Operation Mincemeat Ending Explained – “Operation Mincemeat,” which blends fiction with a factual story that changed the course of history, keeps close to the details while adding dramatic aspects to make it compelling viewing. The video depicts British intelligence’s attempt to shift the Axis forces’ focus away from Italy and toward Greece. Because attacking Sicily appeared like a no-brainer, they needed a convincing approach to persuade the Nazis to believe the story of Greece’s invasion.
Ian Fleming, who was Admiral John Godfrey’s personal assistant before going on to develop James Bond, is the story’s narrator. Knowing Ian’s future possibilities, the creators thought it was appropriate to cast him as the narrator. Fleming’s ideas in the Trout document, on the other hand, were considered for Operation Mincemeat.
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Operation Mincemeat (2022) Movie Plot Synopsis
Ewen Montagu (Matthew Macfadyen) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen), members of the Twenty Committee, a tiny group of British intelligence agents in charge of double agents, are the central characters in the movie. When the committee was debating how to divert the Nazis, Charles recommended using the Trojan approach, which was stated in the Trout Memo plan.
According to the plan, a body would land using a parachute and deliver critical phoney documents that the enemy would mistake for the truth and act upon. Those at the table, particularly Admiral John Godfrey, dismissed the notion. However, Ewen was in favour of it and worked with Charles Cholmondeley to prepare the operation’s execution. They worked on the concept to make sure there were no loopholes, and they hoped their approach would be approved.
The squad included Jean Leslie, who was brought in by Charles to play the fiancée of the corpse, Pam. Jean felt a softness toward Ewen, and Charles was attracted to her. Charles and Ewen were occasionally envious of their relationship. Ewen had sent his wife and children to America before taking on his covert agent duty, fearful for their safety.
They were half-Jewish, and he knew his family would suffer the consequences if they lost the battle. His wife didn’t agree with the separation, but he didn’t have any other options. He was attracted to Jean because of her intelligence and beauty while composing the love letters. Even though they knew they were attracted to one other, their duty to their country prevented them from exploring their love.
“Operation Mincemeat” takes several creative liberties while maintaining the basics of the operation. It features a love triangle and a final twist to keep the audience guessing.
What Factors Were Considered When Choosing The Corpse?
The corpse was the most important component they needed to complete the job. While there were plenty of bodies to choose from, it was crucial to locate one that had not been claimed. Furthermore, the body had to be one that would not raise suspicion, implying that it had not previously been harmed.
Even though finding the appropriate body was difficult, they were able to locate one that was unclaimed with the help of a coroner, Bentley Purchase. Glyndwr Michael was the man. He suffered from mental disease and died as a result of consuming rat poison. Even if an autopsy was performed, the amount of rat poison was too little to be discovered. This made Michael the ideal person to carry out their strategy.
Airdropping was avoided to avoid dismembering the body. The aim was to use the submarine to deliver the body and then submerge it in the ocean. They decided to prove Michael’s identification as Captain (Acting Officer) William Martin using phoney paperwork found on his body. The name William Martin was popular in the Royal Navy, and it was chosen for that reason. They made Major Martin a fiancée and named her Pam. It was accompanied by a photograph of Jean Leslie, an intelligence agent. Jean was drawn to the case and Ewen because of this element.
They also composed a love message that could be included in the pocket litter with the image. Such personal documents were developed in order to make the man’s identity more credible. Ewen and Jean would go through the hypothetical romance between Pam and the officer in great depth, giving them an opportunity to show their love for one another. Charles, who had long admired Jean, was infuriated by their proximity.
A letter from Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Nye to General Sir Harold Alexander, commander in Algeria and Tunisia, would be included with the personal documents, revealing their invasion plan. The letter detailed how the British intended to invade Greece but were circulating rumours that they would do so through Sicily.
This was the vital piece of intelligence they anticipated would reach German officials, forcing them to shift their focus away from Sicily and toward Greece. The intelligence team attempted to locate the appropriate waterproof ink that could be used to create the letters to ensure that the text remained intact. Coroner Purchase advised them that the plan had to be carried out within three months, or it would begin to disintegrate and be useless.
They also had to remember to keep Sir Nye’s letter in a briefcase to draw additional attention to themselves. To reinforce its position and ensure its safety, the bag was then fastened to his trench coat.
While everything was going smoothly, the sister of the deceased Glyndwr Michael appeared and took his body. She wished she could have been by her brother’s side and buried him with dignity. However, she was informed that her brother was now working on a top-secret government project. Ian Fleming gave her money to leave, but she declined and stormed out in rage.
Ending of ‘Operation Mincemeat’ Explained: That was the Nazi-hating spy who interrogated Jean?
