Deceptions of World War II

William B. Breuer

Description

Critical acclaim for William B. Breuer

"A first-class historian."
-The Wall Street Journal

Top Secret Tales of World War II

"A book for rainy days and long solitary nights by the fire. If there were a genre for cozy nonfiction, this would be the template."
-Publishers Weekly

"Perfect for the curious and adventure readers and those who love exotic tales and especially history buffs who will be surprised at what they didn't know. Recommended for nearly everyone."
-Kirkus Reviews

Daring Missions of World War II

" The author brings to light many previously unknown stories of behind-the-scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories."
-Albuquerque Journal

Secret Weapons of World War II

"Rip-roaring tales . . . a delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out."
-Publishers Weekly
Introduction.

PART ONE-HEADING TOWARD THE BRINK.

A British Mole in German Spy School.

An Elderly German Casanova.

Return of a "Conquering Hero".

The "Poor Little Rich Girl".

A Scheme to "Nazify" Thirty Million Americans.

A Seminary Student Stalks Hitler.

Standard Oil's Nazi Connection.

Theft of Maginot Line Secrets.

The Pope's Clandestine Peace Plan.

An American Forum to Promote Germany.

Roosevelt's Secret Scheme to Aid the British.

"Our Enemies Are Little Worms".

Lulling Europe's Leaders to Sleep.

PART TWO-A WORLD ROCKED BY WAR.

A German Spymaster Plots Against Hitler.

The Polish Assassin Wore Pigtails.

An American Celebrity Aids the Fuhrer.

A Civic-Minded Spy in Miami.

A Swedish Professor's Intelligence Coup.

Greta Garbo: A Secret Agent.

"You Will Spy for the Fatherland!"

Hitler Finances an FBI Coup.

Japanese Fishermen in the Caribbean.

Confiscating Nazis' Stolen Art Treasure.

A Propaganda Blitz against the United States.

The Secret Looting of Conquered Europe.

A Hollywood "Warrior" Is Knighted.

Roosevelt: Conniver or Country Bumpkin?

"Smuggling" Five Ships to England.

Plastic Surgery for a British Spy.

PART THREE-NAZI GERMANY ON THE MARCH.

Nazi Diplomat Spies in the United States.

Secret Trysts in Berlin Theaters.

J. Edgar Hoover: Rumor Monger.

An Unlikely Counterfeit Traitor.

The Spy who Fooled Both Sides.

Nine Germans Capture Belgrade.

The "Directress of Masquerades".

Ruses to Aid Trapped British Force.

"We Stand Behind Every Camel!"

An Enemy Agent in the Spymaster's Family.

Mission: Hide Alexandria Harbor.

Nazi Spies Visit the White House.

Escaping in Disguise from a Death Camp.

The World's Strangest Business.

French Gold Cache Kept from Hitler.

The German "Butcher's" Gardener.

PART FOUR-A SLEEPING AMERICA AWAKENS.

A Plot to Coerce United States into War.

American Postcards Aid Pearl Harbor Attack.

Urgent Mission: Disguise California.

The Mysterious Camp X.

Probing Secrets of the Atlantikwall.

Contrivances to Save Jewish Children.

Sneaking a Danish Leader to London.

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

A German Deception Masterpiece.

A Deluge of Phony Food Coupons.

Impersonating a Submarine Fleet.

The "Phantom Field Marshal".

German Soldiers Help a Woman "Terrorist".

Escaping Captivity by a Ruse.

The Grand Mufti's Rejected Report.

British Magicians Hoodwink Rommel.

PART FIVE-TURNING OF THE TIDE.

A Danish Spy Preaches to the Germans.

Japan Wants Lethal Gas on England.

General Eisenhower's Furious Wife.

The Gestapo Tricks British Spymaster.

London's Devious "Shadow Warrior".

Jim, the Talented Forger.

The Lady Journalist Was a Spy.

America's Black Propaganda Experts.

A "Water Donkey" Subterfuge.

Strange Roe for a Copenhagen Hotel.

War Among London's Spy Chiefs.

A Cat Bombardier.

A Plot to Kidnap the Pope.

Capturing an Island by Deceit.

"Fishermen" Blow Up Key Canal.

PART SIX-THE ALLIES' ROAD TO VICTORY.

Cat-and-Mouse Duel With the Gestapo.

Hedy Lamar Creates Panic.

A Bluff Saves an Underground Chief.

A Stowaway Lands on a Hostile Beach.

Sardine Treats fro U-Boat Crews.

Heists by the "Oslo Gang".

Fashion Model Unmasks German Spy.

A Trojan Horse Ploy.

A Cherbourg Priest Plays Kickball.

History's Most Incredible Impersonation.

