Secret agent : the true story of the covert war against Hitler / David Stafford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stafford, David.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain. Special Operations Executive--History.

Great Britain.

Great Britain. Special Operations Executive.

World War, 1939-1945--Secret service--Great Britain.

World War, 1939-1945.

World War, 1939-1945--Military intelligence--Great Britain.

World War, 1939-1945--Underground movements.

War--Underground movements.

History.

Physical Description:

254 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Woodstock, N.Y. : Overlook Press, 2001.

Summary:

In June 1940 Britain was driven from the continent by Hitler's conquering armies. As the British stared invasion in the face, a group of unconventional warriors planned a new form of warfare, and the Special Operations Executive was born. With a brief from Winston Churchill to "set Europe ablaze," this top-secret agency was given the dangerous task of coordinating subversion and sabotage against the enemy by all means necessary -- using disguise, deception, bribery, explosives (sometimes disguised inside objects such as a dead rat or a chianti bottle), guerrilla warfare, and even assassination.

The intriguing details of the men and women -- many of them civilians with no qualifications or experience -- who risked their lives to fight this secret war are recounted here. Through the personal reminiscences of these courageous individuals, Secret Agent reveals the covert world of the SOE: how the operatives were recruited; the daring operations they carried out; the radio and coding systems that kept them in touch with London; and the James Bond-style gadgets designed to help them carry out their missions. Breaking their long silence, these brave survivors finally tell their own stories in their own words. More than just a war-time thriller, Secret Agent narrates the true story of this remarkable group of people and the secret war they waged behind enemy lines.

Contents:

1 'Set Europe Ablaze' 11

2 Kindling the Fire 25

3 Tricks of the Trade 49

4 Getting There 60

5 A Burglar's Operation 70

6 Keep the Flag of Freedom Flying 81

7 Blowing up Bridges 92

8 'These Heroic Men' 105

9 Landing by Moonlight 125

10 The Radio War 143

11 Living on Air 162

12 Balkan Inferno 172

13 Fighting for France 187

14 Behind the Lines 204

15 Making Mayhem 212

16 Dousing the Flames 223.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [241]-243) and index.

ISBN:

1585671681

OCLC:

47056372