Theodore Schurch: British Fascist Who Spied on Allied Prisoners for Nazi Germany

Theodore Schurch was a British soldier and fascist collaborator who betrayed his own country by spying on fellow Allied prisoners and passing military intelligence to the Axis—including information concerning the newly formed SAS.Born in London in 1918 to a Swiss father, Schurch held dual citizenship and became attracted to extremist politics at an early age, joining the British Union of Fascists as a teenager. When the Second World War began, he joined the British Army, but his allegiance would soon shift dramatically.Captured by Axis forces at Tobruk in 1942, Schurch began collaborating with Italian and German intelligence. Trained to impersonate fellow Allied prisoners, he reportedly operated under the identity “Captain Richards,” infiltrating prisoner-of-war camps across North Africa and Italy. By gaining the confidence of British officers, he attempted to obtain valuable military information for the enemy.His intelligence gathering included information concerning the Long Range Desert Group and the newly formed Special Air Service. Following Italy’s surrender in 1943, Schurch continued collaborating with Nazi Germany, working with German intelligence and security organisations.His activities finally ended in 1945 when Allied counterintelligence captured him in La Spezia. After being transferred to British custody, Schurch faced a sensational trial in London and was convicted of nine counts of treachery and one of desertion.On 4 January 1946, the 27-year-old Schurch was hanged at Pentonville Prison by executioner Albert Pierrepoint, becoming the last person executed under Britain’s Treachery Act 1940.This documentary examines Theodore Schurch’s transformation from British soldier into Axis collaborator, his infiltration of Allied POWs, the military secrets he betrayed, and his final reckoning after the war.This episode is part of the series Fascist Collaborators.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv