Amazing! The Inside Track on WWII Intelligence!

I’ve always thought that I knew a lot about WWII .
However, I learnt, after listening to this book that my knowledge was limited to the basic conflict/battles and the wider strategic issues - this book introduced me to the little-known “cloak-and -dagger” world of spies, intelligence and counter intelligence.

I was shattered to find out that the German and British intelligence arms kept in contact with one another throughout the war!

I learnt that the Germans were partnering with the Japanese on submarine development prior to WWII.

I learnt how fatal the Allies’ demand for an “unconditional surrender” has been - it destroyed any chance of a negotiated peace that Germans, like Canaris, were seeking.

I learnt about the extent of the German generals’ reluctance to go to war had been ... from the outset!!

I learnt that Admiral Canaris was a great and very brave man who risked his life daily at doing what he thought would save his Germany.

I’m not sure if there’s a statue of Canaris in Germany, but there should be ... and it should be a big one!!!

An excellent book, well-researched and loaded with interesting (and new) WWII facts!

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Incredible story of Intelligence in WW2

A detailed history of how British Intelligence worked with German Military Intelligence before and during WW2 to secure peace or the defeat of Germany. Some stunning revelations. The authors frequent use of "England" when he means the UK is both ignorant and irritating. Other than that it's a great piece of work.

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1 person found this helpful

Historical story with lots of supposition

The story of the main character of the book is by its very nature secretive, he was after all the head of Hitler's spy ring, so we shouldn't be surprised that very little hard evidence or facts are available to the writer. if you accept a lot of the suppositions gleaned from the sparse facts, then this is a very interesting expose of the attitudes towards a peaceful solution to WW2 of the UK, the USA and the USSR.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent, insight

Excellent insight into the dilemma of men trapped on the wrong side of history.

What would you do if you realised you were on the wrong side?

Our hats have skulls on.

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1 person found this helpful

Wilhelm Canaris

Brilliant book about a wonderful historical figure. Rather politically heavy, explaining canaris’ complex role in WW2. But very enjoyable!

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Not recommended

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

No reader with a serious interest in biography or history shiould read this book. The use of words such as “if, “it seems likely that” and “there is no evidence in the files but it is probable that” do not belong in any authoritative work.

Would you ever listen to anything by Richard Bassett again?

No

What about Mark Topping’s performance did you like?

A very good performance.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No.

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4 people found this helpful

Canaris is fascinating, but this “history” lacks depth

Overall, this was an entertaining story, but it does not satisfy as a work of history.

Wilhelm Canaris, the protagonist, is a fascinating individual with an impressive array of achievements. Interestingly, as chief of the German foreign intelligence service before and during WW2, there is substantial evidence that he both supported and didn’t support Germany in the war.

Some resolution of this central contradiction is essential. Yet, unfortunately, there is no substantive analysis or investigation of this contradiction in Bassett’s book. Instead it is, so to speak, “just one %}#€ing thing after another” and ultimately unenlightening. For such a fascinating biographic topic this is a real disappointment.

There were also a number of issue with the recording, a surprise given Audible’s high standards. Many words were mispronounced, using neither British nor American English- e.g. macabre, sine qua non. Several sentences were repeated, as if the recording skipped. This problem has not occurred for me with any other Audible book so I suspect it is an issue with the recording not the Audible software.

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3 people found this helpful