Original subtitles

NARRATOR: World War Two is over.

But British women agents remain missing throughout Europe.

- The other English women... how many were there?

- The other English women... how many were there?

Answer me!

NARRATOR: Nazi radio mastermind Josef Goetz

gives spymaster Vera Atkins an explosive testimony...

gives spymaster Vera Atkins an explosive testimony...

- Yes. I believe that's him.

NARRATOR: ..implicating Henri Dericourt...

NARRATOR: ..implicating Henri Dericourt...

- It's good to have someone out here we can trust.

- I'm your man. NARRATOR: ..as the double agent...

who betrays the British SOE to the Gestapo.

who betrays the British SOE to the Gestapo.

Dericourt is arrested in Paris.

But has Vera really got the man who betrayed her women agents?

But has Vera really got the man who betrayed her women agents?

Whitehall has closed down the Special Operations Executive.

But Vera has evidence from a French Resistance fighter

that her agent Noor Inayat Khan...

could still be alive.

could still be alive.

Vera will not give up.

One agent who does make it back alive is Odette Sansom.

One agent who does make it back alive is Odette Sansom.

She is driven out of Ravensbruck concentration camp

by its commandant, Fritz Suhren.

- This man is a war criminal.

- This man is a war criminal.

NARRATOR: Suhren is now on the run.

But his deputy, Johann Schwarzhuber...

- What happened to her? - They were shot.

- What happened to her? - They were shot.

NARRATOR: ..is in custody, awaiting the Ravensbruck trial.

It's 5th December 1946.

In Hamburg, in the British zone of occupied Germany...

In Hamburg, in the British zone of occupied Germany...

..the Ravensbruck trial begins.

The defendants are concentration camp personnel

The defendants are concentration camp personnel

from all divisions of the camp:

SS officers, camp doctors...

SS officers, camp doctors...

female guards.

It is a Nazi camp like no other.

- Ravensbruck was a concentration camp,

and unlike every other concentration camp,

it was a concentration camp for women.

it was a concentration camp for women.

It was particularly horrifying for the sensibilities of people

in the 1940s as well, where...

in the 1940s as well, where...

women are meant to be kept out of combat, out of war,

and treated with some level of humanity.

Ravensbruck was a particular horrific site...

Ravensbruck was a particular horrific site...

to end up in.

- The Ravensbruck trial is important, and it's unique,

- The Ravensbruck trial is important, and it's unique,

because of the treatment of prisoners within the camp.

In particular, the medical experiments

that had been carried out: forced sterilisations, for example.

that had been carried out: forced sterilisations, for example.

NARRATOR: Vera's role in the trial...

NARRATOR: Vera's role in the trial...

is to manage the extensive evidence she has brought together...

..passing it on to the prosecutors.

..passing it on to the prosecutors.

But she must not reveal her role to the international press.

But she must not reveal her role to the international press.

The trial features one of the camp's most notorious SS officers...

The trial features one of the camp's most notorious SS officers...

..Johann Schwarzhuber.

..Johann Schwarzhuber.

He is about to face one of his accusers.

- Barrister, could you please say who this man in front of us is?

- Barrister, could you please say who this man in front of us is?

- Johann Schwarzhuber.

- And who is your next witness?

- And who is your next witness?

BARRISTER: Odette Sansom.

NARRATOR: Odette Sansom is a star witness for the prosecution,

giving damning testimony about what happened at the camp...

at the hands of Schwarzhuber and others.

The court hears from Odette and other witnesses...

The court hears from Odette and other witnesses...

..about the treatment of female agent Violette Szabo...

..who is described talking about 'my baby, my baby...'

..who is described talking about 'my baby, my baby...'

..her young child left behind in Britain...

..and how Violette and two other agents...

..and how Violette and two other agents...

..Lilian Rolfe and Denise Bloch...

..are brought from the punishment block

..are brought from the punishment block

emaciated, dirty and weak.

They are then taken behind the crematorium building...

..and shot.

