Double Agent Victoire

Mathilde Carré and the Interallié Network

David Tremain

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9780750988049
• eBook ISBN:
  9780750988704
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: History

Mathilde Carré, notoriously known as La Chatte, was remarkable for all the wrong reasons. Like most spies she was temperamental, scheming and manipulative – but she was also treacherous. A dangerous mix, especially when combined with her infamous history of love affairs – on both sides.

Her acts of treachery were almost unprecedented in the history of intelligence, yet her involvement in the 'Interallié affair' has only warranted a brief mention in the accounts of special operations in France during the Second World War. But what motivated her to betray more than 100 members of the Interallié network, the largest spy network in France? Was she the only guilty party, or were others equally as culpable?

Drawing on material from MI5 files, Double Agent Victoire explores the events that led to her betrayal, who may have 'cast the first stone', and their motivations, as well as how the lives and careers of those involved were affected. It reveals a story full of intrigue, sex, betrayal and double-dealing, involving a rich cast including members of the French Resistance, German Abwehr and British Intelligence.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Abbreviations
• Author’s Note
• Acknowledgements
• Dramatis Personae
• Introduction
• 1 ‘An Exceedingly Dangerous Woman’
• 2 ‘A Man of Great Daring and Initiative’
• 3 Interallié is born
• 4 ‘A Squalid Tale’
• 5 An American in France
• 6 ‘The Kraus Affair’
• 7 The Interallié Network
• 8 Betrayal
• 9 MAURICE’s Escape
• 10 Colonel Henri’s Story
• 11 Turning the Tables
• 12 Penetration of the LUCAS Network
• 13 Gloria in Excelsis
• 14 LUCAS’s Story
• 15 BENOIT’s Story
• 16 ‘An Important Affair’
• 17 ‘A Nasty Taste in One’s Mouth’
• 18 WALENTY and the ‘Great Game’
• 19 Pointing Fingers
• 20 Winding Up a Troublesome Affair
• 21 Accounts Payable: The Cost of Doing Business
• 22 What Are we Going to Do about Mathilde?
• 23 Disposing of the Body
• 24 Strong Evidence from Many Sources
• 25 The Final Reckoning
• Epilogue
• Appendix 1 Members and Contact of the WALENTY Organisation Carded in VICTOIRE
• Appendix 2 Particulars of Members and Associates of the WALENTY Organisation
• Appendix 3 Chronology of the Betrayal and Arrests of Interallié
• Appendix 4 The Case Against VICTOIRE: The Allegations of her Betrayals
• Appendix 5 Members of the Interallié Organisation who Escaped to England
• Appendix 6 Regulations for Special Internees at Aylesbury
• Appendix 7 Major Ische’s Personnel in
• Appendix 8 Proposed Messages Relating to the Return of LUCAS and VICTOIRE to France
• Notes
• Select Bibliography