Original subtitles

- (dramatic music)

NARRATOR: World War Two is over.

NARRATOR: World War Two is over.

The Allies have occupied Germany.

The Allies have occupied Germany.

But British women agents remain lost across Europe.

But British women agents remain lost across Europe.

- Heil!

NARRATOR: Spymaster Vera Atkins

now has a permanent position with the British Air Force

now has a permanent position with the British Air Force

to find her lost women spies.

And she enlists the help of a crack team of SAS Nazi hunters

And she enlists the help of a crack team of SAS Nazi hunters

led by Major Bill Barkworth.

Barkworth reports about a hidden

concentration camp in eastern France,

designed to make secret agents disappear...without a trace.

designed to make secret agents disappear...without a trace.

And the possibility that some of Vera's lost women spies

And the possibility that some of Vera's lost women spies

may have died there.

As Vera gathers evidence for the trials of leading Nazis,

As Vera gathers evidence for the trials of leading Nazis,

the horrors she is uncovering

are too much for the authorities back in London.

are too much for the authorities back in London.

Vera receives a clear order.

- I need you to keep this disgusting business out of the newspapers.

NARRATOR: The true stories of all her lost women spies

must be kept covered up.

At all costs.

At all costs.

Nearly nine months since the end of the war in Europe.

Nearly nine months since the end of the war in Europe.

Vera is based at the British War Crimes office in Germany,

Vera is based at the British War Crimes office in Germany,

where her promotion allows her to travel the country

to hunt for her lost women spies.

to hunt for her lost women spies.

Two names stand out.

The first is Noor Inayat Khan,

code-name 'Nurse'.

code-name 'Nurse'.

Vera is sent by Major Barkworth

Vera is sent by Major Barkworth

an interrogation report of prison crematorium worker Franz Berg.

Berg claims Noor was killed, along with three other women spies,

Berg claims Noor was killed, along with three other women spies,

at the Natzweiler camp in July 1944.

But a warder at Karlsruhe prison, Fraulein Becker,

But a warder at Karlsruhe prison, Fraulein Becker,

says she remembers Noor being in Karlsruhe many months later.

- Yes.

- Yes.

- Vera already has an eyewitness testimony

from Natzweiler saying that Noor is dead.

And now she has another eyewitness testimony

And now she has another eyewitness testimony

saying, nope, that is not true. - (door clangs)

NARRATOR: Noor could still be alive.

NARRATOR: Noor could still be alive.

The other name is Violette Szabo.

Violette left her one-year-old child behind to take up arms.

Violette left her one-year-old child behind to take up arms.

A child whose father had already given his life in the war effort.

A child whose father had already given his life in the war effort.

- The Nazis won't know what hit them.

- Very good.

- Violette Szabo's situation

- Violette Szabo's situation

is particularly sad because she lost her husband,

who never actually met their daughter, gave birth to a child.

who never actually met their daughter, gave birth to a child.

And she left her child back with her family in the UK

and parachuted into France,

and parachuted into France,

so determined was she to keep fighting against the Nazis.

NARRATOR: Violette was last heard of

at the women's concentration camp at Ravensbruck.

at the women's concentration camp at Ravensbruck.

A camp from where Vera's agents Odette Sansom

A camp from where Vera's agents Odette Sansom

and Yvonne Baseden have both returned.

So is Violette also alive?

So is Violette also alive?

- Vera never gives up hope.

There's always this sliver of hope that some of them would be alive.

There's always this sliver of hope that some of them would be alive.

They may be in a terrible condition, but they're alive,

or they would have escaped, and they will show up.

So she keeps this hope in her when she goes,

but she is prepared for the worst.

And as she's uncovering these stories, Vera is getting hardened.

And as she's uncovering these stories, Vera is getting hardened.

The torture she's hearing about, it is hardening her.

- We have arrested an SS lieutenant from a camp north of Berlin.

- Which camp?

- Ravensbruck.

- Thank you. That will be all.

- Thank you. That will be all.

NARRATOR: Ravensbruck is Violette Szabo's camp.

Is this the stroke of luck that Vera badly needs?

Is this the stroke of luck that Vera badly needs?

- (dramatic music)

NARRATOR: SS Lieutenant Johann Schwarzhuber

was second in command at Ravensbruck.

was second in command at Ravensbruck.