VIGURS: The trial would've been difficult for Vera

as the witnesses took the stands.

Although she'd probably already interviewed some of them previously,

Although she'd probably already interviewed some of them previously,

she may have compartmentalised it in some way.

But having seen, and spoken to, and befriended the agents

But having seen, and spoken to, and befriended the agents

that she had sent into the field,

the realisation of what these women had sacrificed,

and what the overarching impact on their families were going to be,

and what the overarching impact on their families were going to be,

it must have been harrowing for her.

NARRATOR: At the end of the trial,

NARRATOR: At the end of the trial,

Schwarzhuber is sentenced to death...

..and executed on 3rd May 1947.

..and executed on 3rd May 1947.

Five of the female guards are also executed.

Fritz Suhren, the commandant,

Fritz Suhren, the commandant,

remains a fugitive from justice.

But before the closing statements are finished,

But before the closing statements are finished,

Vera is already on her way

to try and track down the last of her lost women spies...

to try and track down the last of her lost women spies...

Noor Inayat Khan.

Previously, Vera received a letter

Previously, Vera received a letter

from a French Resistance fighter Yolande Lagrave...

claiming she had contact with Noor

claiming she had contact with Noor

in a prison in Pforzheim in the west of Germany.

This directly contradicted Vera's evidence...

from crematorium stoker Franz Berg.

He claimed that Noor was killed...

He claimed that Noor was killed...

at the Natzweiler concentration camp in France.

- Vera already has an eyewitness testimony

- Vera already has an eyewitness testimony

from Natzweiler saying that Noor is dead.

And now she has another eyewitness testimony saying,

'Nope, that is not true. She is here.'

What eyewitness do you trust?

How does Vera make this decision?

She needs some sort of corroborating evidence

She needs some sort of corroborating evidence

to prove one way or the other.

NARRATOR: So what did happen to Noor?

NARRATOR: So what did happen to Noor?

Vera needs another witness statement.

So she decides to interrogate one particular Gestapo soldier

So she decides to interrogate one particular Gestapo soldier

for a second time.

Max Wassmer transported SOE agents

Max Wassmer transported SOE agents

to Dachau concentration camp...

in September 1944.

in September 1944.

Wassmer claims that he transferred three women to the camp...

Wassmer claims that he transferred three women to the camp...

even though other witnesses say there was a fourth woman...

..a woman from Pforzheim prison.

..a woman from Pforzheim prison.

- Three.

You're sure it was three?

Three women.

Three women.

Not men. Women.

Because the other guards say you're wrong.

Because the other guards say you're wrong.

- (sighs)

The receipt said three women.

- That is not what I asked.

Did you take three women?

- (scoffs)

Three, four. What's the difference?

- It's all the difference.

So it was four?

- Three from Karlsruhe.

And one other.

From...

From...

..Pforzheim, I think.

Please tell me what they looked like.

Please tell me what they looked like.

All of them.

- She looked like...

- She looked like...

..she may have been Indian.

NARRATOR: Wassmer describes the fourth woman...

NARRATOR: Wassmer describes the fourth woman...

..giving a description of a woman who Vera believes...

..is Noor Inayat Khan.

Wassmer reveals that Noor is taken outside the camp

Wassmer reveals that Noor is taken outside the camp

with the other women and made to kneel in front of a mound of earth.

The only word Noor says before she is shot...

is the French word for freedom: 'liberte'.

is the French word for freedom: 'liberte'.

- Thank you, Herr Wassmer.

- Thank you, Herr Wassmer.

We're done.

NARRATOR: Vera can now put to rest her quest to find out Noor's story,

NARRATOR: Vera can now put to rest her quest to find out Noor's story,

and her final resting place:

the concentration camp at Dachau.

the concentration camp at Dachau.

Now Vera must ask the hardest question of all.

Who betrayed her women agents?

Who betrayed her women agents?

Who is the person that betrayed Noor...

SOLDIER: Halt! NARRATOR: ..Violette Szabo....

..and all Vera's other women spies

so they ended up in the hands of the Nazis?

