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The Secret History of World War II

Spies, Code Breakers, & Covert Operations

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The Secret History of World War II

By: Neil Kagan, Stephen G. Hyslop
Narrated by: Andrew Reilly
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About this listen

From spy missions to code breaking, this account of the covert operations of World War II takes listeners behind the battle lines and deep into the undercover war effort that changed the course of history.

From the authors who created Eyewitness to World War II and numerous other best-selling reference books, this is the shocking story behind the covert activity that shaped the outcome of one of the world's greatest conflicts - and the destiny of millions of people. National Geographic's landmark book illuminates World War II as never before by taking you inside the secret lives of spies and spymasters; secret agents and secret armies; Enigma machines and code breakers; psychological warfare and black propaganda; secret weapons and secret battle strategies. Seven narrative chapters reveal the truth behind the lies and deception that shaped the "secret war". Renowned historian and top-selling author Stephen Hyslop and Neil Kagan reveal this little-known side of the war in captivating detail, weaving in extraordinary eyewitness accounts and information only recently declassified.

©2016 Neil Kagan and Stephen G. Hyslop (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Freedom & Security Military Politics & Government World Espionage War Black Ops World History
All stars
Most relevant
A bit lightweight but overall informative a b c d e f g h I

OK book

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There is nothing new here and there are several silly mistakes, but it provides a brief round-up of many operations and as such is a reasonably entertaining read.

Nothing new here, but it's ok

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So,

There is a bit about two Norwegian spies whom are caught. They are nicknamed Mutt and Jeff. The writer thinks this is because of their appearance: it is in fact rhyming slang for ‘deaf’.

It is a lightweight listen but not altogether worse for it.

Interesting which things don’t get researched

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what an amazing book. all the things you never hear about and some you have. easy to understand.. bravo. Well worth the listen

one of the most interesting books on ww2

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I began this audiobook with high hopes.
They were dashed.
There is nothing new in this book and nothing that cannot be read in any amount of other works.
The narrator makes a schoolboy error of rwferring to Camp Zero Two Zero. It was never called this and omits any serious mention of where the name came from.
Ommitted too, is the story of Eddie Chapman - the famous Agent Zig-Zag.
At one point the author references Hans Kammler, but leaves it at that. A whole book has been written on Kammler, who deserves more than just a passing mention.
Another area the author could have delved into is the jamming of the German Knickebein beams. This story is truly epic, because once the means of generating the signals had been found via OP BITING (The raid on Bruneval) the stolen radar bits were then turned against Germany.
Avoid this book unless you want a tangent-deep look at the secret war. I can recommend Bodyguard of Lies by Anthony Cave Brown for a far deeper analysis of what went on.

Disappointing rehash of well-known stories

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