He was "Tricycle" to the British and "Ivan" to the Germans. Whatever his code name, Dusko Popov was master of the spy game in World War II. The Germans trusted him. The British needed him. Popov walked the thin line - always careful to keep his German cover, ever ready to aid the Allied cause. Now Popov is free to reveal his incredible story - the story of the only man to be fully trusted by both Churchill and Hitler; the man who brought Japan's secret plans for the Pearl Harbor attack to the F.B.I. months before it happened; the man whose exploits inspired the legendary James Bond.
Dušan "Duško" Popov (born in Titel, Austria-Hungary, now Serbia) was a double agent working for the British intelligence agency MI6 during World War II under the code name "Tricycle" and for the German intelligence agency Abwehr under the code name "Ivan".
By publishing The Double-Cross System in 1974, J. C. Masterman cracked the Official Secrets Act door, allowing the greatest spy ever, Dusko Popov, to publish his memoirs two years later. Because much was still classified, Popov changed many names. In addition, since he had no access to still-classified MI5 and FBI files, much of his information is dischronologized or he mixed up names ... understandable writing from memory events that occurred 30 years prior.
As I point out in my book on Popov (INTO THE LION'S MOUTH: The True Story of Dusko Popov: WWII Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond, Berkley, June 7, 2016), Dusko made up the name of the man who killed his best friend, Johnny Jebsen. Popov wrote that his name was Walter Salzer, which is fictitious. Both I and Popov's son believe Dusko made the name up because he (Dusko) killed the Nazi days after the war had ended. My book reveals the three possible men who would have killed Jebsen, and the man I believe Popov killed.
Dusko Popov may or may not have been a model for James Bond. He admits he's not sure, although he did know Ian Fleming. The Yugoslavian was definitely a playboy, but he was also one of the most effective double agents in World War II. His greatest accomplishment was helping to fool the Germans about the location of the D-Day landing. As a result, Hitler kept many divisions away from the Normandy beaches, and even after the landing began he still wouldn't move them because he was convinced that the real landing was going to be somewhere else. Popov also had conclusive evidence that the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor months before it happened. He traveled to the US and told J. Edgar Hoover. The FBI was the only game in town then because the US didn't have an effective spy system yet. Hoover had no interest in the information unless it gave him personal glory, and Popov is convinced Hoover never passed the information on, which could have prevented the carnage that occurred. There were many plans afoot to unseat Hitler during the war, but some sources thought it was better to not try to oust him because he was a bad military strategist, often overruling his generals, and his bungles helped lose the war. In the last part of the book, after the war ends, Popov searches for his best friend who had been captured by the Germans, with surprising results. Contains information you won't find in all accounts of World War II.
Questa biografia mista a romanzo è stata scritta da una vera spia, il doppio agente segreto Dusko Popov, che ha operato durante la Seconda guerra mondiale e che ha ispirato Fleming per James Bond.
Devo ammettere che mi aspettavo una lettura diversa, non dico che non mi sia piaciuta ma spesso mi ha annoiato. Popov ci descrive bene gli intrighi di palazzo dietro la guerra, ha rischiato più volte la vita e lo stesso suo fratello e alcuni suoi amici e colleghi non ce l'hanno fatta (di certo avere a che fare con i nazisti non è come fare una passeggiata). Interessante soprattutto la parte riguardante Pearl Harbor dove Popov ha avvertito con molto anticipo gli americani dell'imminente attacco ma è stato palesemente ignorato e non sa spiegarsi il perché, visto che potevano salvarsi tante vite.
Consigliato a chi ha amato James Bond o i libri di spionaggio.
A terrific read. As each part of his life was unravelled I became more and more convinced the next page would tell me: it's gone wrong and he's up to his neck in it.
It's said that Ian Fleming based the character James Bond on Dusko Popov: Popov amongst his other attributes was an expert gamble (a rogue in a tux).
With the connections his son (Peter Ustinov) had I'm amazed the life and exploits of Joan von Ustinov [Dusko Popov, Klop] has never made it to the big screen.