"Black Radio" Blackmails Germans.

A Nazi Campaign to Defeat Roosevelt.

Operation Ferdinand Bamboozles Germans.

Allies Ignore Battle of Bulge Warning.

Polish Underground Steals Hitler's Secret Weapon.

Grandma Was a Secret Agent.

A Pregnant Spy Cuts a Deal.

"Faithful Heinrich" Betrays His Fuhrer.

Notes and Sources.

Index.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Segunda Guerra Mundial
• William Breuer
• Military history of Canada
• Military history of the United States
• Military
• World War II
• History
• Seconde Guerre mondiale

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 02 juillet 2002
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780471207474
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Deceptions of World War II
Books by William B. Breuer
An American Saga
Bloody Clash at Sadzot
Captain Cool
They Jumped at Midnight
Drop Zone Sicily
Agony at Anzio
Hitler’s Fortress Cherbourg
Death of a Nazi Army
Operation Torch
Storming Hitler’s Rhine
Retaking the Philippines
Nazi Spies in America
Devil Boats
Operation Dragoon
The Secret War with Germany
Hitler’s Undercover War
Sea Wolf
Geronimo!
Hoodwinking Hitler
Race to the Moon
J. Edgar Hoover and His G-Men
The Great Raid on Cabanatuan
MacArthur’s Undercover War
Feuding Allies
Shadow Warriors
War and American Women
Unexplained Mysteries of World War II
Vendetta: Castro and the Kennedy Brothers
Undercover Tales of World War II
Top Secret Tales of World War II
Secret Weapons of World War II
Daring Missions of World War II
Deceptions of World War II
William B. Breuer

