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Rating: 
Summary: Truth, in this case, is more than stranger than fiction
Review: "Bodyguard Of Lies" is one of the most compelling and important reads out there. Lovers of Clancy novels should put them away for a year and concentrate on some of the most real bizarre, yet important, machinations of espionage and counter-espionage ever created and implemented. What gives this phenomenal work its incredible allure is the knowledge that these creations of historical intelligence import occored only a little more than a half-decade ago. The book takes its title from Winston Churchill's remark regarding the crucial role of good intelligence, where he stated, "In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." Using for his research information that had only been de-classified the previous year (1975), Anthony Cave Brown takes us through the minefield that was "Ultra", the Allies means of reading the secret ciphers of the Third Reich. "Ultra" was of such devastating importance that the entire city of Coventry was sacrificed in order to keep secret the fact that the Allies had, early on in the war, broken the German "Enigma" ciphers. This top secret cipher would time and time again put vital information directly into the hands of the Allies. It is safe to say that "Ultra" may have been the difference between victory and defeat. Brown also details what can only be referred to as the most convoluted espionage and counter-espionage schemes that only the minds of men at war for the highest stakes ever perceived could conceive of. In one instance, a false 'cadaver' was planted in an apparant shipwreck, replete with false identity papers, false obituary, false love letters, fake funeral, and, more importantly, false maps and information intended to persuade the enemy that they had stumbled upon ACTUAL information, and act accordingly. Brown relates other tales - some quite unsavory on both sides - for instance, Allied baiting of French resistance in order to convince the enemy of the plausibility of invasion (or non-invasion, as the case warrented) at a given place or time. Agents were sometimes dropped into situations where their 'handlers' knew that cover had been blown or compromised...all done to keep a certain game afloat or a certain secret intact. Perhaps the most interesting revelations, for me, in the book came from the 'dangling' of certain German Generals and Intelligence officials who were not simply sympathetic to the Allies, but in many cases actually working against Hitler and taking incredible, traitorous risks to help defeat him (the Schwarze Kapelle, or, in English, the Black Orchestra). Abwehr head Wilhelm Canaris is studied in depth, and his behavior, not to mention his persona alone may be one of the deepest level secrets of the Second World War. Churchill is again quoted at the start of the section on 'Special Means', "In the high ranges of Secret Service work the actual facts in many cases were in every respect equal to the most fantastic inventions of romance and melodrama. Tangle within tangle, plot and counter-plot, ruse and treachery, cross and double-cross, true agent, false agent, double agent...were interwoven in many a texture so intricate as to be incredible and yet true. The Chief and the High Officers of the Secret Service revelled in these subterranean labyrinths, and pursued their task with cold and silent passion." This book will leave you relieved that men like Churchill, Sir Stewart Menzies, Alan Turing and the like were on the side of the Allies. The book may also leave some disturbed concerning what deep levels of intregue - double, triple, even quadruple-cross - can be invoked when men, and women, are convinced that they are fighting on the side of right against what they are sure is the side of wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and Riveting
Review: A relative "turned me on" to this book. Yes, it is out of print. But if you haven't read it - go find it. I found a copy through Amazon, and what a value ...! Brown takes his readers into the bowels of espionage, counter-espionage, and a host of "immaculate deceptions" concocted by those who became responsible for the success of Allied efforts during WWII. Beyond the riveting stories of mystery and mayhem created by MI-5, MI-6, the OSS, and even Churchill himself who loved this sort of thing, Brown explains WWII politics, including the cement-head of Charles DeGaulle, and the political implications of the post WWII era that were being considered in all quarters well before the end of the war. Not to mention an in-depth study of the "Shawarz Kapelle," the conspiracy within Germany to do away with Hitler. The success of D-Day, the effects of D-Day not only on the soldiers who fought but also and especially upon those who planned the operation, the successes and failures of many deceptions designed to keep the Axis guessing, are all described in detail. D-Day was the culmination of the games, ruses and set-ups that had been going on for almost four years. If you haven't read this book, don't let the 1976 pub. date deter you. This is a must-read for anyone interested in WWII, WWII politics and post WWII politics, and anyone interested in learning about the lengths nations would go to in order to achieve deception.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and Riveting
Review: A relative "turned me on" to this book. Yes, it is out of print. But if you haven't read it - go find it. I found a copy through Amazon, and what a value ...! Brown takes his readers into the bowels of espionage, counter-espionage, and a host of "immaculate deceptions" concocted by those who became responsible for the success of Allied efforts during WWII. Beyond the riveting stories of mystery and mayhem created by MI-5, MI-6, the OSS, and even Churchill himself who loved this sort of thing, Brown explains WWII politics, including the cement-head of Charles DeGaulle, and the political implications of the post WWII era that were being considered in all quarters well before the end of the war. Not to mention an in-depth study of the "Shawarz Kapelle," the conspiracy within Germany to do away with Hitler. The success of D-Day, the effects of D-Day not only on the soldiers who fought but also and especially upon those who planned the operation, the successes and failures of many deceptions designed to keep the Axis guessing, are all described in detail. D-Day was the culmination of the games, ruses and set-ups that had been going on for almost four years. If you haven't read this book, don't let the 1976 pub. date deter you. This is a must-read for anyone interested in WWII, WWII politics and post WWII politics, and anyone interested in learning about the lengths nations would go to in order to achieve deception.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: A relative "turned me on" to this book. Yes, it is out of print. But if you haven't read it - go find it. I found a copy through Amazon, and what a value ...! Brown takes his readers into the bowels of espionage, counter-espionage, and a host of "immaculate deceptions" concocted by those who became responsible for the success of Allied efforts during WWII. Beyond the riveting stories of mystery and mayhem created by MI-5, MI-6, the OSS, and even Churchill himself who loved this sort of thing, Brown explains WWII politics, including the cement-head of Charles DeGaulle, and the political implications of the post WWII era that were being considered in all quarters well before the end of the war. Not to mention an in-depth study of the "Shawarz Kapelle," the conspiracy within Germany to do away with Hitler. The success of D-Day, the effects of D-Day not only on the soldiers who fought but also and especially upon those who planned the operation, the successes and failures of many deceptions designed to keep the Axis guessing, are all described in detail. D-Day was the culmination of the games, ruses and set-ups that had been going on for almost four years. If you haven't read this book, don't let the 1976 pub. date deter you. This is a must-read for anyone interested in WWII, WWII politics and post WWII politics, and anyone interested in learning about the lengths nations would go to in order to achieve deception.
