Description
| Product ID: | 9781445671062 |
| Product Form: | Paperback / softback |
| Country of Manufacture: | MT |
| Title: | SOE in the Low Countries |
| Authors: | Author: M. R. D. Foot |
| Page Count: | 448 |
| Subjects: | European history, British & Irish history, Second World War, Espionage and secret services, War and defence operations, Second World War, Espionage & secret services, War & defence operations, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Belgium, Netherlands, c 1939 to c 1945 (including WW2) |
| Description: | Select Guide Rating 'One of the great classics of espionage and special operations' (Nigel West) by 'the pre-eminent historian of SOE' (Antony Beevor). SOE’s Belgian and Dutch operations in the Second World War have always been considered highly controversial because of the notorious Englandspiel (‘the English game’) run by the Germans, which effectively took control of the entire resistance organisation in Holland. Skilfully manipulated by Colonel Hermann Giskes, the occupying force arrested dozens of Dutch agents and operated their wireless sets with sufficient finesse to persuade SOE’s headquarters in London that their networks were operating without interference. In reality, each consignment of agents and equipment fell directly into the hands of the Nazis.Was there a traitor in London? Was it incompetence in the field or hopelessly inadequate security procedures? The Belgian experience, equally complicated, was for a time almost as disastrous as the Dutch. Opinions have differed, but here the official records are opened for independent scrutiny by an acknowledged specialist in SOE’s operations. The story that emerges is a harrowing catalogue of Whitehall jealousies and infighting, blunders and ineptitude, combined with breathtaking bravery on the part of the agents who were captured. |
| Imprint Name: | Amberley Publishing |
| Publisher Name: | Amberley Publishing |
| Country of Publication: | GB |
| Publishing Date: | 2017-09-15 |
