Operation Whale facts for kids

Operation Whale (called "Unternehmen Wal" or "Unternehmen Walfisch" in German) was the secret name for two different plans made by German intelligence during World War II in 1940. These plans were part of Germany's efforts to gather information and prepare for possible invasions. Both "Whale" plans were eventually stopped and never happened.

What Was Operation Whale?

Operation Whale was actually two separate secret plans by the German intelligence agency, the Abwehr. Both plans were developed in 1940 during World War II. They aimed to gather information and prepare for future military actions.

The "Walfisch" Plan

One of the plans was called "Unternehmen Walfisch" (which means "Operation Whale" or "Whalefish" in German). This plan involved trying to land a special seaplane on a lake in Ireland. The goal was likely to establish a secret contact point or gather information. However, this plan never took place. The German planners decided to stop working on it by July 1940.

The "Wal" Plan

The second plan was called "Unternehmen Wal" (meaning "Operation Whale" in German). This plan was thought up in November 1940. Its main goal was to connect with groups in Wales and Scotland that wanted their regions to be independent. This was meant to be a preparation for a much bigger German invasion plan called Operation Sea Lion ("Unternehmen Seelöwe").

The Secret Agent and His Mission

The person chosen for the "Wal" mission was Helmut Clissmann. He was an expert on Irish affairs for the Abwehr. He was supposed to be taken to Britain by a special "ghost sailor" named Christian Nissen, also known as "Hein Mück."

Why the Plan Was Tricky

At the time, the head of the Abwehr, Wilhelm Canaris, had given a direct order: no more operations in Ireland. To get around this rule, Kurt Haller, a leader in the Abwehr, asked for permission for the "Wal" operation. He said the plan was to get help from Welsh and Scottish groups. But the real, secret goal was still to make more contacts in Ireland. Even with this clever workaround, the "Wal" plan never happened. Planning for it was stopped by April 1941.

Other Secret German Operations

The Abwehr had many other secret operations during World War II, especially involving Ireland. Here are some of them:

• Operation Green (Ireland)
• Operation Lobster
• Operation Lobster I
• Operation Seagull (Ireland)
• Operation Seagull I
• Operation Seagull II
• Operation Whale
• Operation Dove (Ireland)
• Operation Osprey
• Operation Sea Eagle
• Operation Mainau
• Operation Innkeeper