Forgotten Voices of the Secret War: An Inside History of Special Operations in the Second World War

by Roderick Bailey, Sebastian Faulks (Introduction)

Drawing on vast archival resources and featuring a mass of previously unpublished personal testimonies, a unique collection of personal testimonies from the men and women of the Special Operations Executive (SOE)—a secret organization created early in World War II to encourage resistance and carry out sabotage behind enemy lines—is presented in this astounding volume. As their eyewitness testimonies prove, each member of the SOE faced extreme danger and personal risk in their fight to helped tilt the conflict in the Allies’ favor. The stories captured here include tales of parachute drops into enemy territory, capture and torture by the Gestapo, nerve-wracking sabotage missions, and guerrilla fighting alongside groups as varied as the French resistance, partisans in Yugoslavia, and tribes in the Burmese jungle. Both incredible and informative, this is a gripping first-hand account of the efforts and sacrifices of a unique clandestine force.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, World War II, Military Fiction, Military History

400 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Matt Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgotten Voices is an excellent series in a superb format. The one or two paragraph excerpts of each ‘memory’ ensure the whole book maintains pace and gives a real insight into the often hardly-believable exploits of the contributors.
I had no idea SOE was so active outside of occupied France, and especially in the Far East. A great read for anyone interested in World War Two. I found it a subject with few tv documentaries or other books, so it was a real eye-opener.

[Steve Merrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Dingo Has exploded Whilst sitting to close to the fire" An imagined BBC Ideogram for the growing resistance fighters in occupied Tasmania.

I really enjoyed this book, but you must be warned that the title is right, this is the voices of the people involved so from one paragraph to the next you do not know what is happening, it could have been one of those random disasters but instead (Due I think to a brilliant bit of editing) the whole book flows and keeps you in the zone of each different point of view from many various events. Thoroughly well put together and has a great vision and scope of the special forces of WW2. What is also good about this book is that you don't have to be a military nut to enjoy it as a lot of the people involved have a humanity that is really refreshing.....

I would like to read other books like this on different topics too...

Utterly spell binding and well worth reading....

I apologize, for my mock BBC message for all of you resistance people out there, but if it got your attention and you have read this far you may as well read this really odd but good little book.

:-)

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first class collection of oral histories from SOE veterans. Grouped together by date and theatre of operations small snippets of memories from people who served behind enemy lines provide a fascinating insight to the Second World War from a rare perspective.
These little stories can be tense and horrifying, or quite uplifting and in one case (Major Harvard Gunn's tale from Schleswig-Holstein near the end of the war in Europe) laugh out loud funny.

[K. A. MacKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection of primary source material. Huge care has gone into organising snippets from dozens - if not hundreds - of interviews so that the pieces come together to give a cohesive account of what it felt like to be an agent on the ground, both overall and in various specific theatres of war.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good and I really like the Lost Voices format. It's like being in the room with several people each telling parts of the same story. I loved all the tidbits that you wouldn't get from a different format.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book to become engrossed in voices from the past. The experiences could have been only yesterday. Some tales are very sad, most give a wonderful glimpse of hardship, fears, humour and coping in the most terrible of wars.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve recently been watching Secret Army. This book details those exploits of the “Line” and other groups worldwide, both the successes & failures. Possibly most interesting was how much Europe was splintering into factions & insurrections. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was…

[J F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspectives and recollections. Particularly intriguing for me were the memories from Training and the dits from the Japanese AOR, fascinating.

[Mikhael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read collection of short true stories WW2

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful work of history in the survivors own words, that coalesce to provide an overview of the hidden work of the SOE during WWII in keeping the flame of resistance alive. The men and women's reports are incredibly matter of fact about what were clearly have been difficult and traumatic experiences.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usual " Forgotten Voices" fodder. A very interesting topic but I found the format very difficult to engage with and it took quite a bit of perseverance. However, a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn about the work of SOE.

[cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like the Studs Terkel of intelligence. I love personal testimonies during war and this was an excellent read. I thought I had finished it and then realized I hadn't but I'm sure this review will not change when I do.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the usual forgotten voices style of short extracts from interviews with members of the various units involved. Great book and full of information and stories from the mundane to action packed missions undertaken by SOE operatives in all theatres of WW2.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting first person accounts of SOE operations in WWII.

[Nick Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the format: lots of short, dramatic, immediate, occasionally almost unreal stories told in unguarded language that evokes Pathe News.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary collection of first-hand narratives from WW2 intelligence operatives. Captivating, shocking, and an complex, giving new understanding of the moral nuances of wartime.