Josef Rudolf Waldberg, (15 July 1915 – 10 December 1940) whose real name was Henri Lassudry, was a Belgian national posing as a German (then aged 25), who, along with three accomplices, Karl Heinrich Meier, a Dutchman of German origin, Dutchman Charles Albert van der Kieboom, and Dutchman Sjoerd Pons were sent on an espionage mission to England.
They were tried for treachery at the Old Bailey the previous month in front of Mr Justice Frederic Wrottesley.
At the time, it was believed that Waldberg was German, albeit research has shown that he was Belgian.
At his trial Waldberg finally realised the seriousness of his situation and told the court that he'd only taken the mission because his father was in trouble with the Gestapo.
[citation needed] They both spoke good English, and carried papers showing them to be Dutch refugees from the Nazis.