Hugo Bleicher

Described as a "super spy-catcher,"[1] Bleicher infiltrated resistance networks in France and was responsible for the arrest of more than one hundred French resistors and British Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents.

He volunteered for what he thought was a civilian job, but in November 1939 he was called up to serve in the German military and sent for training as an undercover policeman.

[3] The resistance organization Interallié was founded by Polish soldiers stranded in France after its defeat and occupation by Nazi Germany in June 1940.

A French woman, Mathilde Carré, called "the Cat" and "Lily," became prominent in the organization as Czerniawski's aide.

Threatened with being turned over to the Gestapo, Kiffer became an informant and the Abwehr began arresting Interallié members, including Carré who was working in Paris.

Carré introduced Vomécourt to Bleicher who went by the alias of Jean Castell and portrayed himself as a Belgian resistance leader.

With the arrest of Vomécourt and the destruction of his Autogiro network, SOE had few resources left in France except for Virginia Hall in Lyon.

He preferred to gather information that could be used to wipe out complete networks as compared to arresting a single agent or resister.

On March 21, 1943, the Abwehr told Bleicher to arrest Frenchman André Marsac and use him, if possible, to infiltrate the remnants of the Carte network, now called Spindle.

Bleicher persuaded Marsac to write a letter to his second-in-command, Roger Bardet, introducing him as a potential defector who needed transportation to England.

[10][11] Armed with a letter of introduction from Marsac and the blessing of Bardet, Bleicher traveled to the village of Saint-Jorioz.

She wired SOE in London seeking advice and was told to break off all contact with "Colonel Henri" and go into hiding immediately.

He visited the UK after the war, to testify against Abwehr colleague Robert Alesch during his trial in May 1948 as a double agent.

SOE agents captured by him said he was "extremely nice and polite" and his British and French counterparts respected him for his expertise.

"At the end of the espionage intrigue," said author Larry Loftis, "the deft spy-catcher had once again proven his mastery of the game.

The character of Sergeant Gratz in the 1970 LWT television series Manhunt suggests that he is partly inspired by Bleicher.