German intelligence reporting from Britain was largely compromised. One disputed explanation is that the Abwehr withheld its best agents because it expected those sent across to be lost. Some agents could barely speak English, despite Germany having people available with much stronger language skills, including American accents. That disparity supports the interpretation that the personnel selected were not the best available. The suggestion that the Abwehr was conserving more useful agents remains a judgment about motives, rather than a settled explanation.
Notable Point · 21:24-22:44
Abwehr agents and expectations of failure
The poor language skills of some agents sent to Britain raise questions about German expectations for the intelligence mission.