MI6 has cast distance between its new chief and her grandfather, who was this week revealed to have been a Nazi spy known as "the butcher". Blaise Metreweli was announced as the incoming head of the Secret Intelligence Service earlier this month. She will beits first female "C"in its 116-year history. With little known about her wider backstory, several newspapers reported on Friday that her grandfather was Constantine Dobrowolski, who defected from Soviet Russia's Red Army to become the Nazis' chief informant in Chernihiv, Ukraine. However, the Foreign Office, which speaks on behalf of MI6, said Ms Metreweli "neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather". A spokesperson added: "Blaise's ancestry is characterised by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with eastern European heritage, only partially understood. "It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6." The Daily Mail, whichfirst revealed the family link, reports that it found hundreds of pages of documents in an archive in Freiburg, Germany, which showed Mr Dobrowolski was known as "The Butcher" or "Agent No 30" by Wehrmacht commanders. He reportedly signed off letters to his Nazi superiors with "Heil Hitler" and said he "personally" took part in "the extermination of the Jews". The archive documents are said to suggest Mr Dobrowolski looted the bodies of Holocaust victims, was involved in the murdering of local Jews, and laughed while watching the sexual assault of female prisoners. After the war, Mr Dobrowolski's wife, Barbara, and two-month-old son fled to Britain, and she married David Metreweli in 1947. Her son took his stepfather's name, but the Mail reports that on some official documents his surname was still Dobrowolski. Mr Dobrowolski's son would go on to be a radiologist and UK armed forces veteran, and his daughter, Ms Metreweli, was born in 1977. She has not responded to the recent reports herself. She joined MI6 - which gathers intelligence overseas - in 1999, and is currently responsible for technology and innovation there. She will be the agency's 18th head when she takes over later this year from Sir Richard Moore, a senior civil servant. Upon her appointment, she said in a statement that she was "proud and honoured" to have been asked to lead. Ms Metreweli is a Cambridge graduate, a rower and has previously had operational roles in the Middle East and Europe.
MI6 distances its new chief from Nazi grandfather
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"MI6 Clarifies New Chief's Family History Amid Controversial Nazi Connection"
Bbc News
7.6
TruthLens AI Summary
The United Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, has sought to clarify the background of its newly appointed chief, Blaise Metreweli, in light of revelations regarding her grandfather's controversial past. Constantine Dobrowolski, known infamously as a Nazi spy referred to as "the butcher," served as the chief informant for the Nazis in Chernihiv, Ukraine. His involvement with the Nazi regime reportedly included heinous acts such as the extermination of Jews and other war crimes, as detailed in documents uncovered by The Daily Mail. These documents indicate that Dobrowolski was deeply entrenched in the atrocities committed during World War II, signing off correspondence with Nazi officials in a manner that underscored his allegiance to their cause. Following the war, his family fled to Britain, where his wife Barbara married David Metreweli, and their son ultimately adopted his stepfather's surname. This complex familial history has raised eyebrows, particularly given the historical context of Dobrowolski's actions during the war.
In response to the media coverage surrounding her grandfather, MI6 emphasized that Blaise Metreweli had no personal connection with him, asserting that she neither knew nor met Dobrowolski. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office highlighted that Metreweli's heritage is marked by conflict and division, a narrative common among individuals with Eastern European backgrounds. This statement further articulated that her diverse ancestry has fueled her dedication to preventing conflict and safeguarding the British public from contemporary threats posed by hostile states. Metreweli, who joined MI6 in 1999, has held various roles within the organization and is currently responsible for technology and innovation. As the agency's first female chief, she expressed her pride and honor in leading MI6, emphasizing her commitment to modern intelligence challenges. Metreweli's appointment marks a significant milestone in MI6's history, and it will be interesting to observe how her leadership unfolds amidst the scrutiny of her family's past.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.