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WWII Codebreakers And Spies
Codebreakers and Spies tells the astonishing story of how Britain's intelligence operatives, experts and special operations teams contributed to the Allies' victory in the Second World War. The work of the Bletchley Park codebreakers in breaking the German Enigma cipher is estimated to have cut the length of the war by around two years, saving countless lives, while the Double Cross system, in which German secret agents were 'turned' by the British to feed their Nazi agent-runners with false information, ensured the success of the D-Day landings.
Codebreakers and Spies not only reveals new details about these remarkable operations but also tells the compelling story of how MI6 turned the disaster of lost networks across Europe into triumph. The stories range from extraordinarily courageous to bizarre, with desperation driving the intelligence services to recruit astrologers and even a stage magician to help retrieve intelligence and allied aircrew from of Nazi-occupied Europe. Intelligence historian Michael Smith thrillingly recounts the daring and often moving lives of the heroes and heroines who risked their lives for victory.
Codebreakers and Spies not only reveals new details about these remarkable operations but also tells the compelling story of how MI6 turned the disaster of lost networks across Europe into triumph. The stories range from extraordinarily courageous to bizarre, with desperation driving the intelligence services to recruit astrologers and even a stage magician to help retrieve intelligence and allied aircrew from of Nazi-occupied Europe. Intelligence historian Michael Smith thrillingly recounts the daring and often moving lives of the heroes and heroines who risked their lives for victory.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2019
11 people want to read
About the author
Michael Smith
26 books48 followersThere is more than one Michael Smith in the database.
Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.
Source: Wikipedia.
Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 29, 2020
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
Packed full of interesting information and factual snippets, each chapter of Codebreakers and Spies focuses on a different aspect of the intelligence services. From various units and divisions to operations, Allied and enemy movements, all is discussed and laid out in a clear and concise manner.
The book gives a great overview of the bigger picture, providing all the necessary information without performing a deep dive into any one element of intelligence. It provides a useful initial platform from which readers could then go away and partake in further reading on any topics of particular interest.
There are also plenty of supporting photographs, images, and reproductions of real documents displayed between the pages of the book. The type-written letters, memos with notes scribbled by hand, and photographs of the real people who each played their own part in the war really help to bring each operation to life in a brilliant way. When reading about some of the operations performed during the war, it's easy to forget the very real human element to it - this book is great at bypassing that and providing an insight into the bravery and selflessness of these countless individuals.
Packed full of interesting information and factual snippets, each chapter of Codebreakers and Spies focuses on a different aspect of the intelligence services. From various units and divisions to operations, Allied and enemy movements, all is discussed and laid out in a clear and concise manner.
The book gives a great overview of the bigger picture, providing all the necessary information without performing a deep dive into any one element of intelligence. It provides a useful initial platform from which readers could then go away and partake in further reading on any topics of particular interest.
There are also plenty of supporting photographs, images, and reproductions of real documents displayed between the pages of the book. The type-written letters, memos with notes scribbled by hand, and photographs of the real people who each played their own part in the war really help to bring each operation to life in a brilliant way. When reading about some of the operations performed during the war, it's easy to forget the very real human element to it - this book is great at bypassing that and providing an insight into the bravery and selflessness of these countless individuals.
Displaying 1 of 1 review