Who Is Juan Pujol García? Age, Biography and Wiki
Juan Pujol García, born on February 14, 1912, is best remembered as one of the most remarkable double agents during World War II. Known by the code name "Garbo," Pujol played a crucial role in misleading the German military through his intelligence operations. His contributions were particularly significant during the D-Day operation, where his elaborate deceptions helped to save countless lives.
In 2025, Pujol is recognized not only for his wartime contributions but also for his legacy in espionage and intelligence. The span of his life experiences has made him an intriguing subject of study for historians and enthusiasts alike.
| Occupation | Soldiers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 14, 1912 |
| Age | 76 Years |
| Birth Place | Barcelona, Spain |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Venezuela |
| Date of death | 10 October, 1988 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Juan Pujol García's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While detailed records of Juan Pujol García’s physical characteristics during his life are scarce, he is remembered as a man of average build. His persona was more defined by his wit, determination, and cunning rather than physical attributes. Understanding the measurements or physical statistics in detail is not necessarily relevant to his historical significance, which centers around his intelligence work.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Juan Pujol García had a family that remained supportive of his endeavors. He married his wife, Araceli, who played a vital role in his life and work. They maintained a supportive partnership through the challenging times of espionage and wartime secrecy. As of 2025, there have been few public discussions regarding his personal relationships beyond his marriage, as most focus remains on his professional exploits rather than his private life.
After developing a loathing of political extremism of all sorts during the Spanish Civil War, Pujol decided to become a spy for Britain as a way to do something "for the good of humanity." Pujol and his wife contacted the British Embassy in Madrid which rejected his offer.
Net Worth and Salary
Juan Pujol García's net worth is somewhat difficult to calculate comprehensively due to the nature of his work as a double agent. However, his contributions during World War II later afforded him a certain level of recognition and respect within various historical accounts. Although he was not significantly wealthy in a conventional sense during his lifetime, his legacy continues to resonate, ensuring his story remains valued within historical narratives.
On occasion, he had to invent reasons why his agents had failed to report easily available information that the Germans would eventually know about. For example, he reported that his (fabricated) Liverpool agent had fallen ill just before a major fleet movement from that port, and so was unable to report the event.
To support this story, the agent eventually "died" and an obituary was placed in the local newspaper as further evidence to convince the Germans. The Germans were also persuaded to pay a pension to the agent's "widow".
Career, Business and Investments
Pujol’s career as a double agent began when he offered his services to the British intelligence. His work consisted of providing fabricated intelligence that misled the Germans, particularly about the Allied invasion of France. This endeavor ultimately became a full-time occupation, and despite early skepticism from the British, his talents became evident over time.
After the war, Pujol moved to Venezuela, where he led a more unconventional life, engaging in various business ventures. While his specific investments and entrepreneurial pursuits have not been widely documented, they reflected a significant shift from his initial role as a spy.
Although the information would not have withstood close examination, Pujol soon established himself as a trustworthy agent. He began inventing fictitious sub-agents who could be blamed for false information and mistakes. The Allies finally accepted Pujol when the Germans expended considerable resources attempting to hunt down a fictitious convoy.
Following interviews by Desmond Bristow of Section V MI6 Iberian Section, Pujol was taken on. The family were moved to Britain and Pujol was given the code name "Garbo". Pujol and his handler Tomás Harris spent the rest of the war expanding the fictitious network, communicating to the German handlers at first by letters and later by radio.
Eventually the Germans were funding a network of 27 agents, all fictitious.
Social Network
In 2025, Juan Pujol García continues to inspire a community of history enthusiasts, scholars, and espionage aficionados. Discussions about him have popularized his story across various social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where historians and fans alike share insights about his life and achievements. Although Pujol passed away in 1988, his presence is felt in the rich online discourse surrounding World War II intelligence efforts.
Pujol operated as a double agent under the XX Committee's aegis. Cyril Mills was initially Pujol's case officer, but he spoke no Spanish and quickly dropped out of the picture. Mills suggested that Pujol's code name should be changed as befitted "the best actor in the world", and Pujol became "Garbo", after Greta Garbo.
Mills passed his case over to the Spanish-speaking officer Harris. Together, Harris and Pujol wrote 315 letters, averaging 2,000 words, addressed to a post-office box in Lisbon supplied by the Germans.
His fictitious spy network was so efficient and verbose that his German handlers were overwhelmed and made no further attempts to recruit any additional spies in the UK, according to the Official History of British Intelligence in World War II.
Education
Pujol's formal education details are less understood, but his innate intelligence and cunning nature undoubtedly shaped his capabilities as a double agent. His life experiences and the skills he developed were crucial for his success in espionage. Understanding the geopolitical landscape of the era and how to manipulate it played a fundamental role in his effectiveness as a spy.
Pujol engaged in a variety of occupations prior to and after the Spanish Civil War, such as studying animal husbandry at the Royal Poultry School in Arenys de Mar and managing various businesses, including a cinema.
