Nathalie Sergueiew

Nathalie "Lily" Sergueiew (January 24, 1912 – May 17, 1950) was a double agent who worked for MI5 during World War II under the codename "Treasure". She played a significant role in the Double-Cross System, particularly by deceiving the Germans about the location of the D-Day landings.

Early life Sergueiew was born in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire (niece of General Yevgeny Miller ), but her family fled to France following the Russian Revolution in 1917. She was educated in Paris, and trained as a journalist, being fluent in English, French and German. During the mid-1930s she travelled extensively throughout Germany, and once interviewed Hermann Göring.

World War II An attempt was made to recruit her by the German intelligence service in 1937, but she refused. However, after the Fall of France she offered to work for the Abwehr, with the aim of being sent to England, where she planned to betray the Nazis and – with luck – work for British Intelligence. Her Abwehr case officer, Major Emil Kliemann, trained her in intelligence gathering and communications techniques, and in 1943 sent her to Spain, along with her dog "Babs". She was accepted, and travelled to England. However, British quarantine regulations resulted in Babs being left behind at Gibraltar.

Sergueiew was given the code-name "Treasure" and handled by MI5 officer Mary Sherer. "Treasure" turned out to be an effective agent, but was also described as "exceptionally temperamental and troublesome". Suffering from kidney stones and given only six months to live, she threatened to quit unless MI5 arranged for her dog to be brought her. Matters came to a head in February 1944 when "Treasure" learned that Babs (who was living with her sister in Algeria) had been run over. She informed MI5 that she had a secret signal, which would indicate to Kliemann that she was under British control, and threatened to use it in revenge for the death of her dog.

"Treasure" continued to work for MI5, sending the Germans false information until a week after D-Day, when she was informed that her services were no longer required. She accepted her discharge but warned them they would be unable to keep transmitting as her without her.