At times this reads like a James Bond novel. I'll put this on my read again shelf.
An autobiography of a WWI double agent code name Tricycle whose life inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond. An amazing tale of counter-espionage and events that not many people know about. For instance, it clearly shows how US intelligence was warned and new about the Pearl Harbor attack yet decided to ignore it. Doesn’t history repeat itself with an alarming accuracy?
Dusko Popov evidently knew Ian Fleming during WWII at the concourse of espionage at that time--Lisbon. Dusko was of course a self-promoter by definition and was a counterspy. Ian Fleming's character, James Bond, was based on Popov--a charming rake who could get information like no one else could apparently. It's a good book to read before starting a re-read of Fleming's tales.
In this enticing autobiography that reads like fiction, you learn about the wartime life of Yugoslavian Dusko Popov, the premier double agent during WWII. Dusko's work for the British was on at least one occasion witnessed by Ian Fleming, and he is thus considered to be part of the inspiration for the famous James Bond character. The life of Popov is, however much he might has enjoyed women and fast cars, far more interesting than any Bond story.
At one point Popov is sent to the U.S. to set up a double cross system like the one he established with the British, and is thoroughly not only ignored and disdained by Hoover, but his work is actively suppressed. Much like reading about Hoover in Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters, I found myself infuriated with the man. Yet again I wanted to reach through time and strangle him, which is a rare reaction for me.
The ending of Spy Counterspy is nothing short of intense, disturbing, and sobering, showcasing some of the best and worst of humanity. Knowing that this really happened, and is no mere story, makes it intimately powerful.
I read this book in 7th grade, I think...that was a long time ago...and I still remember lots of details of it. It's an autobiography of a Polish (?) man, who was both a spy for the British and the Germans during WWII. Supposedly, Dusko Popov was the basis for Ian Fleming's James Bond, and I could believe it. One of the parts that stuck to me was all the information sent to the US (through J Edgar Hoover -- whose description by Popov is amazing) regarding Pearl Harbor. (The book is told in a novel-type form, so it makes it much more readable and enjoyable.)
I liked this book so much, several years ago, I found a copy online and bought it -- it's been years out of print, but I couldn't find my copy. Still want to get back to reading it again.
Bella autobiografia di Popov, la spia che avrebbe ispirato Fleming nella creazione di James Bond. Peccato che tra i due non ci sia proprio nulla in comune, tranne il fascino del playboy.
Se lo si legge dimenticando il riferimento a James Bond, il libro è una interessante spaccatura della vita reale delle spie durante la seconda Guerra Mondiale. E Popov riesce a raccontare bene gli intrighi dei palazzi, così come a trasmettere l'atmosfera del periodo.
Interessanti le vicende di Lisbona e di Madrid, paesi che diventano il fulcro per le spie internazionali che cercano di fregarsi a vicenda. Straordinaria la questione di Popov, Hoover e Pearl Harbor 😱 (che non conoscevo)
Interesting and detailed memoir of a WWII double agent. This book filled in many blank spots in my WWII history knowledge. Reinforces how the German Abwehr, under Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, was not 100% behind Hitler and the Nazi regime. The Abwehr was less sophisticated than Great Britain's MI5 and MI6.
I found a used copy of this book in excellent shape for only $35 - it's been out of print for years. Highly recommended for WWII history buffs.
Popov is one of the probable models Fleming used for James Bond. Popov was a Yugoslav who worked as a double agent for the British. The most frustrating part of his story is his time in the U.S. (1941-1942) when he delivered evidence to the FBI of an impending Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Hoover and others dismissed Popov as a playboy and unreliable.
A compulsive page-turner even though it was largely comprised of the honest, boring nature of real-life espionage. One is disinclined to believe some things Popov wrote, but it's still a fun romp through the secret war of WWII.
Nu ţi se impune nimic. Totuşi trebuie să accepţi. Poţi alege, inclusiv între viaţă sau moarte. Când cel mai bun prieten al meu, Johann Jebsen, omul căruia îi datorez viaţa, a încercat să mă transforme în spion nazist, am înţeles situaţia cu suficientă rapiditate şi am acceptat-o pentru că se potrivea cu planurile mele.
