Was Coco Chanel a spy

Answer 1

Yes, but for who whom seems to be the relevant question. During WW2 she was arrested by the Gestapo as a British spy when a plot to act as an intermediary between the Nazis and the British Royals (devised by her close friend and probable lover S.S. General Walter Schellenberg) fell apart. After the war she was charged as a collaborator by the Allies, but apparently escaped judgment due to the influence of the British Royals.

The key point is that Coco was an opportunist looking out for Coco. Her well known penchant for dissembling even about trivial matters make it unlikely that her true political beliefs (if any) can be discovered. For example she concocted an elaborate falsehood about her impoverished childhood that was only marginally more pathetic the the true story. Her inflated self image is best illustrated by her statement of refusal to marry into the Royals, saying there were many Duchesses but only one Coco.

Answer 2

There are claims and theories suggesting that Coco Chanel may have had connections to espionage activities during World War II, particularly with the Germans. However, the extent of her involvement as a spy is still a topic of debate among historians and researchers.