Helen Fry

I read and review quite a few books. Some are difficult to plough through, but this one was a sheer pleasure.

The book introduced me to a new aspect of the Second World War, and added value to the historiography of this period, by again confirming the wide range of subjects that can be studied in respect of the Second World War. There was more to the war that just the fighting. The book is meticulously researched, and it has a comprehensive bibliography to illustrate this. It also has a useful index. There are fifteen chapters that cover the role of British Intelligence in debriefing captured German members of the armed forces, which included covert listening device being planted to capture unguard conversations.

The book takes the reader through the developments in this science from the earliest days to the more sophisticated operations by the close of the war. I had not understood the range, quality and depth of intelligence obtained from this source. The book contains some, but not many, photographs in the centre, but those included do add value to the content, and I find the portraits of key individuals useful.

In conclusion, I found this an excellent read. It added greatly to my knowledge and understanding about the Second World War from a British perspective. I recommend it highly.… (mehr)

Fascinating insight into the sophisticated intelligence operations mounted against German PoWs, mostly high-ranking officers, imprisoned in the Tower of London and subsequently requisitioned stately homes near London. The PoWs enjoyed a relatively luxurious lifestyle, at least compared to the average Briton during the war, but paid for it with their loosened tongues which greatly aided the allies' war campaigns with invaluable intelligence about new weapons, technology and troop dispositions. Much of the intelligence has only recently been revealed, some is still sealed away and a great debt is owed to the translators, often Jewish refugees from Germany and states they invaded. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in WW2 history.… (mehr)