Stefan Rosenberg (November 6, 1915 - December 16, 1960), also known famously by his code name Nimrod and as Stephen Rigby, was a German-born British World War II super agent. He was a master spy from the X-troops, which were lead by Lord Mountbatten.
It was a division so secret, that only a few in the military were even aware that it had existed. His daring mission was to convince Hitler that the Allies would land in Calais, so that they could land in Normandy. Given the code name "Nimrod," he had to keep the Nazis from Normandy, risking not only his life, but also the future of the entire free world. Born Stefan Rosenberg in Frankfurt in 1915, he became a British national shortly after. He was the perfect undercover plant, as he was loyal to the British, but passably German. The intelligence arm of the British military helped change him into Stephen Rigby. He had prepared for his role for months, practicing his German, learning to look left and not right when he stepped into the street, perfecting every aspect of his fictitious existence.
He went into France before the invasion, disguised as a German field agent posing as a French resistance fighter, under the name Stephane Dubillier. When the Germans brought him in, he managed to convince them that he was neither English, nor French, but a German posing as both, and was able to convince Hitler himself that the allies were gonna land at Pas-de-Calais, and not Normandy. Ultimately, he was successful, with this allowing the allies to successfully land at Normandy, leading to the beginning of a successful invasion of German-occupied Europe and inevitably, the fall of Nazi Germany itself.
He died on December 16, 1960, of unknown causes, at the age of 45. He was buried in Friedhof Ottakring Cemetery, in Ottakring, the 16th district of Vienna, Austria. Today, Nimrod is known as one of the most legendary super-agents of World War II.
In Popular Culture[]
- Nimrod is mentioned in the Hogan's Heroes episode, The Missing Klink, when a plan by Hogan to kidnap General Albert Burkhalter goes wrong and Colonel Wilhelm Klink gets captured by the Underground instead. To save Klink, Hogan frames Klink as Stefan Rosenberg, so a prisoner exchange could happen. While not making any on-screen appearance on the show, at the end, Hogan reads a note that was left by Nimrod in plans for a Messerschmitt that were hidden in a box with the Hindenburg on it.
External Links[]
- Stefan Rosenberg - Find a Grave
- Code Name Nimrod - by James Leasor - a book about Stefan Rosenberg