The body was submerged near the Huelva coast in southern Spain, according to the plan. Spain was neutral ground, making it the ideal location for the body to emerge. On April 29th, the body was submerged and retrieved by a Spanish fisherman on April 30th. Spanish soldiers removed the body from the scene.
Even though an autopsy was performed, it was done in a hurry, as the coroner had correctly expected, and it was certified that the guy in question died as a result of drowning in water.
The records were requested by Adolf Clauss, a German agent and member of the Abwehr, but it was too late because the briefcase had already arrived in Madrid. After Clauss failed to obtain it, the Abwehr’s top agent, Karl-Erich Kühlenthal, attempted to obtain it, believing that it contained intelligence that would reveal the British invasion strategy.
Captain David Ainsworth, a British triple agent who worked for the British but purported to be a German sympathiser in Madrid, was able to persuade the German sympathiser, Colonel Cerruti, a Spanish officer, of the letter’s value. Cerruti, on the other hand, managed to persuade Admiral Moreno to pass over the records to Kühlenthal. The briefcase was handed over to the British Embassy once the letter was delivered to the Germans.
While the rest of the team celebrated their successful plan, Jean had to deal with an unexpected surprise. As she walked into her apartment, she noticed a copy of the photograph stored in Michael’s pocket on her side table. When she was greeted by Teddy, she realised something was awry. Teddy worked at Ewen’s club, which Ewen, Charles, and Jean frequented. He said he discovered the photograph among Major Martin’s papers.
Teddy was a member of a group of Germans that wanted Hitler to be deposed. The British, on the other hand, had dismissed them as anti-Hitler fake. This incensed them since, even if they wanted to, they couldn’t help the Allies. He demanded that Jean explain the entire operation, which she did under duress. He wanted to comprehend the situation so that he could warn Nazi haters about the Allied forces’ deeds.
Charles was enraged at the event with Teddy because he couldn’t believe Ewen was unaware that one of his employees was German. He was particularly suspicious since Ewen’s brother, Ivor, was a Communist sympathiser. Admiral John Godfrey requested that he spy on Ewen to ensure that he had no vested interests.
Despite Charles’ opposition to spying on his colleague, Godfrey pledged to return to England the body of his brother, who had died in Chittagong. Charles questioned Ewen about his brother during a heated confrontation. Ewen was embarrassed by his brother’s involvement, but he knew he wasn’t conspiring, and, more crucially, he didn’t tell his brother about the operation.
While the British troupe was on their way to Sicily, the squad waited for news. While intelligence suggested that the Germans were coming into Greece and that they believed their tale, they were still sceptical, particularly after the Teddy incident. The mood was tight, as everyone hoped for a positive outcome.
The news finally arrived that the British army had successfully invaded Sicily with little resistance. Operation Mincemeat was a huge success, saving thousands of lives. While the world watches the battles on the battlefield, there is always covert warfare taking place behind closed doors that have a huge impact on history.
We learn at the end of “Operation Mincemeat” that Ewen and Iris Montagu were married until Ewen’s death in 1985. A year after the war, Jean Leslie married a soldier who was part of the initial wave of the Sicilian invasion. Up until 1952, Charles Cholmondeley was a member of MI5. He later married and had a variety of interests.
We also find that Major Martin’s identity was kept a secret for forty-four years, until the British Government placed his name on the monument in 1997. “Operation Mincemeat” is a gripping thriller that sheds light on a pivotal moment in WWII history.
Operation Mincemeat Ending Explained: Will Ewen and Jean Get together?
Jean, a widow who has worked as an MI5 clerk since the beginning, has a warm spot in Charles’ heart. As a result, when seeking for a woman’s photograph to pass off as Pam’s, he approaches her for assistance. He gladly accepts her request to join the squad in the hopes of spending more time with her. However, as Ewen and Jean collaborate to develop Major Martin and Pam’s backstory, they become drawn to one another.
This makes Charles envious, and he informs her that Ewen intends to return to his wife, Iris, after the war. Jean feels discouraged and chastises Ewen for playing with her feelings since he never took her seriously. He apologises and admits that he loves her as well, but they agree that they cannot be together because he has a family. When Teddy threatens Jean after Major Martin’s body is discovered in Huelva, Ewen moves her to his house for protection, much to Charles’ chagrin.
Sadly, Jean does not intend to stay long and chooses a job with Special Operations in another country. She and Ewen exchange an emotional goodbye before leaving London, and he compliments her bravery. After the war, Ewen returns to Iris and his children in America, while Jean marries a soldier.
Stream Operation Mincemeat (2022) movie on Netflix.
