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Biography of Dusko Popov
Dusko Popov, a prominent figure in the world of espionage during World War II, was born into an aristocratic family in the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, a region in former Yugoslavia. He was known for his lavish lifestyle and social connections, fluent in several European languages. Popov was well-known in the finest hotels across Europe, where he had influential friends. With his wealth, he lived a life of leisure, free from any work obligations. However, Popov was a natural adventurer and thrill-seeker, finding his calling when World War II broke out in 1939.
Despite being a staunch anti-fascist, Popov was approached by Germany to work as a secret agent, which was an ironic twist of fate. He was recruited by his old friend, the immensely wealthy Johnny Jebsen, who was working for German intelligence. Jebsen had once helped Popov out of a difficult situation during their university days, saving him from prison. Now, it was time for Popov to repay the debt. Jebsen assigned Popov the task of compiling a list of Yugoslav politicians who would be willing to serve Germany in the event of a Nazi occupation.
Reluctantly, Popov agreed to the task and simultaneously offered his services to British intelligence, informing them about the assignment he had received from the Germans. Fortunately, Jebsen valued his friendship with Popov more than his loyalty to Hitler. Suspecting that Popov was also working for the British, Jebsen warned him about the Germans investigating his activities. Eventually, Popov informed Jebsen that he had a friend in England who was interested in working for German intelligence.
Under the guise of a businessman, Popov settled in neutral Portugal, making it convenient for him to periodically travel to London to obtain secret materials from his supposed agent. During these trips, he also recruited other agents for German intelligence. The Germans approved of this plan and promptly sent Popov to Lisbon.
A Double Game Begins
Popov found himself embroiled in one of the most complex double games in the history of World War II espionage. He intended to gather information about Germany, transmit it to London, and send false reports to his Berlin superiors. The plan worked flawlessly. In 1940, Popov arrived in Lisbon, where he was warmly greeted by von Karsthoff, the head of the local German military intelligence branch (whose real name was von Auenerode). He then traveled to London, where the British provided him with carefully fabricated false information, which he then passed on to the Germans, supposedly from his trusted agent. The materials Popov delivered made a strong impression on the Berlin leadership, and his efforts were highly praised. He received $10,000 for his work.
For nearly a year and a half, Popov traveled between Lisbon and London. The Germans swallowed all the information without suspecting any deception. Jebsen dutifully warned Popov about potentially dangerous situations, keeping him informed about events in Berlin. However, Popov's luck changed when he learned about Germany's negotiations with Japan regarding a surprise air raid on U.S. military bases. Sensing the significance of this information, Popov suspected that Japan might attack the United States, which had yet to enter the war against Germany.
Unfortunately, the American counterintelligence agency treated Popov's information with disdain. The FBI refused to allow him to recruit agents and ignored his warnings about a possible Japanese attack on American military bases. In fact, they threatened to arrest him if he attempted to go to Hawaii. The FBI wanted to personally control his network and viewed any foreign agent operating in their country with great suspicion.
A Twist of Fate
Popov became increasingly frustrated with the American counterintelligence agency's actions. Nevertheless, he was granted permission to recruit an agent who would pass on false information to the Germans. However, he was denied access to the contents of these messages. When the Germans sent a courier to New York to deliver equipment for creating microdots, the FBI nearly arrested him. Popov was horrified, as these actions by American counterintelligence could raise suspicions among the Germans that he was a double agent. He urgently requested to return to Lisbon, and while the British had no objections, there was still a hurdle to overcome. Popov had no knowledge of the information the Americans were feeding the Germans on his behalf, which could potentially expose him during interrogation.
He claimed that Germany had not allocated sufficient resources for recruitment, which seemed to convince von Karsthoff temporarily. However, Popov's suspicions grew when his car, parked near the beach, was bombed by unknown assailants in Lisbon. On another occasion, after a successful evening at a casino, Popov caught his new lover searching through his belongings. Soon after, news of Jebsen's failure reached him, as one of their trusted agents had betrayed them. Popov hastily fled to London while he still had the chance.
Popov remained in Britain until the end of the war, but his career as a spy came to an end. After the war, he continued to live a luxurious life as a millionaire who refused to deny himself anything. People like Dusko Popov always find a way to make the most out of life.