- Schwarzhuber is a very important person

for Vera to be able to interview

for Vera to be able to interview

because he holds absolutely crucial information

about three of the women that she's looking for.

That she has since found out

were taken to Ravensbruck concentration camp.

- (suspenseful music)

- This one.

She had the name Violette.

- And?

What happened to her?

What happened to her?

- All three were taken to the crematorium building

of the camp.

And one by one...

..they were shot.

- How do you know?

- I watched.

- (sombre music)

NARRATOR: Vera now has testimony that,

NARRATOR: Vera now has testimony that,

along with Violette, Lilian Rolfe and Denise Bloch

were executed at the Ravensbruck concentration camp, north of Berlin.

were executed at the Ravensbruck concentration camp, north of Berlin.

VIGURS: Vera must have been absolutely shocked

to hear this information. She would have clung onto

to hear this information. She would have clung onto

any last thread of hope that the women had survived the camp

as she heard of these women who she'd been so affectionate for,

as she heard of these women who she'd been so affectionate for,

who she had really travelled across Europe, and in dreadful conditions,

trying to find out what had happened to them.

And finally, she has the evidence

And finally, she has the evidence

that these three women were murdered.

- (sombre music)

NARRATOR: Vera personally writes letters

for the bereaved families. Each one detailing her search

for the bereaved families. Each one detailing her search

for these spies 'missing presumed dead'.

VIGURS: Vera would have felt shocked and upset.

VIGURS: Vera would have felt shocked and upset.

But to some extent, I think she might have also felt relief.

She had closure on this story.

She had closure on this story.

And although it wasn't the end she would have wanted or hoped for,

she was finally able to tell the families of these three women

what had happened to them. And they were able to finally understand

what had happened to them. And they were able to finally understand

what their daughters, wives, children, had gone through

and what they had sacrificed for their country.

NARRATOR: Each letter has to be assessed by her superiors

to make sure Vera doesn't give away any incriminating evidence.

to make sure Vera doesn't give away any incriminating evidence.

RICHIE: Vera is in a very difficult position because

the fact that there were women agents

the fact that there were women agents

is not yet common knowledge.

They want to keep it out of the public eye

because it's a very difficult thing to try and explain to families

because it's a very difficult thing to try and explain to families

and acquaintances and loved ones

that actually your daughter was sent into harm's way without protection.

Without the protection of the Geneva Convention or the Hague Convention.

Without the protection of the Geneva Convention or the Hague Convention.

Without the protection of the British government, effectively,

they were meant to be completely deniable

if they were captured or caught or indeed killed.

NARRATOR: But there remain other spies who are unaccounted for.

NARRATOR: But there remain other spies who are unaccounted for.

Like Noor Inayat Khan who, with two others agents,

Like Noor Inayat Khan who, with two others agents,

was last seen at the Natzweiler camp in the mountains of eastern France.

In a few months, the Natzweiler war crimes trial will start.

In a few months, the Natzweiler war crimes trial will start.

And Vera has been instructed to gather as much evidence as she can.

And Vera has been instructed to gather as much evidence as she can.

But she can't do it alone.

NARRATOR: In the spring of 1946,

NARRATOR: In the spring of 1946,

Vera travels to Gaggenau, a small town near Karlsruhe.

It's here she visits Major Bill Barkworth

at a property his SAS unit have commandeered

called the Villa Degler.

- Vera Atkins. Good to finally meet you.

- And you, sir. - Please.

- And you, sir. - Please.

NARRATOR: Barkworth has offered Vera the chance

to get a witness statement from a former Natzweiler prisoner.

to get a witness statement from a former Natzweiler prisoner.

A man who worked as a crematorium stoker

and is currently held captive in the cellars of the villa,

and is currently held captive in the cellars of the villa,

along with other prisoners rounded up by Barkworth's Nazi hunter unit.

His name is Franz Berg.

His name is Franz Berg.

Berg's testimony is key

to whether Vera can get a conviction against those who ran the camp

to whether Vera can get a conviction against those who ran the camp

and may have murdered her women agents.

- The women to be killed by injection...

..rather than gassing, were two English and two French women.

..rather than gassing, were two English and two French women.

- They were brought to the cells in the crematorium building

one afternoon in...July 1944.

one afternoon in...July 1944.

- (unnerving music)

- We... Me and the other prisoners,

see through the fanlight without standing up.

see through the fanlight without standing up.