Could it have been Henri Dericourt?

There were allegations,

but Vera still doesn't know for sure.

but Vera still doesn't know for sure.

The man who would know...

..is Hans Kieffer...

..the man in charge of Nazi intelligence in Paris.

..the man in charge of Nazi intelligence in Paris.

To find him, Vera needs the SAS.

SAS intelligence officer Major 'Bill' Barkworth and his men

SAS intelligence officer Major 'Bill' Barkworth and his men

stake out a small town in Southern Germany.

They've received a tip-off from Vera

that Hans Kieffer has been spotted here.

It is Kieffer's home town.

It is Kieffer's home town.

They're looking for the caretaker of a local hotel

who signed the town hall register as Hans Kiefer.

who signed the town hall register as Hans Kiefer.

The name is suspiciously similar,

with only one 'F' removed.

- Hans Josef...

- Hans Josef...

..Kieffer, senior counterintelligence officer.

84 Avenue Foch.

Paris.

- Yes.

- Get him out of here!

- Get him out of here!

NARRATOR: Barkworth and Vera have their man.

Now it is their chance to find out

Now it is their chance to find out

who betrayed all of Vera's women agents.

It is January 1947.

Vera is face to face with her secret enemy

Vera is face to face with her secret enemy

Hans Kieffer.

LEWIS: Hans Kieffer is a lifelong Nazi,

so he joined the Nazi Party in the early 1920s: so very, very early on.

so he joined the Nazi Party in the early 1920s: so very, very early on.

And he rises to become, during the war,

the head of the Gestapo, and SS operation runner in Paris.

the head of the Gestapo, and SS operation runner in Paris.

So this was an operation specifically aimed at hunting down

So this was an operation specifically aimed at hunting down

mostly special operations executive agents in the field.

So agents of the SOE in France.

So agents of the SOE in France.

But the thing about Hans Kieffer is he's a fascinating individual,

because he's not like you would imagine your archetypal SS bruiser.

because he's not like you would imagine your archetypal SS bruiser.

He's a subtle,

wily, clever fox.

NARRATOR: Vera has waited almost two years for this moment...

NARRATOR: Vera has waited almost two years for this moment...

..the chance to interrogate the man who could answer all her questions.

..the chance to interrogate the man who could answer all her questions.

The man who holds the key to her lost women spies.

And what really happened to Noor,

codename Madeleine.

- Berlin considered the French section of SOE

- Berlin considered the French section of SOE

particularly dangerous.

Both the Fuhrer...

..and Himmler had shown a personal interest.

..and Himmler had shown a personal interest.

I remember Madeleine.

I remember Madeleine.

Refused to cooperate.

Refused to cooperate.

Unlike the others.

She tried to escape with a group of male agents.

It would have ruined us if she made it back to SOE.

It would have ruined us if she made it back to SOE.

Ruined me.

So I... sent her away.

So I... sent her away.

She ended up in...

Pforzheim, I think.

She was a brave one.

- Her name was Noor Inayat Khan.

She is most likely dead.

Shot thorough the head at Dachau.

Kieffer, if one of us is going to cry, it is going to be me.

Kieffer, if one of us is going to cry, it is going to be me.

You will please stop this comedy.

Who betrayed them, Kieffer?

Who betrayed Noor?

- You're asking me...

..if there was a traitor in your ranks?

..if there was a traitor in your ranks?

Why are you asking me?

You know yourself there was one.

You know yourself there was one.

You recalled him to London.

Gilbert.

- And who is Gilbert?

- And who is Gilbert?

- Well, I think you know.

Of course you know.

Of course you know.

Henri Dericourt.

- Did you pay him?

- Yes.

Everyone has their price.

Everyone has their price.

Don't they?

NARRATOR: Here, at last,

NARRATOR: Here, at last,

is Vera's definitive proof...

that Henri Dericourt is the double agent...

- 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, sir.

NARRATOR: ..despite Buckmaster and Bodington investigation...