La început am încercat un oarecare resentiment, în mare parte datorită faptului că Johnny nu juca pe faţă, dar nu mi s-a părut anormal. Am înţeles că Johnny făcea ceea ce făcea din diferite motive, unele dintre ele chiar altruiste. Şi chiar dacă mai urmărea şi ceva profit personal, nu eram eu omul care să facă pe moralistul. Nu trebuie să ceri perfecţiunea de la nimeni, cu atât mai puţin când propria-ţi piele este în joc.
Mişcarea de deschidere a lui Johnny a fost să-mi trimită o telegramă, care m-a găsit la Dubrovnik. Sosisem acolo de la Belgrad pentru a profita de săptămâna de sărbători în onoarea ocrotitorului nostru, sfântul Vlasie. În oraşul meu natal, aceasta era partea cea mai veselă a anului, cu serbări şi baluri mascate în fiece noapte. În plus, atunci te puteai bucura de cea mai mare libertate, căci sub anonimatul măştilor şi al deghizărilor, convenţionalismele puteau fi sfidate cu mai mult curaj. Mă culcasem târziu. M-a trezit servitoarea, trăgând draperiile şi mormăind ca de obicei.
— Ia priveşte. Femei, beţii… mormăi ea suficient de tare ca să fie sigură că o aud. Şi asta tocmai de sfântu’ Vlasie… I-am spus eu tatălui tău că n-ar fi trebuit să te lase să locuieşti de unul singur.
— Destul! i-am zis. De mii de ori ţi-am spus că tocmai de aia mi-a dat casa. Ca nimeni să nu mă deranjeze. Aşa că, de ce mă trezeşti?
Katerina s-a apropiat de pat cu mâna întinsă şi mi-a dat un plic.
— O telegramă, gospar Dusko. Mă cunoştea de mic copil şi mă striga pe nume, adăugând însă şi echivalentul local al cuvântului „boier”, nu din respect, ci pentru că aşa era obiceiul.
Am desfăcut plicul şi am citit mai întâi titulatura şi semnătura de pe formularul gălbejit. Telegrama venea de la Berlin. Era semnată „Johann Jebsen” şi datată 4 februarie 1940. „Trebuie să te văd urgent. Propun 8 februarie, hotel Regele Sârb, Belgrad.”
Cu excepţia conciziei sale, mesajul nu-i era caracteristic lui Johnny Jebsen. În general, puţine erau lucrurile pe care el să le fi considerat urgente, dar mi-am dat seama că nu e vorba de nicio greşeală. Precizia limbajului său excludea folosirea vreunui cuvânt care nu i-ar fi exprimat exact ideile.
Am ridicat receptorul ca să-i transmit un răspuns, dar l-am pus la loc şi m-am dat jos din pat. Mi-am zis că ar fi mai bine să merg personal la poştă. Într-un mesaj dictat în germană şi prin telefon s-ar putea strecura greşeli. Am început să-mi caut hainele, iar Katerina a părăsit camera în grabă.
Că era urgent sau nu, orice ar fi fost, prietenia – şi nu numai ea – mă obliga să merg la întâlnirea cu Johnny, chiar şi în timpul sărbătorilor sfântului Vlasie. Era evident că de astă dată invitaţia nu era la o petrecere. Mă frământa faptul că era „urgentă”. Nu mă gândeam decât la buclucul, ca să folosesc un eufemism, din care Johnny mă scosese cu trei ani în urmă şi îmi imaginam că poate acum trecea şi el printr-un necaz asemănător. Chiar şi înainte de sosirea telegramei mă întrebam cum o fi reacţionând Johnny la războiul ce izbucnise de cinci luni. Cu toate că era antinazist, probabil că era la adăpost de pericol, căci provenea dintr-un mediu aflat în afara oricărei suspiciuni. Johnny era moştenitorul unei mari averi şi astfel părea că se identifică cu statu-quo-ul. Făcea parte dintr-o familie hamburgheză fidelă tradiţiei navale a vechiului stat hanseatic. Dar, aşa cum îl cunoaştem eu, independent, imprevizibil şi gata să se lupte cu morile de vânt, nu m-ar fi surprins ca Johnny să fi intrat în conflict cu naziştii.
