Top Secret Tales Of World War Ii

Critical Acclaim for 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 This war was fought by soldiers out of uniform. Stealth and ingenuity were their weapons. Victory was their only code of conduct. In Top Secret Tales of World War II, noted military historian William Breuer documents espionage-in all its forms-as it evolved in the hands of both Allied and Axis agents of intelligence and counterintelligence. Here you'll find riveting tales of patriotism and treachery, subversion and sabotage, kidnappings and assassinations, and bribes and blackmailing-with frequently startling revelations about the secret wars behind both the battlefields and the headlines.

Espionage, in all its forms, as it evolved in the hands of both Allied and Axis agents of intelligence and counter-intelligence is the basis for these fascinating and ultimately disturbing stories.

A rare treat for World War II history buffs and fans of the strange, absurd, and unexplained Acclaimed military historian William Breuer takes readers on a trip through the looking glass to acquaint them with the weirder side of World War II. Featuring a cast of characters including double- and triple-agents, femme fatales, fearless leaders, and men at arms, The Spy who Spent the War In Bed is a collection of seventy concise, vividly rendered tales of war, ranging from laugh-out-loud funny, to inspiring, to just-plain-bizarre. For instance, there's the one about how reputed Irish Republican Army members in New York conned Nazi intelligence out of a small fortune. There's also a thrilling account of how four American newsmen bagged an entire German platoon. And there's the haunting tale of the "Mystery Plane," an experimental aircraft that took off on a short test flight over England one sunny afternoon in 1938 and simply vanished into a cloudless summer sky. This book draws on personal interviews, official archives, and declassified documents, as well as the vast literature on World War II.

Critical Acclaim for Secret Weapons of World War II "Breuer has produced yet another collection of rip-roaring tales. . . . A delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out." -Publishers Weekly "It is Breuer's portrayal of the competition for technological superiority between the Allies and the Nazis that grabs the reader and shows the significance of each wartime discovery and invention." -State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois In the fast-paced, suspenseful Secret Weapons of World War II, noted military historian William Breuer chronicles the clandestine battle that occurred between the brilliant scientists and codebreakers of the Allies and the Axis powers. Re-creating the covert missions, hoaxes, spying, conspiracies, and electronic sleuthing, Breuer deftly uncovers the spectacular feats of the fascinating men and women who determined the outcome of the war-providing an unprecedented look at the least-known operations and plots conducted by both sides.

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

Critical acclaim for William B. Breuer "A first-class historian." --The Wall Street Journal Vendetta! "A wealth of insights."--Los Angeles Times Book Review Unexplained Mysteries of World War II "Anyone interested in twists of fate should find this book fascinating." --Library Journal Feuding Allies "A valuable resource . . . highly recommended."--Booklist * A bloc of hard-core American Nazis carries out elaborate plans to sabotage war efforts and keep the United States neutral. * A wily Japanese "tailor" single-handedly steals the secrets to the United States Gray Code. * A French boy and his "blind" music teacher penetrate, in broad daylight, the German forbidden zone at Port-en-Bessein. Just beneath the surface of the legendary events of World War II lurks a vast, shadowy, high-stakes realm of espionage and intelligence, where the most successful operations are the ones we've never heard about . . . until now. With his trademark blend of dynamic storytelling and meticulous detail, William Breuer reveals seventy clandestine operations that affected the course of the war. Vivid and fast-paced, this far-reaching treasury of vanishing spies, mysterious kidnappings, and bizarre subplots is a unique and riveting addition to the World War II literature.

Critical acclaim for William B. Breuer "A first-class historian." --Wall Street Journal For Top Tales of World War II "As evidenced time and again by the prolific Breuer, WWII continues to be a source of absorbing espionage tales. . . . This is 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 "A perfect book 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 For Secret Weapons of World War II "Rip-roaring tales . . . a delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out." --Publishers Weekly

Behind the great battles and courageous acts of World War II are the schemes and ruses of cloak-and-dagger agencies, the captivating tales of which are told in Deceptions of World War II. In this book of Wold War II deception, noted military historian and author William Breuer presents more than 80 little-known tales of illusions, masquerades, and fakery—often decisive factors, providing an advantage that likely amounted to the difference between victory and defeat. Painstakingly researched and collected from personal interviews, official archives, and declassified documents, these fresh, fast-paced accounts take you directly into the minds of the men and women who misled their enemy, uncovered military secrets, and furthered their cause by any means possible: stealing Hitler’s secret weapon, “smuggling” ships to England, financing an FBI coup, impersonating a submarine fleet, unmasking German spies, and even sending Nazis into the White House. From Nazi Germany on the march to the Allies’ victory, you’ll marvel at the actions of: Ladislas Farago, who was formally classified as insane and yet on active duty in the US Navy, operating as a secret agent The nine Germans who “captured” Belgrade by means of a bold bluff London’s devious “Shadow Warrior,” who invented rumors to throw Germany off its guard and drive a wedge between the Nazi leaders and the military The Oslo Gang, whose mind-boggling exploits helped to convict Norwegian traitors and German war criminals soon after the liberation Greta Garbo, the world-famous Swedish actress who worked undercover for the British and reported on Nazi sympathizers Writing in an engaging, dramatic style, Breuer is once again at the top of his form, uncovering nuggets of espionage that will enthrall World War II buffs, hungry for new stories of the war, as well as anyone interested in compelling tales of history.