NARRATOR: ..despite Buckmaster and Bodington investigation...

clearing him.

- There is no doubt in Vera's mind

- There is no doubt in Vera's mind

that with all the resistance evidence coming in,

all of the information that Kieffer knows about Dericourt,

obviously, now, for Vera,

obviously, now, for Vera,

she knows Dericourt is the mole: he is a double agent.

He's the reason that all of her agents, or a lot of them,

He's the reason that all of her agents, or a lot of them,

ended up in concentration camps.

He's the reason that they were murdered.

And the anger that must have pulsed through her at that point.

And the anger that must have pulsed through her at that point.

This isn't a sinking feeling any more.

This is something that she needs justice for.

NARRATOR: Now Vera has a star witness who can testify against,

and hopefully convict, Henri Dericourt.

and hopefully convict, Henri Dericourt.

June 1948.

Henri Dericourt is brought to trial in Paris.

Here is Vera's chance for justice.

LAWRENCE: Vera had spent the last few years

LAWRENCE: Vera had spent the last few years

building up her case against Henry Dericourt.

I mean, she had everything.

Now she was a civilian, obviously, she wasn't leading the prosecution,

Now she was a civilian, obviously, she wasn't leading the prosecution,

so she couldn't determine what evidence...

they were going to use in court against him, but she had so much.

She had affidavits from actual Nazi war criminals who named him.

She had affidavits from actual Nazi war criminals who named him.

She had all of the evidence that she'd gathered from her own agents.

She had all the evidence from the French Resistance.

She had all the evidence from the French Resistance.

Henri Dericourt was at the centre of this web of lies.

And she could prove it. It was all right there.

And she could prove it. It was all right there.

She must have felt so confident when they entered the courtroom.

NARRATOR: But it is soon clear it may not be as easy as Vera hopes.

NARRATOR: But it is soon clear it may not be as easy as Vera hopes.

It's now been over a year since Vera interrogated Hans Kieffer.

It's now been over a year since Vera interrogated Hans Kieffer.

She is told that in June 1947,

Kieffer was convicted of the murder of five SAS men, and executed...

Kieffer was convicted of the murder of five SAS men, and executed...

before he can give evidence at the Dericourt trial.

before he can give evidence at the Dericourt trial.

- Hans Kieffer would've known more than anybody else

about every single agent who was arrested:

about every single agent who was arrested:

when, and how, and the radio game.

And also what informers he was using.

So, one might think that his evidence would've been...

So, one might think that his evidence would've been...

or a statement at least, would've been crucial

to the eventual trial of Henri Dericourt as a traitor.

to the eventual trial of Henri Dericourt as a traitor.

I mean, there's a potential conspiracy theory around the fact

that he was deliberately executed

that he was deliberately executed

so that he couldn't reveal the full extent of the...

SOE failings and disastrous infiltrations.

NARRATOR: Next, Vera discovers the statement

which she extracted from Kieffer...

is not going to be put before the court.

is not going to be put before the court.

Finally, no former SOE officers

will appear in court to give evidence.

But on the final day,

one former officer does make the trip to Paris.

one former officer does make the trip to Paris.

None other than Nicholas Bodington.

Could Bodington be the man to help get Dericourt convicted?

Could Bodington be the man to help get Dericourt convicted?

Bodington gives evidence.

But instead of giving evidence against Dericourt,

Bodington testifies that Dericourt's contact with the Nazis

Bodington testifies that Dericourt's contact with the Nazis

was fully authorised for counterespionage purposes.

Henri Dericourt is found not to be a traitor.

Henri Dericourt is found not to be a traitor.

Instead, partially thanks to Bodington's testimony,

he is acquitted: Dericourt is a free man.

he is acquitted: Dericourt is a free man.

Vera has to face the possibility that her women agents

were compromised so that Dericourt could supply intelligence to London

were compromised so that Dericourt could supply intelligence to London

about the Nazis.

- Put yourself in Vera's boots.

She's been trying to prosecute Henri Dericourt for years.

She's been trying to prosecute Henri Dericourt for years.

