Christine Granville: a female Second World War agent
1945
Christine Granville (Krystyna Gizycka) was not only the first female agent recruited by the British intelligence agencies during the Second World War; she was also Winston Churchill’s favourite spy. A well-connected Polish countess and former beauty queen, Christine began her war work when Germany and its allies had the upper hand in the war. Struggling against German forces, Churchill had founded the so-called Special Operations Executive (SOE) in July 1940, with the aim of sending intelligence agents into German-occupied countries to spread propaganda, collect information and attack strategic targets. A brave and intelligent woman who spoke several languages, Christine was among the early recruits to SOE.
When Christine wrote this letter, she had worked for SOE for five years, operating behind enemy lines in North Africa, Hungary, Turkey and Italy, as well as in Nazi-occupied Poland and France, at huge personal risk. She had been arrested by the Germans on several occasions, yet had always managed to evade danger. In August 1944 she even secured the release of three Allied officers who had been captured and condemned to death by the Gestapo for being enemy agents. This astonishing reversal of fortunes was achieved through Christine’s talent for weaving a good story, and it earned her a George Cross, the second-highest honour in the UK after the Victoria Cross.
Writing to her SOE boss Harold Perkins, Christine opens the letter addressing him as ‘Perks Kochany’, a Polish term of endearment. In March 1945, as the war came to a close, Christine was living within the safe confines of the British base in Cairo. In this letter, she is desperately volunteering for another mission: ‘For God’s sake do not strike my name from the firm [SOE] … remember that I am always too pleased to go and do anything for it. Maybe you find out that I could be usefull [sic] getting people out from camps and prisons in Germany – just before they get shot. I should love to do it and I like to jump out of a plane even every day.’
Despite Christine’s eagerness, however, no female agents were being sent into Germany at that juncture, so her suggested mission was not possible. And indeed, at the end of the war her employment with the British intelligence agency came to an end.
Nevertheless, this letter gives us a rare insight into the courage and determination of this remarkable woman, as well as the context in which she operated. As a spy, Christine had been trained to destroy potentially incriminating evidence, and as such, the paper trail about her that remains is relatively scant.
A mere seven years later, Christine was brutally killed by a man named Dennis Muldowney, who took the rejection of his romantic advances badly. Muldowney was tried for Christine’s murder and sentenced to death on 30 September 1952, thereby bringing to an end the story of one of the longest-serving of all Britain’s wartime women agents.
Ps. Sorry for the spelling! Cairo 25.III.45
Perks Kochany,
Thank you very much for your very nice offer. I was expecting something like that since our Polish scheme fell through – but you always put things in a kindest way. I am very grateful to you for the three month pay you are offering to me. I should like to stay here in Cairo for at least these three months and, in the meantime, look around for another job. If I do not succeed – then I will again ask for your help. I have already put in an application for a work with R.A.F but I am afraid that it’s too late. If I make it – will you write and tell them that I am honest and clean Polish girl?
I have got two other things in mind and maybe one or two of them will come off. Anyway I should like to keep in touch with you and for God’s sake do not strike my name from the firm till it exist – remember that I am always too pleased to go and do anything for it. Maybe you find out that I could be usefull [sic] getting people out from camps and prisons in Germany – just before they get shot. I should love to do it. And I like to jump out of a plane even every day. Please Perks. If it’s not for your section – may be somebody else.
Thank you for the news about my brother. I have sent a parcel to him. Did you ever heard [sic] something about my husband? Please do look after Andrew and don’t let him do anything too stupid.
Now Perks Kochany, another favour I am going to ask you to do for me. Will you please see that de Chastelain gets this letter I am sending here with. He may needs [sic] it if it’s true that he has got into troubles [sic]. There are people here who could give him some evidence which may be helpful to him. By the way – do you know that I have become very fond of Henry? We were getting on very well together.
I will keep you informed of my actions through Julian Dolby and please, please do not forget about me altogether. Give my fondest love to C.D and all the friends – especially
your section and Dowidzenia.
Yours always,
Christine
