Today is Thursday, April 30th, 2020.

On this day in 1943, the body of Major William Martin

of Britain's Royal Marines washed up on a beach. of

Major William Martin of Britain's Royal Marines washed up on a beach in Welva, Spain.

The discovery of the body would set in motion one of the most notorious

counterintelligence operations of World War II, Operation Mincemeat.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original. Today we're

covering Operation Mincemeat, a British counterintelligence operation executed

during World War II.

It was considered one of the most successful wartime intelligence plays in history

and helped turn the tides for Allied forces.

Now let's go back to a beach in Welva, Spain just as the sun was beginning

to rise on April 30, 1943. 43.

A Spanish fisherman,

A Spanish fisherman, the only one out on the water that early, came across the body.

It was badly decomposed, like it had been in the water for several days.

But even more remarkable, the corpse wore a full military uniform

and had a black attache case chained to his waist.

Realizing the dead man was clearly someone important, the fisherman immediately

alerted the police.

Based on the papers found in his pockets and wallet, the police identified the man as Major William Martin of the Royal Marines.

They contacted the local British representative Francis Hazilden to let him know that one of his soldiers was in their custody.

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