Nissenthall was unable to tell his story for 25 years because of the Official Secrets Act. His next assignment was in the Middle East, where he set up a defensive radar system. After the war he married, shortened his name to Nissen and moved to South Africa.

Subscribe Today

• Did you enjoy our article?
• Read more in World War II magazine
• Subscribe online and save nearly 40%!!!
 

Years after the war's end, the Company A commander, who had been captured at Pourville, got together with Nissen. As they reminisced, the former captain told Nissen that he had found the order he had received regarding his'spook' so repulsive that he had put it out of his mind for 20 years and then wondered if it all had been a figment of his imagination. 'Could you have shot me?' asked Nissen. The answer was, 'Yes, probably I would have.' Nissen knew too much about Allied radar.

This article was written by Wil Deac and was originally published in the February 1998 issue of World War II.

For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today!

Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to