And here, it's almost like a farcical trial.

And not only does the prosecution not really try and pin him down

And not only does the prosecution not really try and pin him down

and brings virtually no witnesses,

but the defence, they bring Boddington.

Like, this is a man that Vera has worked with,

Like, this is a man that Vera has worked with,

and he knows what she's been doing.

He knows that she's desperately been trying to bring justice

to all the women who... some of them were tortured to death.

to all the women who... some of them were tortured to death.

And she feels responsible for that,

because she's the person who sent them out there.

- How could you, Nick? - Vera.

- How could you, Nick? - Vera.

- How could you support that traitor?

Testify for him? After everything he did to my agents?

Testify for him? After everything he did to my agents?

Our agents! - Vera.

- You're a liar. - Everything I said was true.

- You liar!

- You liar!

- Vera, Dericourt's contact with the SD was authorised.

- I sent my girls to war...

with no protection under the Geneva Convention.

with no protection under the Geneva Convention.

If they were made as spies, they faced certain death.

You sent them to their deaths!

You sent them to their deaths!

- You sent a widow with a young daughter to France.

That child is now an orphan.

You pulled Noor out of training early

You pulled Noor out of training early

because you needed a wireless operator.

You volunteered for this job,

begged Buckmaster to play with the big boys.

begged Buckmaster to play with the big boys.

Don't forget that.

I don't know you, Nick.

- You never did.

- You never did.

NARRATOR: It appears that the men at the top of the British establishment

want the true story of the women spies to be lost...

want the true story of the women spies to be lost...

permanently.

But others are now interested in what happened to Vera's spies.

But others are now interested in what happened to Vera's spies.

In the early 1950s, writer Jean Overton Fuller

In the early 1950s, writer Jean Overton Fuller

begins researching a series of books about the SOE.

Jean wants to find out what actually to her friend Noor Inayat Khan,

Jean wants to find out what actually to her friend Noor Inayat Khan,

who disappeared during the war after telling Jean she was 'going away'.

who disappeared during the war after telling Jean she was 'going away'.

Despite being warned off by establishment figures,

Fuller interviews former members of the SOE...

Fuller interviews former members of the SOE...

and one man in particular.

Codename Gilbert.

Henri Dericourt.

Henri Dericourt.

Her work results in three books about the SOE,

Her work results in three books about the SOE,

with the last, called Double Webs,

published in 1958.

The book makes the controversial claim that Noor,

The book makes the controversial claim that Noor,

and other agents, are sent by the SOE

into the hands of Henri Dericourt...

into the hands of Henri Dericourt...

..with the full knowledge that Dericourt is a double agent...

..working with the Nazis.

..working with the Nazis.

The book makes headlines.

BOY: Delivery for Mrs Ward!

Several MPs receive letters from the families of lost women spies

wanting to know the whole truth about their daughters.

One MP is Conservative Member for Tyneside Irene Ward.

One MP is Conservative Member for Tyneside Irene Ward.

Irene, through the Home Office,

Irene, through the Home Office,

requests an interview with someone who knows what happened.

The Home Office sends Vera.

- Overton Fuller writes, and I quote...

- I have read the book, Mrs Ward.

- I have read the book, Mrs Ward.

It's a shame, really,

It's a shame, really,

that accuracy appears to be a secondary concern.

I find these things of such importance.

- You're disputing that Henri Dericourt was a double agent?

- You're disputing that Henri Dericourt was a double agent?

- Perhaps you could ask him yourself?

I'm sure Ms Overton Fuller could direct you to him.

I'm sure Ms Overton Fuller could direct you to him.

- Ms Atkins.

What concerns me is that the SOE,

What concerns me is that the SOE,

that your superiors,

that you... were sending women to fight

that you... were sending women to fight

in the full knowledge they had no chance to survive.

- Mrs Ward.

What did you do during the war?

What did you do during the war?

- I served my constituents. - Hmm.

- Atkins.

Your mother's name, I believe.

Your father's name: Rose.

