the duquesne spy ring convictions, sebold was provided with a new identity and started a chicken farm in california. Peter duffys book, double agent is the story of william sebold, a german immigrant to the united states and his recruitment by the german abwehr in 1938 during a prewar visit to his birthplace.
Double agent is a spy story worth reading despite the authors weakness in maintaining pace. Upon conviction, brokhoff was sentenced to serve a fiveyear prison term for violation of the. Of those arrested on the charge of espionage, 19 pleaded guilty. However, the beliefs held by many americans concerning german spies and their operations, contradict what is seen now as the overall failure of. Sebold embedded himself deep into the nazi spy ring duquesne had built up and earned the trust of duquesne and the nazi handlers back in germany. Ritter recruited william sebold who later joined the fbi which resulted in the arrest of the 33 abwehr agents of the duquesne spy ring.
Unsung wwii hero william sebold helped end nazi spy ring. The remaining 14 were brought to jury trial in federal district. Unlike a redoubled agent, who changes allegiance due to being compromised, a triple agent is usually considered to have always been loyal to their original side. William sebold, who had been recruited as a spy for germany, was a major factor in the fbis successful resolution of this case through his work as a double agent for the united states. In a fascinating new book, double agent, peter duffy reveals the littleknown story of the new yorker who risked his life daily in the citys nazi underground.
After agreeing to spy for germany, he reported his recruitment to the fbi and was used as a double agent in a giant operation, ultimately involving a huge spy ring. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Sebolds success as a counterespionage agent is demonstrated by the successful prosecution of these 33 german agents. Jean jennings bartik and the computer that changed the world. On january 2, 1942, following a lengthy investigation by the fbi, 33 members of a nazi spy ring headed by frederick joubert duquesne were sentenced to serve a total of over 300 years in prison. Perhaps he felt obligated to pad out with a lot of historical background the fairly limited sources about his bland hero. The duquesne spy ring, as it was known, was brought down by sebold in. Sebold was a united states citizen who was coerced into becoming a spy when he visited germany after being pressured by several highranking nazi members. A well documented tale dealing with a nazi spy ring and americas naivete prior to world war ii. Fbi counterintelligence midterm flashcards quizlet. The germanborn sebold had fought for germany in world war i, but had become an american naturalized citizen after living and working in america for years. On december 8, 1963, a group of amateur criminals hoping to. The first hero of world war ii and how the fbi outwitted and destroyed a nazi spy ring duffy, peter on.
William sebold, fbi double agent who broke apart a nazi. After the duquesne spy ring convictions, sebold was provided with a new identity and started a chicken farm in california. A triple agent is a spy who pretends to be a double agent for one side, while they are truthfully a double agent for the other side. Convicted members of duquesne spy ring rough diplomacy. By peter coogan monkeybrain books, 2006 pioneer programmer. New yorker risks life as double agent in nazi underground. On january 2, 1942, 33 members of a nazi spy ring headed by frederick joubert duquesne were sentenced to serve a total of over 300 years in prison.
William donovan wild bill founded the oss, friend of william stephenson and advisor to fdr. A sympathetic portrait of a reluctant, littleknown germanamerican double agent on the eve of world war ii. The first hero of world war ii and how the fbi outwitted and destroyed a nazi spy ring, details the work of william sebold, an intensely patriotic man who. Sebold, a double agent with the fbi, and later convicted in the largest espionage conviction in the history of the united states. He talked about how the mission was developed and how it made use of a hidden camera to gather. The 1945 film the house on 92nd street was a thinly disguised version of the duquesne spy ring saga of 1941. Peter duffys book, double agent is the story of william sebold, a german immigrant to the united. Nazi spies and new york perspectives the new york times. Unsung wwii hero william sebold helped end nazi spy ring daily. How nazi spy ring was brought down by a double agent fbi files have revealed how a nazi spy ring was discovered and its secret informants sentenced thanks to a brave double agent. Recruited german 33 agents in the duquesne spy ring. New yorker risks life as double agent in nazi underground, brings. Perhaps the book just needed more aggressive editing. Double agent, written by peter duffy, explores the cooperation of the fbi with william sebold in bringing down the duquesne spy ring.
In great britain, he recruited arthur owens, code named johnny, who became an agent for mi5 british intelligence operating under the code name snow. A total of 33 members of a german espionage network headed by frederick fritz joubert duquesne were convicted after a lengthy investigation by the federal bureau of investigation fbi. Known as the duquesne spy ring, the colorful cast of traitors included military contractors, a south african adventurer with an exotic accent and a monocle, and even a. The first hero of world war ii and how the fbi outwitted and destroyed a nazi spy ring. The first hero of world war ii and how the fbi outwitted and destroyed a nazi spy ring by peter duffy a few days after the bombing of pearl harbor, members of a group of american men and women known as the duquesne spy ring were all found guilty of treason against the united states. How a civilian engineer became a world war ii spy twice and stopped the duquesne spy ring that had infiltrated americas borders. The first hero of world war ii and how the fbi outwitted and destroyed a nazi spy ring, details the work of william sebold, an intensely patriotic man who worked with the fbi to infiltrate the duquesne spy ring, a spy ring operating in new york city and one of the biggest in american history. He also asked sebold to return to the united states as an espionage agent for germany.
The footage shows duquesne entering sawyers office. Known as the duquesne spy ring, the colorful cast of traitors. In his new book double agent, journalist peter duffy uncovers how sebold became the center of a 16month investigation that led to the arrest of 33 enemy agents in june 1941. His life story as a double agent was first told in the 1943 book passport to treason. Duquesne spy ring the duquesne spy ring is the largest espionage case in united states history that ended in. William sebold never planned on becoming a spy, but fate had different plans.
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