We heard low voices.

- (woman groaning)

- (woman groaning)

BERG: We heard noises of heavy breathing and low groaning.

The next two women, we heard the same noises

and regular groans. But the fourth...

She resisted in the corridor.

I heard her say 'Why?'

I heard her say 'Why?'

NARRATOR: Vera now has a witness statement

that she can use at the upcoming Natzweiler war crimes trial.

that she can use at the upcoming Natzweiler war crimes trial.

A testimony identifying that some of Vera's agents, including Noor,

were killed at the camp.

were killed at the camp.

But even with Berg's testimony, this is only one man's recollection.

Vera needs more evidence.

Vera needs more evidence.

Vera continues her preparation for the Natzweiler war crimes trial.

Vera continues her preparation for the Natzweiler war crimes trial.

Thanks to Barkworth, she now has Berg's testimony

and other witness statements.

and other witness statements.

But Vera lacks a critical piece of evidence

if she wants to convict those who ran Natzweiler.

if she wants to convict those who ran Natzweiler.

- Vera needs hard evidence.

If she wants to bring those perpetrators to justice,

If she wants to bring those perpetrators to justice,

she needs to gather enough of the hard evidence

that will stand up in a court of law to actually bring them to justice.

that will stand up in a court of law to actually bring them to justice.

NARRATOR: Vera needs documentary evidence.

Something that ties those who ran the camp with her missing agents.

Something that ties those who ran the camp with her missing agents.

So Vera tries to find documents that show

So Vera tries to find documents that show

which of her agents were murdered at Natzweiler.

Four of her agents were sent there from Karlsruhe prison.

Four of her agents were sent there from Karlsruhe prison.

Surely Fraulein Becker at Karlsruhe would have kept records.

- I need to see your records. Now, please.

- We don't have any.

- I can't imagine that.

- I can't imagine that.

- The French. When they came, they destroyed everything.

Smashed it all up.

Smashed it all up.

All gone.

- Fraulein Becker tells Vera

- Fraulein Becker tells Vera

that all the prison documents were destroyed by the French.

Now that reeks of a lie. Vera must have known she was lying.

Why would the French go to a German prison

Why would the French go to a German prison

and just randomly destroy all the records?

But she's no way of finding out

But she's no way of finding out

unless Fraulein Becker tells her the truth.

And how is she going to get her to do that?

NARRATOR: Vera chooses to visit Becker again.

This time with the SAS.

At Karlsruhe prison, Barkworth and Vera confront Fraulein Becker.

- Where are they?

- Where are they?

- Where are what? - The records!

- I don't know.

- I know you know. Where are they?

- I don't know!

- I don't know!

- Search everything! All of it!

You said the French destroyed everything.

You said the French destroyed everything.

- They did. - Why would they do that?

- I don't know! - You lie!

- Ma'am!

- Ma'am!

- What do we have here, hm? - I don't know.

- The records.

You lie. Liar!

NARRATOR: Vera and Barkworth go through the prison records.

NARRATOR: Vera and Barkworth go through the prison records.

Every entry and exit from the prison is marked.

Every entry and exit from the prison is marked.

Vera finds entries that on the 6th of July 1944,

four women agents are transferred

four women agents are transferred

from the prison at Karlsruhe

to the concentration camp at Natzweiler.

This corroborates what Berg told Vera

about four agents who were killed at Natzweiler.

Vera now has clear evidence that four women agents were murdered.

Vera now has clear evidence that four women agents were murdered.

The names are Andree Borrel,

Vera Leigh,

Vera Leigh,

Diana Rowden,

and Sonya Olschanesky.

and Sonya Olschanesky.

The fourth name, Sonia Olschanesky, is unknown to Vera.

Vera expected to see Noor's name or alias.

Witnesses had identified Noor

Witnesses had identified Noor

as travelling with this group to Natzweiler.

Noor was born in Moscow,

so a Russian-sounding alias could make sense.

so a Russian-sounding alias could make sense.

For Vera, Sonia Olschanesky's entry,

taken with other evidence, is actually for Noor Inayat Khan.

taken with other evidence, is actually for Noor Inayat Khan.

Vera has written evidence that four SOE women,

Vera has written evidence that four SOE women,

including Noor Inayat Khan,

are transported from Karlsruhe to Natzweiler.

And most likely, killed there.

She can now take the evidence to trial.