Rosenberg, if I'm not mistaken.

Rosenberg, if I'm not mistaken.

And you're from Romania originally.

How did a young Romanian girl like yourself ever...

How did a young Romanian girl like yourself ever...

- I'm so sorry, Mrs Ward, but I have another meeting.

- Good day, Ms Atkins.

See yourself out, please.

See yourself out, please.

NARRATOR: After the meeting,

Irene Ward digs into Vera's personal history:

Irene Ward digs into Vera's personal history:

who she is, where she comes from,

and what she really did at SOE.

Irene Ward's digging threatens to reveal the story

of the lost women spies.

of the lost women spies.

The security establishment goes into damage control.

An academic, called MRD Foot,

An academic, called MRD Foot,

at the University of Oxford,

is engaged to produce an 'official history' of the SOE.

is engaged to produce an 'official history' of the SOE.

LAWRENCE: MRD Foot is ex-SAS.

He also was captured in the war.

He also was captured in the war.

And he was put in a prisoner-of-war camp in France.

So he has all of this direct experience within the war,

but he's also a historian, so he's got that authority as well.

but he's also a historian, so he's got that authority as well.

He understands how to write about history,

and he understands there are still some secrets that must stay secret.

and he understands there are still some secrets that must stay secret.

NARRATOR: His exhaustive work concludes that...

VOICEOVER: 'To the question of why people with so little training

VOICEOVER: 'To the question of why people with so little training

were sent to do such important work,

the only reply is the work had to be done,

and there was nobody else to send.'

and there was nobody else to send.'

- (phone rings)

- Professor Foot.

NARRATOR: Before the book is published,

Vera speaks to Foot and persuades him to omit her Romanian background

Vera speaks to Foot and persuades him to omit her Romanian background

from his history of SOE.

- ..discretion in some of these.

- ..discretion in some of these.

NARRATOR: So why does Vera hide who she really is?

Because Vera, is forced to cover up not just her public story

Because Vera, is forced to cover up not just her public story

and the lost women spies...

but also the private story of her family's life.

- Ms Atkins, I would like three copies of this, please. One...

NARRATOR: It was a closely guarded secret at SOE

NARRATOR: It was a closely guarded secret at SOE

that Vera was born in Romania rather than the UK.

But that wasn't Vera's only secret.

Vera was not born Vera Atkins...

Vera was not born Vera Atkins...

..but Vera Rosenberg.

Vera is one of the three children of Max and Hilda Rosenberg,

Vera is one of the three children of Max and Hilda Rosenberg,

who are both German Jews.

Just before the First World War,

Just before the First World War,

Max purchases an estate, and wood mill,

in Bukovina, a region that will become part of Romania.

in Bukovina, a region that will become part of Romania.

But after Vera's father dies in 1932,

and with antisemitism in Europe on the rise,

and with antisemitism in Europe on the rise,

Vera and her two brothers move to the United Kingdom...

..where they take their English mother's surname of Atkins.

Vera leaves behind in Romania an extended family.

Vera leaves behind in Romania an extended family.

As the Nazis take hold of Europe,

the family who stay are in mortal danger.

the family who stay are in mortal danger.

- The terror that people live with cannot be underestimated,

- The terror that people live with cannot be underestimated,

even if they weren't actually at direct risk

of being moved to concentration camps.

This isn't just my family, this isn't just my aunt and my dad,

This isn't just my family, this isn't just my aunt and my dad,

and my direct family, this is everybody...

with Jewish family who were living in the UK and England at the time...

were terrified about what was gonna happen to their relatives.

were terrified about what was gonna happen to their relatives.

And I think everybody wanted to do whatever they could to help.

- (radio static and chatter)

NARRATOR: According to a family story,

Vera's family in the UK raise a large amount of money

to help their European relatives.

to help their European relatives.

- My dad, my uncle and Vera were very keen...

to provide any help they could, so...

to provide any help they could, so...

they obviously found money, and they found resources,

but it was very clear that, by this point, to get money,

to get resources, to get a logistical plan,

you probably needed to go.