Rating:
Summary: Huge Fun
Review: An amazing tale of the fantastic cover and deception schemes devised by the Allies (primarily Brits) to deceive the Germans about the Normandy invasion plans. Wonderfully clever and often downright amusing in conception and delivery, many of these fanciful schemes had phonominal success in disorienting the Germans, providing a total surprise for the Allies on D Day, saving perhaps tens of thousands of Allied soldiers' lives, and very likely determing the outcome of the war itself. Anthony Cave Brown tells the story with conviction, gusto and humor. Why didn't his book get on my list 25 years ago?
Rating:
Summary: The Story Behind the Story
Review: Brown writes compellingly. When you reach the end of a chapter, you think, "gosh, I'll just read a couple of pages of the next chapter and then go to bed." As an example:
"Early on September 15, Churchill drove from Chequers, the official country residence of Prime Ministers, to the RAF fighter control room at Uxbridge in the outer London suburbs. There II Group, which was responsible for defending London and southeast England, had its operations center. It was known that the tides, moon and weather were all favorable to a large-scale crossing of the Channel by the German armies. It was also appreciated that if they did not come now they would not be able to come at all this year; the equinoctial gales would set in. The only force that barred their way was the badly weakened RAF. But forewarned of Eagle Day by Ultra, Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, the C-in-C of the RAF Fighter Command, was able to position the remnants of his squadrons at the places where they could rise and intercept the German squadrons to the maximum advantage of the RAF. All radar and flak defenses were at optimum alert.
From his seat in the circle overlooking the large horizontal map table, Churchill watched the Luftwaffe assemble over the Channel ports. He watched the RAF coming into corresponding states of readiness. The target was London; and it would be attacked by 1000 bomber and 700 fighter sorties. Of this intention, Ultra had told all. The odds were great, the margins small, the stakes infinite. Like some croupier, Squadron Leader the Lord Willoughby de Broke ordered his squadrons about the skies of southern England, from square to square, as if he were attending a roulette board. And on the other side of the Channel, in a pure white uniform with gold furniture, Reichsmarshall Goering watched the battle from an eyrie on Cap Gris-Nez. The brilliant blue skies were laced with contrails, the silence of the still, hot day broken by the howl of overtaxed aero engines or superchargers cutting in, and the deadly little rattle of machine-gun fire at very high altitude.
By one o'clock the skies of southeast England were aflame with battle as twenty-five squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes engaged the first Luftwaffe fleets. But by teatime the RAF had broken the German lance. The Luftwaffe had not met the essential precondition for the invasion. The RAF still controlled the skies of England." Find a copy.
Rating:
Summary: Bodyguard of Lies
Review: One of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of how the fate of World War II hung in the balance which was tipped ultimately by seemingly inconsequential actions. A real page turner of little known facts..................................the reader will have a hard time setting it down
Rating:
Summary: The British know how to write history
Review: This is an extremely detailed book on Allied (mainly British) deception operations during World War II. While it was written in 1976 it still hold up well, except some new info as the role of GCHQ and signals intelligence has been released since 1976. I am still amazed at the scope of operations the British ran during World War II. A very well written book, though it is by know means a quick read. It took me almost a month to get through it. If you are keenly interested in intelligence operations try to track down this book.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible, but true
Review: This is an extremely detailed book on Allied (mainly British) deception operations during World War II. While it was written in 1976 it still hold up well, though some new information on the role of GCHQ and signals intelligence has been released since 1976. I am still amazed at the scope of operations the British ran during World War II. A very well written book, though it is by know means a quick read. It took me almost a month to get through it. If you are keenly interested in intelligence operations try to track down this book.
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