NARRATOR: The Natzweiler war crimes trial

NARRATOR: The Natzweiler war crimes trial

begins in Wuppertal, in the west of Germany.

- The Natzweiler trial would have been so important to Vera.

- The Natzweiler trial would have been so important to Vera.

It was her other chance to get information about the women

so she could provide that to the families and their close ones,

so she could provide that to the families and their close ones,

but also to bring these men to justice.

This was the most brutal execution,

This was the most brutal execution,

murder in fact, of these women.

It didn't need to be done in such a horrific manner, if at all.

NARRATOR: This will be a British-led trial

NARRATOR: This will be a British-led trial

with Nazis tried on German soil, but under international law.

A trial about one of the Nazis' specially hidden concentration camps

in the mountains of France.

RICHIE: Natzweiler isn't particularly well known.

But it was in microcosm

the system of the concentration camp set-up in Germany.

the system of the concentration camp set-up in Germany.

And in this case, in France.

It was a camp of 22,000 deaths.

Around 55,000 people held went through Natzweiler.

Around 55,000 people held went through Natzweiler.

So, relatively small compared to

some of the other concentration camps in the Reich.

But nevertheless, a system of tremendous brutality, slave labour,

But nevertheless, a system of tremendous brutality, slave labour,

medical experimentation, oppression, violence, the kapo system.

A terrible, terrible place.

A terrible, terrible place.

NARRATOR: But before the trial starts,

Vera receives a blunt instruction from her new boss, Norman Mott.

Vera receives a blunt instruction from her new boss, Norman Mott.

- Vera, everything, and I mean everything,

- Vera, everything, and I mean everything,

has been done in London

to keep this disgusting business out of the newspapers.

I need you to ensure that the press's interest is discouraged.

I need you to ensure that the press's interest is discouraged.

Wouldn't do our reputations any good.

- I understand.

- I suggest you start

by getting the names of the dead withheld from the trial.

by getting the names of the dead withheld from the trial.

- Their families won't like it, Norman.

- Their families won't like it, Norman.

They want to know what happened.

- Too bad.

- Too bad.

It's a disgusting business which is best buried.

Have you got a match?

- No.

- Oh.

- Oh.

Shame. - (taps pipe on desk)

VIGURS: The Natzweiler trial

VIGURS: The Natzweiler trial

would have been a troubling time for Vera.

Not only because of hearing the dreadful incidences

and details of what had happened,

and details of what had happened,

but also the SOE was still a secretive organisation.

People were not aware that women had been sent into the field

in violation of the Geneva Convention.

in violation of the Geneva Convention.

And she probably worried not only if their names got out into the press

And she probably worried not only if their names got out into the press

what had happened to them, but there were questions be start to raise

about who had sent them, why had they sent them,

why had this been allowed to happen.

why had this been allowed to happen.

NARRATOR: After four days of hearings,

the verdicts are delivered to the accused.

the verdicts are delivered to the accused.

Werner Rhode, the medical officer who injected the women,

is given a death sentence.

is given a death sentence.

Peter Straub, SS officer in charge of the executions,

is given 13 years in prison.

Later that year, he is given a death sentence.

Later that year, he is given a death sentence.

Fritz Hartjenstein, the Kommandant of Natzweiler,

is imprisoned for life.

is imprisoned for life.

VIGURS: The verdict of the Natzweiler trial

was that the three men who were on trial

was that the three men who were on trial

for the murder of these SOE women were all found guilty.

So in some respects, that's a very positive outcome.

She had proved that this murder was unlawful,

She had proved that this murder was unlawful,

this execution, as they called it.

But then the sentences may have been a bittersweet moment.

Did Vera want an eye for an eye at this point?

Did she want to see these men suffer and pay the ultimate price?

Or was she just happy to have received the guilty verdict?

Or was she just happy to have received the guilty verdict?

She was a very straightforward woman,

and I think she would have been just pleased

to have seen these men go down for what they'd done.

to have seen these men go down for what they'd done.

NARRATOR: Vera secures the agreement of the court

that the names of the dead be withheld from publication.

that the names of the dead be withheld from publication.

Thanks to Vera's work, the trial fails to create

Mott's much feared newspaper sensation.

Mott's much feared newspaper sensation.

Vera's role in the affair remains out of the public eye.

For now.

For now.