Tricycle is a code name for one of the most intriguing spies we know about. Popov was playing with the British and Germans, and some of his accomplishments were deceiving Germans related to the D-day landing. I found this book while seeking confirmation that he passed the information about the Perl Harbour attack that many other sources mentioned. Was the Perl Harbor the first aero false flag? Looks like. We have a chance to learn how history repeats itself if we look at the more recent geopolitical events.
Was he really an inspiration for James Bond? It could be. Popov knew Fleming after all. Bond is charming, intelligent and ready for action, Bond lovers will see the similarities.
Popov could have been a better writer, but I'm sure he did the best he could. The style is poor, and it's visible it was amateur writing.
Knjiga je divna istorijska čitanka za nekog ko želi da sazna više o načinu funkcionisanja obaveštajnih službi za vreme II svetskog rata. Lično sam iznenađen literarnim umećem Duška Popova, jer se čita kao fantastičan triler. Utisak je da se radi o ludo hrabrom čoveku koji nije bio do kraja svestan opasnosti u kojima se nalazio, jer je svoju borbu prihvatao apstraktno, vodeći je u između neutralnog Lisabona i Londona, daleko od pravih bojnih polja. Ipak, radi se o izuzetno sposobnom čoveku koji je posle rata napravio finansijsku imperiju. Utisak je da nam danas nedostaje ovakvih ličnosti, pogotovu na vodećim mestima unutar društva i nacije.
This was published in 1975, making it now 50 years old, about WW2. The memoir of a Yugoslav business lawyer who had studied in Germany and became a spy against the Nazis by pretending to be a spy for the Nazis, is incredible reading. It's also very personal, about his good friends, his family, his relatives. And it's so detailed that the story is hard to read for a long period, with travels to France, England, Germany, around Europe. The author admits that one can't recall conversations word for word, but he gives the spirit of each one. I would have liked a map or two, as borders have changed a lot. I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.
Was able to find an online version of the book at archive.org. This book is a gripping read, quite concise for the number of stories told, with no energy wasted on anything that is not part of the core premise: his life in the balance of and at the heart of the counter-espionage activities of the WWII powers. I'm surprised it hasn't been turned into a movie yet - maybe because most of his exploits were already covered by the James Bond franchise ?
I had a hard time keeping track of all the names, cover names, foreign names and agencies, double and triple crossing. What I remember most is how incompetent Roosevelt was. You have the most trusted and highly placed British agent telling you that Pearl Harbor is going to happen and you completely ignored it?! The stories were very interesting and it was a really good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Un'autobiografia scritta benissimo, questo racconto tiene con il fiato sospeso fino agli ultimi capitoli: pur sapendo benissimo qual è stato il corso della storia, si condivide il senso di apprensione per gli avvenimenti della II guerra mondiale in cui Popov è coinvolto. Davvero una lettura piacevole e coinvolgente!
Ouf! Credevo di non riuscire a finirlo… ho sbagliato a leggerlo in questo momento perché sicuramente interessante, ma non sono mai riuscita ad entrare nel racconto della vita avventurosa dell’autore, spia doppiogiochista, Duško Popov. Ma posso ringraziarlo per il lavoro che ha fatto che che ha sicuramente avuto un ruolo strategico nella pace ritrovata in Europa.
This is a great book, I was hooked from the beginning. I've read a lot of different books about spies in WWII and it was fun to connect with and recognize people and events from other books. Dusko Povov was an amazing man. Highly recommend the book.
3 e 1/2 interessantissima autobiografia di un agente doppio, forse Fleming si ispirò a lui per il suo James Bond. Fa riflettere su quanto le informazioni possano incidere sulle sorti della guerra e su quanto resti lontano dai nostri occhi.