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Juan Pujol Garcia

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Fathom Realty PB00068179

Juan Pujol Garcia was born in Barcelona, Spain back in 1912 to Joan and Mercedes. He was sent to the Validemia boarding school twenty miles from Barcelona. After seven years at school he quit. He had several jobs prior to the Spanish Civil War. His father died in 193 and he served six months of compulsory military service in the cavalry unit.

After his military service, he managed a poultry farm. During 1939, he opposed the Franco regime so he volunteered to help the British by being a double-agent. The British then decided to use him. He obtained a fake Spanish diplomatic passport by fooling a printer that he worked for the Spanish embassy in Lisbon. In 1942, he was moved to Britain and given the code name “Bovril”.   He operated as a double-agent under the watchful eye of MI5. He was so god the Germans provided him the encryption code used by the Germans, which he turned over to Bletchley Park.

What you may not know about Juan is that his final code name was “Garbo”, for those of you who know about the history of WWII, he was one of the most effective double-agents in British history.

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Comments (21)

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, James Dray another piece of history to learn today..... and I like the name Garbo...

Feb 18, 2020 03:53 AM
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Good morning James,

Now I wonder how many double agents there are now! Our present government is proof!

Make yourself an astonishing day.

Feb 18, 2020 04:09 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello James - another intriguing story.  I do recall a recent post of yours that made mention of another person by the name Gabor so this time Garbo has me think of Greta not the famous sisters. 

Feb 18, 2020 04:39 AM
Donald Urschalitz
Lubeck Realty Group - Jupiter, FL
P.A. Realtor ABR RSPS North Palm Beach County

He was a resourceful agent and made a great contribution to help to end the war.

Feb 18, 2020 04:39 AM
Cathy Starkweather
La Rosa Realty, LLC. - Celebration, FL

I did not know this interesting piece of history, thank you for sharing! :)

Feb 18, 2020 04:47 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I understand the thrill but to be a "man without a country" or betray your own would be something I could not do James Dray 

Feb 18, 2020 05:23 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi James... actually Garbo is a great name for a double-agent. And I was one of those who knew nothing about this man until today.

Feb 18, 2020 05:26 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning James Dray -  I didn't know him but knew about the British ability to decode.

Feb 18, 2020 05:28 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

He sounds like a sneaky man, haha.  I am not very familiar with this type of history but do enjoy hearing the stories.

Feb 18, 2020 05:45 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

James,

What a great story, and I knew aout Benchley Park.  There was a great PBS series on Benchley Park a few years ago.  A

Feb 18, 2020 09:12 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi James Dray - It takes a special skill and demeanor set to be a double agent!  

Feb 18, 2020 09:24 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good afternoon again James. What a great read this is. I never knew or heard about him but now, thanks to you I do. 

Feb 18, 2020 09:32 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Another fascinating historical fact and individual you have introduced to us. Thank you.

Feb 18, 2020 09:57 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi James - this reminded me of the old television series "I led three lives."  It must be so hard to be a double agent. 

Feb 18, 2020 10:58 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Sounds like "Garbo" knew how to work both sides to his advantage. Double agents play a very important role in the world of espionage.

Feb 18, 2020 02:17 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

This was all news to me, James, but fascinating to read. I can't imagine the role he played, but it was a critical one!

Jeff

Feb 18, 2020 08:46 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

He did something very few of us could do or have the ability to do.

Feb 19, 2020 08:17 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

and yet another interesting bit of history that I did not know- thanks for the education

Feb 20, 2020 03:36 AM
Barbara Tattersall
Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (Keene,NH) - Keene, NH
GRI

I think you have to be on your game 24/7 and have nerves of steel to be a double agent. 

Feb 21, 2020 04:21 AM
James Dray

Not for me, not interested at all

Feb 21, 2020 07:32 AM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Juan Pujol Garcia took some major risks to thwart the Nazis. I am glad that he was on our side.

Feb 29, 2020 07:57 AM