The Intelligence Zone: Churchill’s secret sites in the heart of England ...and what they gave the world

by Alan Biggins, Kai Toru (Illustrator)

In June 1940, the all-powerful armies of Nazi Germany stood on Cap Gris-Nez in France and gazed on the white cliffs of Dover. If they could cross the narrow strait and conquer their last enemy, they would ship out all surviving British males of military age as slaves. They would take the islanders’ scientific knowledge too. Britain was the world leader in atomics. Possession of that lead, along with German dominance in rocketry, could have led to a Nazi atom bomb and the defeat of America. A new dark age would have begun for all of us. The bell was tolling for humanity.

How Hitler’s bloody tide was broken is a tale, in Churchill’s words, of “blood, toil, tears and sweat”. But Winston forgot to mention Britain’s most important weapon; her brains. This book is the story of ‘The Intelligence Zone’; perhaps the greatest cauldron of invention in the history of mankind. From this small area – roughly between London, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge - came computing. Here was forged the shield - radar - that allowed RAF Fighter Command to win that narrow victory which saved Britain, Europe and humanity from the most powerful of evil doctrines ever devised by man. Here the discovery of penicillin began a global medical revolution. Here man first mastered the splitting of the atom.

This is no dry story; it is a tale of drama, achievement and sometimes terror, told in the words of those who lived through it.

This book covers the period from 1933 until 1942; when only the survival of Britain saved the world from Nazi tyranny. It should give you much food for thought. I hope, too, that it will inspire you to read the sequel A New World after Pearl, which tells how the advances made in the Intelligence Zone (see map inside) were decisive in winning the global war and shaping the modern world.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers a powerful and fascinating account of how Britain’s survival during 1933–1942 hinged not only on courage and sacrifice, but on the brilliance of its minds. The author captures the critical role of the “Intelligence Zone” stretching between London, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge where radar, computing, penicillin, and atomic breakthroughs changed the course of history. The narrative vividly shows how Britain’s scientific ingenuity stood as the real shield against Hitler’s plans for invasion and domination, preventing a Nazi atomic bomb and a new dark age. Rich with firsthand voices, it blends drama, innovation, and humanity into a gripping story of how intelligence and invention saved Europe, America, and the modern world.

[Liora Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Intelligence Zone is a gripping and accessible exploration of the brilliant minds and secret places that helped save the free world. Biggins brings history to life with vivid storytelling, revealing how a small region of Britain became a powerhouse of innovation from radar to computing to early atomic research. The book effortlessly blends scientific achievement with human drama, allowing the voices of those who lived through the era to shine. It’s both enlightening and deeply moving, reminding readers how close the world came to catastrophe and how ingenuity turned the tide. A fascinating, inspiring account of history’s hidden heroes.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Intelligence Zone: Churchill’s Secret Sites in the Heart of England… and What They Gave the World by Alan Biggins explores Britain’s pivotal scientific and intelligence contributions during World War II. Focusing on the area between London, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge, the book highlights breakthroughs like radar, computing, penicillin, and atomic research that helped defeat Nazi Germany. Told with drama, insight, and firsthand accounts, it showcases how British ingenuity became a decisive weapon in saving the world.

[Paul O'nion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, well researched and written in am engaging style