How WW2's Worst Spy Got Medals from Both Sides

Juan Pujol García was a Spanish spy who acted as a double agent loyal to Great Britain against Germany during World War II, when he relocated to Britain to carry out fictitious spying activities for the Germans under the codename Garbo.

Music (in order of appearance):
India_Happy - Flamenco
Suno AI - Red Dance Revolution
Allen Grey - Sneaky
Puremusic - Super Spy Action
Mojo Productions - Minor Surf
Pure Hits - Dance Disco Fun Strings

[gamebawesome]

The British: You are without doubt the worst spy I've ever heard of.

Garcia: “But you have heard of me.”

[lionheart]

You forgot to mention a moment where his wife almost sold him out to the Germans because she missed living in Spain. So he ordered MI5 to have himself arrested and convince his wife not to go along with selling him out.

[HenryGK]

You missed out one of the best bits at the end - the journalist who wanted to write about him tracked him down by looking up every J. Garcia in the Barcelona phone book until he found the guy's nephew.



There's also the minor fun facts that his first British codename was Bovril, and that when many of his messages were delayed, the Germans decided it would speed things up if they sent him their strongest codebook (only one step down from sending him an enigma machine).

[bellduke]

OPERATION XX, DOUBlE CROSS.

Say what you will, the British had a sense of humor.

[wyatt]

As you know, the world’s most famous spy is the world’s worst spy

[restitvtororbis]

Garbo insisting that Normandy was just a diversion and Calais was the REAL D-day location for WEEKS after the invasion already started, then chewing the Germans out for being incompetent and not responding, only to still earn the highest German military honor for his 'intelligence' work will forever be one of the most hilarious things in history.

[Zepol]

Everyones favorite dictator: "Man! This guy is good! If only all my other spies where just like him!"

[WanderingCoyoteXVII]

My favorire part of Garbo's story is how much he drank, gambled, and whored on the Nazi dime. Stick it to em boss!

[Matt_from_Florida]

8:27 I'm gonna remember that when a meeting isn't going my way... [bangs fist on table] *_"I cannot accept excuses or negligence. Were it not for my ideals I would abandon the work I do for you."_*

[SylviaRustyFae]

"The English speaks English" still has me roflmaoin xD

[goldenfiberwheat]

Oh it’s this guy. I’ve heard of this guy. Time ghost loves him. Also, part of the reason the abwehr failed to catch him was because the head of the abwehr, Wilhelm canaris, and his deputy, Hans oster, both disliked the party and did everything they could to sabotage the war effort

[jurriendevries]

Gods, he must've been stifling one hell of a laugh while Hitler was decorating him. "What's that mein fuhrer? Great work in Calais? *hrmph* Danke sehr!"

[NewGuy]

Again, I love how we frame the nazis as these grand, intelligent monsters when in reality they got tricked by a chicken farmer.

[DDlambchop]

"chaotic goober for the forces of good " that has to be the best line ever.

[MalikF]

Man had a so many career changes and switch’s that he give Fritz a run for his money

[Eantrin]

Love how when you pass in front of the display, the text is warped like you were actually blocking an overhead projector. A small thing your team didn't have to do, but you did anyway, and we love you for it.

[jimryan]

At the 9:14 mark, you note that his actions made "Garcia one of only two men to have been decorated by both sides in World War II."

So, who was the other person?

[thenewmase]

it's because of shit like this that I can't ever take the 'what if nazis won' stories seriously 🤣

[jesenjin]

This is by far my most favorite spy story from World war II - I always stop and listen to it whenever I hear it on TV in a documentary.

[Eboreg]

I think the revelation of Garcia's work to the public is the best example of "True and useful but late".