The Spy Who Dressed the Queen | Rat Week | Episode 2 Summary

Released: April 29, 2025 | Host: Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey | Produced by Wondery

1. Introduction and Recap

In the second episode of "The Spy Who Dressed the Queen," titled "Rat Week," host Indira Varma sets the stage by revisiting the challenges faced by Hardy Amies, the acting head of T Section within the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Amies is grappling with the infiltration of Nazi collaborators within the Belgian Resistance, led by the elusive criminal Prosper de Zita, whose distinct feature—a missing finger—signals his treacherous nature.

Indra Varma introduces the episode:

"These are stories you were never meant to hear... secret operatives playing to very different rules." (05:31)

2. Operation Rat Week: A Desperate Measure

In July 1943, at SOE headquarters on Baker Street, London, Brigadier Eric Mockler Ferriman, the new Director of Operations in Northwest Europe, addresses the assembly of SOE section heads. He announces Operation Rat Week, a bold initiative aimed at dismantling Nazi networks by eliminating collaborators en masse.

Brigadier Ferriman declares:

"We're going to kill them. This is a war, gentlemen. This is our new mission." (00:00)

Ferriman emphasizes the creation of kill lists targeting the most dangerous infiltrators, intending to execute them by October to cripple enemy operations and deter future betrayals.

3. Jean Philippe Janssens: A Mission in Peril

Jean Philippe Janssens, operating under the codename "Calf," is a 21-year-old Belgian SOE agent tasked with establishing arms caches for the Resistance. Amidst his mission, Janssens encounters Madame Legrand, a pivotal figure in the Belgian Resistance, who assists him in his efforts to aid downed RAF officers.

Madame Legrand reassures Janssens:

"There's a man I know from my time in France. He organizes things like this. Can he be trusted?" (02:30)

Despite initial success, Janssens faces betrayal when he is captured by German forces after a failed escape attempt, leading to the dire realization that SOE's secret codes may have been compromised.

4. The Silent Weapon: A Game-Changer for SOE

Back in England, Hardy Amies meets with Major Hugh Reeves, head of Station 9—the SOE’s engineering and research unit. Reeves unveils the Welrod pistol, a silent firearm designed specifically for covert assassinations, embodying the SOE's innovative approach to clandestine warfare.

Amies expresses awe:

"This silent gun is the perfect weapon for covert assassinations." (12:45)

The Welrod pistol becomes a cornerstone of Operation Rat Week, providing agents with the means to eliminate targets without alerting nearby enemies.

5. Internal Struggles and Strategic Frustrations

Amid escalating tensions within the SOE, Hardy Amies confronts Major General Colin Gubbins about the Belgian government in exile's refusal to authorize Operation Rat Week. Frustrated by bureaucratic hesitance, Amies proposes an alternative strategy—arming the Resistance with the Welrod pistols without direct SOE involvement, thereby maintaining plausible deniability.

Amies asserts his plan:

"If we arm the Resistance, the assassinations can be carried out by them, and it will appear as mere coincidences." (25:10)

Gubbins acknowledges Amies's ingenuity, giving him the green light to proceed independently of official channels.

6. Betrayal and De Zita’s Manipulations

Prosper de Zita, under the guise of Captain Willie, engages in duplicitous dealings with the Abwehr, German military intelligence. He manipulates SOE agent Edmond Marechal into delivering weapons ostensibly to aid the Resistance but instead facilitates de Zita's own agenda to sabotage SOE operations.

De Zita confronts his Abwehr handler:

"You think the people I employ work for free?" (28:55)

This treachery not only jeopardizes Janssens but also threatens the integrity of the entire SOE network in Belgium.

7. The Onset of Rat Week: Assassinations Commence

As Operation Rat Week kicks off, the Resistance begins systematically targeting Nazi collaborators across Belgium. Key assassinations include:

• Middle-aged woman in Ville Vorder: A notorious Nazi collaborator is swiftly executed by a resistance fighter using the Welrod pistol. (35:10)

• REX member on a country road: A Flemish nationalist sympathizer is overpowered and killed after refusing to cooperate, demonstrating the militant resolve of the Resistance. (37:45)

• Prosper de Zita: The prime target, de Zita, is on the Resistance’s hit list. As resistance fighters prepare to eliminate him at a local nightclub, the tension underscores the high stakes of the operation. (40:00)

Resistance fighter declares determination:

"I don't care if it means we get this bastard, I'll die happy." (39:50)

8. Hardy Amies’s Personal Turmoil

The success of Operation Rat Week is juxtaposed with Hardy Amies’s personal struggles. Upon learning of Janssens's capture and the potential compromise of SOE codes, Amies grapples with guilt and frustration, seeing the operation both as a strategic necessity and a moral burden.

Amies vents to his lover, Alexis French:

"These are top secret operations... men under my command keep dying." (35:55)

This internal conflict highlights the emotional toll of espionage and the heavy responsibilities borne by those leading such clandestine efforts.

9. Conclusion and Implications

As Rat Week unfolds, the SOE's aggressive tactics yield significant disruptions within Nazi networks in Belgium. However, the episode leaves listeners contemplating the ethical complexities of such operations and the personal costs to those involved. The looming threat of de Zita’s retaliation and the potential exposure of SOE's secrets set the stage for escalating tension in subsequent episodes.

Notable Quotes

• Brigadier Ferriman (00:00): "We're going to kill them. This is a war, gentlemen. This is our new mission."

• Madame Legrand (02:30): "There's a man I know from my time in France. He organizes things like this. Can he be trusted?"

• Hardy Amies (12:45): "This silent gun is the perfect weapon for covert assassinations."

• Hardy Amies (25:10): "If we arm the Resistance, the assassinations can be carried out by them, and it will appear as mere coincidences."

• Prosper de Zita (28:55): "You think the people I employ work for free?"

• Resistance Fighter (39:50): "I don't care if it means we get this bastard, I'll die happy."

• Hardy Amies (35:55): "These are top secret operations... men under my command keep dying."

Final Thoughts

Episode 2 of "The Spy Who Dressed the Queen" immerses listeners in the perilous world of WWII espionage, showcasing the intricate dance between duty, morality, and survival. The introduction of Operation Rat Week marks a pivotal moment in the SOE's efforts to reclaim control from Nazi collaborators, setting up a narrative rich with action, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice amidst the shadows of war.

For those eager to delve deeper into the clandestine operations that shaped history, "The Spy Who" offers a gripping and meticulously researched exploration of the untold stories behind the veil of secrecy.

This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate the essential elements of the episode while maintaining the engaging narrative style characteristic of Wondery's storytelling.