The Book A History of Modern Espionage: the growth and operation of Secret Service in all parts of the world, Allison Ind, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1965. Review One of the first books to mention Josef Jakobs was published in 1965 by Colonel Allison Ind, a US Air Intelligence Officer who had been station in […]
Book Review – A History of Modern Espionage by Colonel Allison Ind (1965) Read More »
On the morning of 4 August, 1941, Josef Jakobs was driven from Wandsworth Prison to the Duke of York’s Headquarters. His court martial convened at 10:30 am and concluded at 1 pm the following day. The Duke of York’s Headquarters is a building located on King’s Road in the Chelsea area of London, just southwest
Court Martial of Josef Jakobs held at Duke of York’s Headquarters, Chelsea Read More »
On the evening of 31 January, 1941, at 7 pm (British Time), Josef Jakobs departed Schipol Aerodrome in Amsterdam in a two-engined German aircraft. The three-man air crew flew the plane toward England and at 8 pm, over fields of Huntingdonshire Jakobs jumped from the air craft at an elevation of 3000 feet. Jakobs had
Equipped to Jump into the Unknown – Parachute Equipment of a German spy Read More »
In September 1940, four would-be “German” spies landed on the coast of England. The men were captured relatively quickly and in November 1940 were put on trial at the Old Bailey in London. Sjoerd Pons, a Dutchman, was acquitted and imprisoned for the remainder of the war. Of the other three, all were found guilty
Dead Men Talking – The Final Letters of Condemned Spies Read More »
Josef Jakobs was seated in a chair for his execution by firing squad at the Tower of London. The use of a chair for his execution has been variously explained: (1) Jakobs had broken his ankle during his landing and was unable to stand, therefore he was seated in a chair. (2) Jakobs was to
Chair of Execution for Wartime Spies facing the Firing Squad Read More »
On 18 August 1941, following the execution and autopsy at the Tower of London, Jakobs’ body was driven to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, in northwest London. A funeral service was held at the chapel, possibly presided over by the army chaplain who had ministered to Jakobs during the final weeks of his
The Final Resting Place of German spy Josef Jakobs in London Read More »
The Tower of London is apparently one of the most haunted places in the world. The ghosts of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Thomas Becket are said to wander the grounds and buildings of the Tower. The Yeoman Warders, former soldiers, who are presumably not prone to flights of fancy, have had many ghostly
Does the Ghost of Josef Jakobs haunt the Tower of London? Read More »
Death Row. The end of the line. One door in, one door out. Appeals are written. Appeals are rejected. There is usually only one exit from Death Row. Inexorably the clock ticks down to the appointed hour. Usually there is no escape. Josef Jakobs was found guilty of treachery at his court martial on August
A Prescription for the Impending Death of German spy Josef Jakobs Read More »
N.B. 2021 I have a number of other blogs about Clara Bauerle with more up-to-date information. This page gives a summary of them. Who was Clara Bauerle? What really happened to her? To begin with, we have to recognize that Clara Bauerle’s name could be spelled in a variety of ways: Claire/Cläre/Clära/ClaraKläre/Klära/KlaraBauerle/Bäuerle If one searches
The Truth about German Cabaret singer Clara Bauerle Read More »
N.B. 2020 10 15 – I should note that the picture of the wych elm featured below is NOT the actual wych elm. And, the “police sketch” was first published in Donald McCormick’s book, Murder by Witchcraft. That sketch does NOT occur in the police files. Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? On 18
Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? Read More »