Paul Thümmel, also known as code name A-54, was a prominent member of the Abwehr based in Dresden. Starting from March 1937, he provided Czechoslovakia with reliable information regarding Germany’s intentions and military operations. Even after the establishment of the Czech government-in-exile in the UK, Thümmel continued to supply intelligence through the Czech underground. His valuable intelligence, passed to MI6 and the USSR, helped to maintain the credibility of Czech leader Edvard Beneš. Despite being a decorated Nazi Party veteran, Thümmel was arrested in October 1941, but due to numerous protests, he was released by the Gestapo. However, he was rearrested the following March and imprisoned without trial. It is alleged that he was murdered by his SS guards a few days before the end of the war. The reasons for Thümmel’s treachery remain unknown. Although he received payments for his services, they were not enough to compensate for the risks he took, and the quality of the intelligence he provided suggests he was not a double agent.
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