Vera turns her attention to her final three women spies

from Karlsruhe who are unaccounted for.

from Karlsruhe who are unaccounted for.

Yolande Beekman, Elaine Plewman,

and Madeleine Damerment.

and Madeleine Damerment.

Vera comes across an interrogation statement,

taken by American investigators,

taken by American investigators,

of Gestapo soldiers stationed in the town of Karlsruhe.

One soldier, Max Wassmer, recalls transporting women prisoners

One soldier, Max Wassmer, recalls transporting women prisoners

from Karlsruhe to Dachau concentration camp.

The ranks of three of the women

match those of Vera's unaccounted agents.

And Wassmer's detailed description of one woman

matches Madeleine Damerment.

- (sombre music)

- (sombre music)

NARRATOR: At Dachau, Wassmer reportedly tells his colleagues

that he pronounced the death sentence on the women.

that he pronounced the death sentence on the women.

And that they were then killed.

But can Vera be sure?

But can Vera be sure?

Other Gestapo soldiers claim there were four women,

not three, like Wassmer says.

not three, like Wassmer says.

They also claim that one of the women

came from a completely different prison called Pforzheim,

not Karlsruhe, as Wassmer states.

- One of the problems that Vera has, and indeed all of the people

involved in the war crimes trials have,

involved in the war crimes trials have,

is the veracity of the witnesses.

Because when she got testimony or drawings

or verification from her own side, her own agents,

or verification from her own side, her own agents,

or people who were also in the camps,

and said they saw three women or four women

and said they saw three women or four women

who came into the camp, she can believe them.

They may not remember everything,

but at least she knows that they're being honest.

But when you're relying on the testimony of an SS officer

or a kapo who's worked in the camp,

they're also self-interested, they also want to exonerate themselves.

they're also self-interested, they also want to exonerate themselves.

And so it's very difficult often to know if they're telling the truth.

And so, even though she gets the Wassmer testimony

and she thinks she's got some solid information

and she thinks she's got some solid information

about what's happened to her final three agents,

she can't really be sure. Particularly when then she gets

contradictory evidence.

contradictory evidence.

NARRATOR: Can Vera trust Wassmer's testimony in the report?

Vera has to find Wassmer and interrogate him herself.

Vera has to find Wassmer and interrogate him herself.

After months of searching, Vera tracks Wassmer down

After months of searching, Vera tracks Wassmer down

to internment camp number 74

in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

- Vera is the only one who knows all three SOE agents.

She knows them intimately.

And Max Wassmer says that he thinks he's identified them.

And Max Wassmer says that he thinks he's identified them.

Now, this is a huge big deal because Vera can actually get the man

in front of her and determine whether these women

in front of her and determine whether these women

were different women or were her agents.

And, you know, being there and able to speak to somebody about it,

where you know if you show somebody a photograph,

where you know if you show somebody a photograph,

you know when they go 'That's definitely the person'

or 'I think that's the person.' And it's all to do with intonation.

It's all to do with being in the same room as someone.

It's all to do with being in the same room as someone.

So for Vera, being in the same room as Max Wassmer

is really important so that she can interrogate him.

- Your name is Max Wassmer. Correct?

- Yes.

- You transported women from Karlsruhe prison to Dachau. Correct?

- (dramatic music)

- (door clunks)

- Yes.

- Yes.

- And then you watched as they were shot. Correct?

- No.

I handed them over to the guards.

- This report clearly states

that witnesses saw you take the women to be shot.

- Well, I was there, yes.

I wasn't...present at the end.

The guards took the women in, not me.

The guards took the women in, not me.

(sighs) We just... We just did transport.

- Then how did others know that four women were killed?

- Then how did others know that four women were killed?

- Three. - The report says four women.

- Three. - The report says four women.

- It was three.

- How can you be so sure?

- Because they gave me a receipt.

- Because they gave me a receipt.

- A what?

- The next day, guards gave me a receipt

- The next day, guards gave me a receipt

for three women spies shot dead.

We needed it for book-keeping back at Karlsruhe.

We needed it for book-keeping back at Karlsruhe.

Shall I describe them for you?

Shall I describe them for you?

Three women.

Three women.

NARRATOR: Wassmer provides descriptions of three women

transferred from Karlsruhe to Dachau

that match Vera's records of three SOE women.

that match Vera's records of three SOE women.