You needed to leave England, you needed to get on a boat,

and you needed to go and practically help.

NARRATOR: Vera travels to Antwerp, Belgium, in 1940,

just as the Nazis are about to invade.

During the war, people would often store their wealth

in something that could be more easily hidden and transported...

..diamonds.

For hundreds of years,

Antwerp has been the centre of the diamond trade in Europe.

Vera is believed to have converted the money from the UK

into diamonds for the family in Romania.

into diamonds for the family in Romania.

But who are the relatives facing Nazi persecution

But who are the relatives facing Nazi persecution

that Vera wants to save?

Fritz Rosenberg is Vera's cousin.

Vera's relatives, in the 1940s, face disaster.

Vera's relatives, in the 1940s, face disaster.

The region has been occupied by Hungary,

an ally of Nazi Germany.

Under new anti-Jewish laws,

Fritz and his wife, Karen, lose their passports.

Fritz and his wife, Karen, lose their passports.

They may even be deported to concentration camps.

But without a passport,

they are unable to escape to another country.

- This rise in antisemitism in the law

- This rise in antisemitism in the law

is reflected in the population.

They wouldn't be able to trust their neighbours.

They wouldn't be able to trust that, at any point,

They wouldn't be able to trust that, at any point,

they might be snatched away in the middle of the night.

They could be put on a train and taken to God knows where.

I mean, it must have been absolutely terrifying for them.

I mean, it must have been absolutely terrifying for them.

NARRATOR: Karen Rosenberg contacts a German family friend...

..someone who has good contacts with the Abwehr,

German military intelligence.

Karen is able to obtain Aryan passports,

issued by the Nazi government, for her and Fritz.

issued by the Nazi government, for her and Fritz.

The Rosenbergs pay the Abwehr a large sum,

about �150,000 in today's money,

to get the prized passports...

..money that could be the diamonds that Vera sources in Antwerp.

Karen and Fritz are able to leave Romania.

Karen and Fritz are able to leave Romania.

They are free...

but it's a freedom that comes at a personal cost.

Fritz and Karen relocate to the safety of Istanbul...

Fritz and Karen relocate to the safety of Istanbul...

..where Vera's brother Ralph Rosenberg lives.

..where Vera's brother Ralph Rosenberg lives.

The reason they go to Istanbul...

is because of a condition set by the Abwehr.

is because of a condition set by the Abwehr.

Vera's brother is not only working for an oil company in Istanbul...

Vera's brother is not only working for an oil company in Istanbul...

..but also supplying MI6 with local intelligence.

The Abwehr want Karen to give them valuable information

about Ralph and MI6.

about Ralph and MI6.

Vera had almost certainly gone to Antwerp

to raise the money for Fritz and Karen's passports...

to raise the money for Fritz and Karen's passports...

the very passports that allow the Abwehr

to get close to an MI6 agent..

- Vera has paid the bribe.

She's possibly met German intelligence officers face-to-face.

Karen herself has had contact with a German intelligence officer

who's asked her to work for the Germans.

who's asked her to work for the Germans.

It's beginning to look really suspicious.

Anyone looking at this situation...

is gonna start throwing suspicion on Vera and on the Rosenbergs.

is gonna start throwing suspicion on Vera and on the Rosenbergs.

Are they loyal? What's going on here? It's opening a Pandora's box.

NARRATOR: Had it been known by the SOE that Vera had handed over money

to get Aryan passports from the Abwher...

to get Aryan passports from the Abwher...

it would have put Vera under serious suspicion of being a double agent.

Instead, Vera keeps her family story a closely guarded secret.

And when the British security services publish

MRD Foot's history of the SOE,

Vera has all mention of her Romanian family roots erased.

Vera has all mention of her Romanian family roots erased.

But despite the security services' best attempts

But despite the security services' best attempts

to cover up the story of the lost women spies...

..it's a story that just won't go away.

..it's a story that just won't go away.

