On April 30, 1943, Spanish fisherman recovered the body of British army Maj. William Martin. Spanish authorities quickly buried the body, but his personal effects — including the briefcase handcuffed to his wrist — were given to the Germans.
For the Germans, it was an intelligence coup. Documents in the briefcase revealed that the Allies, who were on the verge of defeating Axis forces in North Africa, would next invade Sardinia and Greece. Hitler moved entire divisions of troops away from Sicily and southern Italy to prepare for the attacks.
But the Germans had been fooled.