Vera has sufficient proof that her SOE agents,

Yolande Beekman, Eliane Plewman, and Madeleine Damerment,

Yolande Beekman, Eliane Plewman, and Madeleine Damerment,

are killed at Dachau.

Vera, after interviewing Max Wassmer,

now has everybody accounted for.

She knows exactly where all of her agents ended up.

She knows exactly where all of her agents ended up.

And there must have been a sort of wonderful sense of completion,

but also this sort of tragic pang

of knowing that there's nobody left to be saved.

of knowing that there's nobody left to be saved.

And just the horrific nature of their deaths.

It must have been absolutely awful.

NARRATOR: Vera now believes she has sufficient evidence

NARRATOR: Vera now believes she has sufficient evidence

to account for every one of her lost women spies, alive or dead.

She writes up a report for London, closing the case.

Of the 39 women Vera sent to war,

Of the 39 women Vera sent to war,

27 returned alive.

Many after sustained torture.

Many after sustained torture.

Twelve lose their lives at the hands of the Nazis.

Twelve lose their lives at the hands of the Nazis.

She encloses draft letters to be sent to the women's next of kin.

Details of their names to be completed in London.

Details of their names to be completed in London.

VERA: "It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you

that your daughter was killed

that your daughter was killed

in the early hours of the 13th of September 1944

in the camp of Dachau.

According to what is believed to be a reliable report,

she was shot through the back of the head, and death was immediate.

The body was cremated in the camp crematorium."

The body was cremated in the camp crematorium."

FRY: Vera does succeed in discovering the fate

FRY: Vera does succeed in discovering the fate

of the 12 missing women agents.

And in that sense, there is closure for her.

She has succeeded in discovering what's happened to all of them.

She has succeeded in discovering what's happened to all of them.

But also, it means that she can write to the families

and personally tell them what's happened.

and personally tell them what's happened.

And she carries that for the rest of her life.

What you find later in life

is some of the children of the agents who died in action

is some of the children of the agents who died in action

actually seek her out. They travel from across the world

because she's the one tangible physical link with those agents.

because she's the one tangible physical link with those agents.

And so she assumes a really important role,

not only immediately after investigations,

not only immediately after investigations,

but for the rest of her life.

She's the one that carries their memory.

She's the one that carries their memory.

NARRATOR: Vera has finally uncovered the fate of her missing women

NARRATOR: Vera has finally uncovered the fate of her missing women

and prepares to leave Germany.

With this part of her mission over, Vera will return to England.

With this part of her mission over, Vera will return to England.

Now she must answer the hardest question.

How did it all go so wrong?

NARRATOR: Vera must now uncover why so many of her agents were captured.

And how the Nazi intelligence service

And how the Nazi intelligence service

seemed to infiltrate SOE's agent networks so successfully.

RICHIE: When Vera returns to England,

there's a niggling doubt in her mind

that perhaps they have been betrayed.

She has been betrayed.

Perhaps there was a spy within the SOE.

Perhaps there was a spy within the SOE.

Perhaps there was somebody betraying them all, all along.

And the most terrifying fear starts to take hold of her.

That somebody very close to her,

somebody who she has to have worked with at SOE itself,

somebody who she has to have worked with at SOE itself,

might have actually betrayed her.

And she has to start thinking,

did I send these agents out to their deaths?

did I send these agents out to their deaths?

Were they being parachuted to or flown to

the waiting arms of treachery?

the waiting arms of treachery?

NARRATOR: The man who is key to this

is the head of Nazi security in France, Hans Kieffer,

is the head of Nazi security in France, Hans Kieffer,

who is hiding somewhere in Germany.

Find Kieffer and you find the traitor.

Find Kieffer and you find the traitor.

Vera passes a tip to her friend, SAS Major Bill Barkworth,

Vera passes a tip to her friend, SAS Major Bill Barkworth,

that Kieffer might be hiding in his hometown of Garmisch in Bavaria.

With Kieffer on the run, Vera turns to another leading Nazi

With Kieffer on the run, Vera turns to another leading Nazi

to try and uncover how the Germans captured her women agents.

He is the man who masterminded

He is the man who masterminded

the Nazi radio operation in northern France.

Dr Josef Goetz.

Dr Josef Goetz.

Goetz worked as one of Kieffer's lead counter intelligence officers.

Goetz worked as one of Kieffer's lead counter intelligence officers.