After creating controversy with her book Double Webs,

After creating controversy with her book Double Webs,

Jean Overton Fuller starts researching a new book...

..this time, about Henri Dericourt's relationship not with the Nazis...

..this time, about Henri Dericourt's relationship not with the Nazis...

but with MI6.

The book is called The Chequered Spy.

And it claims Dericourt wasn't just a double agent...

And it claims Dericourt wasn't just a double agent...

but that he was spying on the SOE...

on the orders of MI6.

on the orders of MI6.

Dericourt was MI6's mole at the heart of the SOE

Dericourt was MI6's mole at the heart of the SOE

monitoring everything they were doing...

as MI6 believed that the SOE were incompetent.

The suggestion is that members of the British security services

knew that the women Vera trained,

knew that the women Vera trained,

like Noor Inayat Khan...

..like Violette Szabo...

..like Violette Szabo...

..like Odette Sansom...

were being sent into the hands of a known double agent.

were being sent into the hands of a known double agent.

But Henri Dericourt never sees the day that the book is published.

- (phone rings)

- Sub-editor's desk.

BUCKMASTER: (on phone) Bodington?

- Yes? BUCKMASTER: It's Buckmaster.

- Yes? BUCKMASTER: It's Buckmaster.

- Good grief!

- Been a while. How are you?

- Been a while. How are you?

- Good, thanks, Bucks. You?

BUCKMASTER: Seen the news?

BUCKMASTER: Seen the news?

Dericourt's disappeared in the Far East.

The plane he was flying carrying a cargo-load of gold.

They think the cause of the crash was er...'fuel starvation'.

No. No. I haven't seen it.

No. No. I haven't seen it.

What does that mean?

Any survivors? BUCKMASTER: No.

Any survivors? BUCKMASTER: No.

And they can't find Dericourt's body.

Wasn't Vera close to that man from the SAS?

Wasn't Vera close to that man from the SAS?

Sort of thing they're good at...

..giving people a helping hand into the grave.

..giving people a helping hand into the grave.

- I er... I wouldn't know.

Vera and I don't speak.

I think she works for the UN now.

BUCKMASTER: Well, if you hear of anything.

All that Dericourt business...

..was... very unfortunate...

..was... very unfortunate...

..for everyone.

It's best that he has gone.

It's best that he has gone.

Dead men don't talk.

NARRATOR: Vera Atkins retires to the South Coast of Britain,

moving to Winchelsea.

She has a steady, but discreet, stream of visitors,

including Tania Szabo,

the daughter of Agent Violette Szabo.

the daughter of Agent Violette Szabo.

- I received the George Cross for Mother.

Odette Sansom was the first ever woman to receive that.

Odette Sansom was the first ever woman to receive that.

The French also gave Mother the Croix de Guerre.

The French also gave Mother the Croix de Guerre.

- That was good of them.

- And Noor received both medals too.

There's a memorial now at Dachau.

There's a memorial now at Dachau.

And now you received your CBE.

And now you received your CBE.

Finally. They took their time, didn't they?

Are you looking forward to the ceremony?

- We'll see, won't we?

- I'll leave this here.

- I always drove them down to the aerodromes.

- I always drove them down to the aerodromes.

It always seemed to be a summer's day.

I saw them off.

I saw them off.

When the war ended, and when they didn't come back,

I went looking for them all.

'Missing, presumed dead'...

..is such a terrible epitaph for anyone.

- Can't believe my time has finally come.

- Can't believe my time has finally come.

Been such a whirlwind.

And yet the adventure's just about to start.

And yet the adventure's just about to start.

- Remember what they've taught you, Noor.

- Yes, Ms Atkins.

- Yes, Ms Atkins.

- There. You're clean.

- You're so smart, Ms Atkins.

You always wear the nicest things.

- Here. It's yours.

May it bring you luck.

- Thank you, Ms Atkins.

- Are you ready?

- Yes, Ms Atkins.

- Yes, Ms Atkins.

- Very good.

- (chugging)

Subtitles by Sky Access Services

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0