Hello and welcome to another episode of the World War II podcast, I'm Angus Wallace.

The common narrative of the war often completely overlooks Germany's attempts to run spies in

Britain. In actual fact, for more or less the whole of the war, the German secret service,

the Abwehr, was sending spies into Britain. In this episode, I'm joined by Bernard O'Connor,

author of Operation Lena and Hitler's plots to blow up Britain. Did you discuss these German

espionage activities? But before we get started, it's a big thank you to all those who support

the podcast by becoming patrons. And all are also from people like you, low listener,

help me find the time to put the show together. You can find out more at patreon.com slash

www to podcast. I really do value your support and where possible I do try to make available extra

bits and bobs exclusive for patrons. A bit more world war to chat as it were. So that's patreon.com slash

www to podcast. Well, welcome. Thanks for thanks for joining me. Before we get to German espionage

activity in Britain after 1939 and the outbreak of the war, I wondered how prepared the British

were for counter espionage. The issue was with Irish independence and the IRA were keen to get

Britain out of Ireland as part of their independence movement. And the British obviously,

or sorry, the English, if you want to put it like that, they refused and the IRA offered Britain

an ultimatum. Get your troops out of Ireland, or we'll start a sabotage campaign. The British

government refused and saw the IRA embarked on what was called the S plan. This was in, I think,

January 1939. They were assisted in this attack by the Abwehr, the German intelligence service,

who offered the IRA independence for Ireland if they helped in the German attack on the British

mainland. And so the IRA were offered financial assistance and technical assistance as well as

explosives and detonators, etc. That were to be brought in by Submarine to remote beaches on the

Irish coast. And Germans infiltrated some of their agents by parachute and by Submarine,

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