John Wiley Sons, Inc.
Copyright © 2001 by William B. Breuer. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley Sons, Inc., New York
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, [phone], fax [phone], e-mail: [e-mail] .
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
This title is also available in print as ISBN 0-471-09590-7. Some content that appears in the print version of this book may not be available in this electronic edition.
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Dedicated to
DESMOND THOMAS DOSS
(1919– )
A conscientious objector who refused to carry a weapon but volunteered for combat as a medic in World War II.
Seriously wounded on Okinawa, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for exceptional valor.
Without some dissimulation No business can be carried on at all.
—Philip Dormer Stanhope,
Earl of Chesterfield
1749
Contents
Introduction
Part One—Heading toward the Brink
A British Mole in German Spy School
An Elderly German Casanova
Return of a “Conquering Hero”
The “Poor Little Rich Girl”
A Scheme to “Nazify” Thirty Million Americans
A Seminary Student Stalks Hitler
Standard Oil’s Nazi Connection
Theft of Maginot Line Secrets
The Pope’s Clandestine Peace Plan
An American Forum to Promote Germany
Roosevelt’s Secret Scheme to Aid the British
“Our Enemies Are Little Worms”
Lulling Europe’s Leaders to Sleep
Part Two—A World Rocked by War
A German Spymaster Plots against Hitler
The Polish Assassin Wore Pigtails
An American Celebrity Aids the Führer
A Civic-Minded Spy in Miami
A Swedish Professor’s Intelligence Coup
Greta Garbo: A Secret Agent
“You Will Spy for the Fatherland!”
Hitler Finances an FBI Coup
Japanese Fishermen in the Caribbean
Confiscating Nazis’ Stolen Art Treasures
A Propaganda Blitz against the United States
The Secret Looting of Conquered Europe
A Hollywood “Warrior” Is Knighted
Roosevelt: Conniver or Country Bumpkin?
“Smuggling” Five Ships to England
Plastic Surgery for a British Spy
Part Three—Nazi Germany on the March
Nazi Diplomat Spies in the United States
Secret Trysts in Berlin Theaters
J. Edgar Hoover: Rumormonger
An Unlikely Counterfeit Traitor
The Spy Who Fooled Both Sides
Nine Germans Capture Belgrade
The “Directress of Masquerades”
Ruses to Aid Trapped British Force
“We Stand behind Every Camel!”
An Enemy Agent in the Spymaster’s Family
Mission: Hide Alexandria Harbor
Nazi Spies Visit the White House
Escaping in Disguise from a Death Camp
The World’s Strangest Business
French Gold Cache Kept from Hitler
The German “Butcher’s” Gardener
Part Four—A Sleeping America Awakens
A Plot to Coerce the United States into War
American Postcards Aid Pearl Harbor Attack
Urgent Mission: Disguise California
The Mysterious Camp X
Probing Secrets of the Atlantikwall
Contrivances to Save Jewish Children
Sneaking a Danish Leader to London
An “Insane” Man in U.S. Navy Post
A German Deception Masterpiece
A Deluge of Phony Food Coupons
Impersonating a Submarine Fleet
The “Phantom Field Marshall”
German Soldiers Help a Woman “Terrorist”
Escaping Captivity by a Ruse
The Grand Mufti’s Rejected Report
British Magicians Hoodwink Rommel
Part Five—Turning of the Tide
A Danish Spy Preaches to the Germans
Japan Wants Lethal Gas on England
General Eisenhower’s Furious Wife
The Gestapo Tricks British Spymaster
London’s Devious “Shadow Warrior”
Jim, the Talented Forger
The Lady Journalist Was a Spy
America’s Black Propaganda Experts
A “Water Donkey” Subterfuge
Strange Role for a Copenhagen Hotel
War among London’s Spy Chiefs
A Cat Bombardier
A Plot to Kidnap the Pope
Capturing an Island by Deceit
“Fishermen” Blow Up Key Canal
Part Six—The Allies’ Road to Victory
Cat-and-Mouse Duel with the Gestapo
Hedy Lamarr Creates Panic
A Bluff Saves an Underground Chief
A Stowaway Lands on a Hostile Beach
Sardine Treats for U-Boat Crews
Heists by the “Oslo Gang”
Fashion Model Unmasks German Spy
A Trojan Horse Ploy
A Cherbourg Priest Plays Kickball
History’s Most Incredible Impersonation
“Black Radio” Blackmails Germans
A Nazi Campaign to Defeat Roosevelt
Operation Ferdinand Bamboozles Germans
Allies Ignore Battle of the Bulge Warning
Polish Underground Steals Hitler’s Secret Weapon
Grandma Was a Secret Agent
A Pregnant Spy Cuts a Deal
“Faithful Heinrich” Betrays His Führer
Notes and Sources
Index
Introduction
F ORCE AND FRAUD have been the two cardinal principles of warfare since Sun Tzu, the Chinese warlord who conquered huge expanses of Asia, recorded his military theories in 550 b.c. : “Undermine the enemy, bewilder and confuse him, strike at his morale, then his army will fall to you.”
Many centuries later, both sides in World War II sought to gain military, economic, political, or psychological advantage by an ongoing series of masquerades, intrigue, deceit, and fakery—the fraud equation about which Sun Tzu had written.
The Western Allies (especially the British, later the Americans) and the Germans skillfully blended Sun Tzu’s ancient precepts with modern technology to gain even a slight advantage that could mean the difference between victory or defeat.
Cloak-and-dagger agencies in both camps, as well as military commanders, constantly considered schemes and ruses for misleading the enemy, for playing upon his fears, and for disturbing his mental balance. The idea of these masquerades and intrigue was to attract the enemy’s attention to what the perpetrator wished him to see and to distract his attention from what he did not wish the enemy to see.
When successful, these ingenious machinations could coerce the enemy to move his forces to the wrong place or to refrain from shifting them to the right place, wasting his effort, time, and manpower.
Countless books have been written about the great battles, strategic designs, high-level decisions, and episodes of courage and boldness in the conventional fighting in World War II. Largely absent has been a comprehensive focus on how masquerades, intrigue, deceit, and fakery were often decisive factors. This book helps fill that reportorial void.
Part One
Heading toward the Brink
A British Mole in German Spy School
E ARLY IN 1937, Adolf Hitler, four years after he had seized total power in Germany, ordered the Abwehr, the military intelligence branch of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (High Command) to create an espionage apparatus in Great Britain. Implementing the project was Colonel Karl Busch, a veteran intelligence officer and head of the Abwehr’s Anglo-American Section.
Reacting with typical Teutonic efficiency, Busch set up two separate spy rings in Britain. One was composed of relatively petty agents, including scores of German mädchen (young women) who were planted as domestic servants in the homes of important Britons, including two Royal Navy admirals.
Like other spies, these female sleuths had been trained at Klopstock Pension, the Abwehr’s secret espionage school in a multistory building near police headquarters in Hamburg. There they learned such diverse things as how to prepare English roast beef, how to operate a radio transmitter, and how to snap photos with a tiny camera that could be concealed in a pocket.
Not only young women who would serve as domestics received their baptism into the espionage game at Klopstock. Hundreds of would-be male agents also had been enrolled. Learning the tricks of the spy business was done much the same as in a college classroom. The instructors, many of whom had cut their espionage teeth spying on Great Britain and France in World War I, used aliases. They sat at desks on raised platforms, and there were blackboards behind them.
The Klopstock students studied how to use codes and sophisticated techniques for planting explosives and deadly poisons. They learned all about operating a special radio transmitter-receiver, the Agenten-Funk (Afu, for short), which weighed only thirty pounds and fit snugly in a small suitcase.
Along with