- Dr Goetz worked in Avenue Foch

- Dr Goetz worked in Avenue Foch

in the Sicherheitsdienst headquarters in Paris.

And he's an underling of SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Kieffer

from the Sicherheitsdienst.

from the Sicherheitsdienst.

And his job is effectively to engage in counter espionage.

To collect the evidence, letters, documents from enemy agents,

To collect the evidence, letters, documents from enemy agents,

and keep them, analyse them.

And then give that information back to Kieffer

And then give that information back to Kieffer

and inform him about what the agents are up to.

NARRATOR: There is one thing Goetz is especially good at,

which is fooling the British with fake radio transmissions.

which is fooling the British with fake radio transmissions.

London was oblivious that agents had been captured.

London was oblivious that agents had been captured.

And that Goetz was using information tortured out of them

to trick SOE into revealing intelligence

about the agents' circuits.

- It's basically a game that they were playing with the British

- It's basically a game that they were playing with the British

by sending them false messages

through their own wireless transmitters.

So when you'd capture an agent, it'd be taken back to Avenue Foch

So when you'd capture an agent, it'd be taken back to Avenue Foch

and they'd be interrogated and their actual transmitter was kept.

So that that meant that when they gave them the right codes,

So that that meant that when they gave them the right codes,

they could then give false messages back to London

and get them to do all sorts of things that they wanted to.

and get them to do all sorts of things that they wanted to.

Make them think that agents are still OK and hadn't been detained,

or indeed give them false messages about what was happening in the war

that would get passed up the chain to Winston Churchill

that would get passed up the chain to Winston Churchill

and affect the war.

NARRATOR: Goetz is one of thousands

of suspected war criminals arrested after the war.

of suspected war criminals arrested after the war.

But when it is discovered that he is the radio mastermind at Avenue Foch,

he is sent to England for further interrogation.

he is sent to England for further interrogation.

- Funkspiel.

That's what we called it. The radio game.

That's what we called it. The radio game.

(scoffs) London was very bad at it.

We would impersonate one of your agents.

We would impersonate one of your agents.

Ask questions. And London would give us the answer.

With a... little slap on the wrist.

With a... little slap on the wrist.

"Please use your security code next time."

London was a joke.

London was a joke.

When the agents we captured knew how much we knew already...

Well, they simply gave up.

Well, they simply gave up.

- What did you do once the agents were caught?

- We...interrogated them.

For more personal information.

- More?

- Kieffer told your agents that we knew all their secrets already.

- Kieffer told your agents that we knew all their secrets already.

And if they wanted to live...

Well, they'd have to... collaborate with him.

Well, they'd have to... collaborate with him.

- How did Kieffer know so much?

Personal information was never shared by radio.

Personal information was never shared by radio.

- No, not by radio.

- The only personal information was sent by -

- The only personal information was sent by -

- By...mail.

NARRATOR: Goetz reveals that Kieffer somehow gets access

NARRATOR: Goetz reveals that Kieffer somehow gets access

to personal letters that Vera's agents send from France

back home to England.

Uncoded letters full of private information.

Uncoded letters full of private information.

FRY: Vera discovers that Kieffer has actually had access

to all of the mail from the agents.

to all of the mail from the agents.

So they didn't have a chance.

When the agents are dropped into France,

the Germans know exactly who's coming and when.

the Germans know exactly who's coming and when.

And that realisation

that the Germans were reading all the agents' mail

must have been such a shocking revelation to Vera.

must have been such a shocking revelation to Vera.

And then it leads to the next question.

Who had betrayed them?

Who had betrayed them?

- How did Kieffer get the mail?

- Kieffer told me that he got it from Gilbert.

Yes.

I believe that's him.

NARRATOR: Gilbert is the codename for

French agent Henri Dericourt.

- (laughs) How lovely to see you. - Likewise.

- (laughs) How lovely to see you. - Likewise.

NARRATOR: The man SOE had trusted with the safety of their agents

appears to be a traitor.

Dericourt had already been recalled to London

by Buckmaster and Bodington

after allegations of collaborating with the Nazis.

after allegations of collaborating with the Nazis.

Dericourt pleaded his innocence, and after an investigation...

- Don't worry, Dericourt. We'll clear this whole sorry business up.

- Don't worry, Dericourt. We'll clear this whole sorry business up.

- Thanks.

NARRATOR: ..he is cleared.

