Deceptions of World War II / William B. Breuer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Breuer, William B., 1922-2010.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Deception.

World War, 1939-1945.

Deception.

World War, 1939-1945--Secret service.

Secret service.

World War, 1939-1945--Military intelligence.

Military intelligence.

Physical Description:

xii, 242 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Deceptions of World War Two

Deceptions of World War 2

Place of Publication:

New York : Wiley, [2001]

Summary:

While much has been written about the great battles and courageous acts of conventional fighting in World War II, some of the more unconventional but no less risky schemes and ruses of cloak-and-dagger agencies and military commanders have mostly eluded the spotlight. Now, in Deceptions of World War II, noted military historian and author William Breuer presents more than eighty little-known tales of illusions, masquerades, and fakery that were often decisive factors, providing an advantage that could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Painstakingly researched and collected from personal interviews, official archives, and declassified documents, these fresh, fast-paced accounts take you directly into the minds of the men and women who misled their enemy, uncovered military secrets, and furthered their cause by any means possible: stealing Hitler's secret weapon ... "smuggling" ships to England ... financing an FBI coup ... impersonating a submarine fleet ... unmasking German spies ... even sending Nazis into the White House.

From Nazi Germany on the march to the Allies' road to victory, you'll marvel at the actions of: Ladislas Farago, who was formally classified as insane and yet on active duty in the U.S. Navy, operating as a secret agent. The nine Germans who "captured" Belgrade by means of a bold bluff. London's devious "Shadow Warrior," who invented rumors to throw Germany off its guard and drive a wedge between the Nazi leaders and the military. The Oslo Gang, whose mind-boggling exploits helped to convict Norwegian traitors and German war criminals soon after the liberation. Greta Garbo, the world-famous Swedish actress who worked undercover for the British and reported on Nazi sympathizers. Writing in an engaging, dramatic style, Breuer is once again at the top of his form, uncovering nuggets of espionage that will enthrall World War II buffs hungry for new stories of the war as well as anyone interested in compelling tales of history.

Contents:

Part 1 Heading toward the Brink

A British Mole in German Spy School 5

An Elderly German Casanova 8

Return of a "Conquering Hero" 9

The "Poor Little Rich Girl" 12

A Scheme to "Nazify" Thirty Million Americans 14

A Seminary Student Stalks Hitler 16

Standard Oil's Nazi Connection 20

Theft of Maginot Line Secrets 21

The Pope's Clandestine Peace Plan 23

An American Forum to Promote Germany 25

Roosevelt's Secret Scheme to Aid the British 26

"Our Enemies Are Little Worms" 28

Lulling Europe's Leaders to Sleep 30

Part 2 A World Rocked by War

A German Spymaster Plots against Hitler 35

The Polish Assassin Wore Pigtails 36

An American Celebrity Aids the Fuhrer 38

A Civic-Minded Spy in Miami 39

A Swedish Professor's Intelligence Coup 41

Greta Garbo: A Secret Agent 42

"You Will Spy for the Fatherland!" 44

Hitler Finances an FBI Coup 48

Japanese Fishermen in the Caribbean 50

Confiscating Nazis' Stolen Art Treasures 51

A Propaganda Blitz against the United States 53

The Secret Looting of Conquered Europe 55

A Hollywood "Warrior" Is Knighted 57

Roosevelt: Conniver or Country Bumpkin? 59

"Smuggling" Five Ships to England 62

Plastic Surgery for a British Spy 65

Part 3 Nazi Germany on the March

Nazi Diplomat Spies in the United States 69

Secret Trysts in Berlin Theaters 71

J. Edgar Hoover: Rumormonger 73

An Unlikely Counterfeit Traitor 75

The Spy Who Fooled Both Sides 77

Nine Germans Capture Belgrade 79

The "Directress of Masquerades" 81

Ruses to Aid Trapped British Force 84

"We Stand behind Every Camel!" 87

An Enemy Agent in the Spymaster's Family 90

Mission: Hide Alexandria Harbor 92

Nazi Spies Visit the White House 98

Escaping in Disguise from a Death Camp 100

The World's Strangest Business 102

French Gold Cache Kept from Hitler 105

The German "Butcher's" Gardener 108

Part 4 A Sleeping America Awakens

A Plot to Coerce the United States into War 113

American Postcards Aid Pearl Harbor Attack 114

Urgent Mission: Disguise California 115

The Mysterious Camp X 120

Probing Secrets of the Atlantikwall 124

Contrivances to Save Jewish Children 127

Sneaking a Danish Leader to London 129

An "Insane" Man in U.S. Navy Post 130

A German Deception Masterpiece 132

A Deluge of Phony Food Coupons 135

Impersonating a Submarine Fleet 136

The "Phantom Field Marshall" 137

German Soldiers Help a Woman "Terrorist" 138

Escaping Captivity by a Ruse 140

The Grand Mufti's Rejected Report 142

British Magicians Hoodwink Rommel 143

Part 5 Turning of the Tide

A Danish Spy Preaches to the Germans 153

Japan Wants Lethal Gas on England 154

General Eisenhower's Furious Wife 156

The Gestapo Tricks British Spymaster 157

London's Devious "Shadow Warrior" 159

Jim, the Talented Forger 161

The Lady Journalist Was a Spy 162

America's Black Propaganda Experts 164

A "Water Donkey" Subterfuge 164

Strange Role for a Copenhagen Hotel 166

War among London's Spy Chiefs 167

A Cat Bombardier 170

A Plot to Kidnap the Pope 171

Capturing an Island by Deceit 172

"Fishermen" Blow Up Key Canal 175

Part 6 The Allies' Road to Victory

Cat-and-Mouse Duel with the Gestapo 181

Hedy Lamarr Creates Panic 184

A Bluff Saves an Underground Chief 185

A Stowaway Lands on a Hostile Beach 188

Sardine Treats for U-Boat Crews 189

Heists by the "Oslo Gang" 190

Fashion Model Unmasks German Spy 192

A Trojan Horse Ploy 195

A Cherbourg Priest Plays Kickball 197

History's Most Incredible Impersonation 198

"Black Radio" Blackmails Germans 203

A Nazi Campaign to Defeat Roosevelt 206

Operation Ferdinand Bamboozles Germans 209

Allies Ignore Battle of the Bulge Warning 212

Polish Underground Steals Hitler's Secret Weapon 214

Grandma Was a Secret Agent 218

A Pregnant Spy Cuts a Deal 220

"Faithful Heinrich" Betrays His Fuhrer 222.

Notes:

Includes bibliograpical references (pages 227-235) and index.

ISBN:

0471095907

OCLC:

47623938