- Vera is put in a position where she either believes a Nazi

- Vera is put in a position where she either believes a Nazi

or a possible double agent.

Henri Dericourt is in the heart of the SOE.

Henri Dericourt is in the heart of the SOE.

He is one of their own.

This is a man that she hands over her agents to.

How could she possibly believe that he could be a double agent?

How could she possibly believe that he could be a double agent?

He was cleared. I mean, surely everybody knows him.

But how did the Nazis know so much? How is it possible?

But how did the Nazis know so much? How is it possible?

And here is Goetz saying,

'Well, you know this. I'm telling you the truth.'

And it must have been such a worm in her mind.

And it must have been such a worm in her mind.

Was Dericourt a spy, a double agent?

NARRATOR: So who is telling the truth?

NARRATOR: So who is telling the truth?

Dericourt?

Or Goetz?

RICHIE: One of the problems with trying to tease out a spy

RICHIE: One of the problems with trying to tease out a spy

is that you have to trust people that you don't trust.

And in this case, she's talking to people like Dr Goetz

And in this case, she's talking to people like Dr Goetz

from the SD, and it's in his vested interest, and has been for years,

to play cat and mouse games with the SOE and with people like Vera.

to play cat and mouse games with the SOE and with people like Vera.

And so she has to decide 'Well, can I trust somebody like Dr Goetz?'

So these doubts are also in her mind.

So these doubts are also in her mind.

What does she really know?

NARRATOR: The only way for Vera to be sure

is to find the mastermind

for all Nazi intelligence in northern France.

for all Nazi intelligence in northern France.

Hans Kieffer.

A man who is on the run, hiding somewhere in Germany.

A man who is on the run, hiding somewhere in Germany.

But all of Vera's work comes into question

when she receives a letter forwarded by her superior, Norman Mott.

when she receives a letter forwarded by her superior, Norman Mott.

The letter is written by Yolande Lagrave,

The letter is written by Yolande Lagrave,

a member of the French Resistance.

Lagrave writes that in June 1943,

Lagrave writes that in June 1943,

she was arrested by the Gestapo and transferred to Pforzheim prison.

LAGRAVE: "I was able to correspond with an English parachutist

who was locked up there also.

She was very unhappy. - (tapping)

Her hands and feet were chained.

And she was never allowed out.

And she was never allowed out.

I heard the blows which she received from the prison guards.

She was taken away from Pforzheim

She was taken away from Pforzheim

in September 1944.

Before she left, she had been able to send me

not her name, because it was too dangerous, but her alias.

not her name, because it was too dangerous, but her alias.

And she also wrote down her address for me.

It was this.

Nora Baker. Radio Centre Officers Service, RAF.

Nora Baker. Radio Centre Officers Service, RAF.

4 Taviston Street, London.

I kept the address on a piece of paper sewn into my hem."

I kept the address on a piece of paper sewn into my hem."

NARRATOR: Noor Inayat Khan had been recruited as a wireless operator

from the WAAF, the women's division of the RAF.

from the WAAF, the women's division of the RAF.

4 Taviston Street, London, had once been her family's home

4 Taviston Street, London, had once been her family's home

and Nora Baker had once been her alias.

Vera believes the prisoner Lagrave writes about is Noor.

And if Noor had been held at Pforzheim until September 1944,

And if Noor had been held at Pforzheim until September 1944,

then there is no way she could have been

one of the four women killed at Natzweiler in July 1944.

one of the four women killed at Natzweiler in July 1944.

- When Vera learns about Noor's fate,

and the fact that she's gone to Pforzheim,

and the fact that she's gone to Pforzheim,

it's such a mix of emotions.

She's written to the family that Noor has been killed in Natzweiler.

She has internalised that now, dealt with that.

She has internalised that now, dealt with that.

There's been some closure.

And now this has opened up something else.

Could Noor be alive? Did she manage to get out? What happened to her?

Could Noor be alive? Did she manage to get out? What happened to her?

So she's in a space where now she has to find out the final journey.

She has to find out if she escaped. There is a sliver of hope.

She has to find out if she escaped. There is a sliver of hope.

But also, what could have happened to Noor?

NARRATOR: So what did happen to Noor?

NARRATOR: So what did happen to Noor?

If she wasn't killed at Natzweiler, could Noor still be alive?

Vera has to uncover the truth.

Vera has to uncover the truth.

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