The Walls Have Ears: The Greatest Intelligence Operation of World War II

£10.99

Price: £10.99
(as of Oct 31, 2024 11:02:08 UTC – Details)
A history of the elaborate and brilliantly sustained World War II intelligence operation by which Hitler’s generals were tricked into giving away vital Nazi secrets

“A great book.”―Michael Goodman, BBC History Magazine
 
“An astonishing story of wartime espionage.”―Robert Hutton, author of Agent Jack

At the outbreak of World War II, MI6 spymaster Thomas Kendrick arrived at the Tower of London to set up a top secret operation: German prisoners’ cells were to be bugged and listeners installed behind the walls to record and transcribe their private conversations. This mission proved so effective that it would go on to be set up at three further sites―and provide the Allies with crucial insight into new technology being developed by the Nazis.

In this astonishing history, Helen Fry uncovers the inner workings of the bugging operation. On arrival at stately-homes-turned-prisons like Trent Park, high-ranking German generals and commanders were given a “phony” interrogation, then treated as “guests,” wined and dined at exclusive clubs, and encouraged to talk. And so it was that the Allies got access to some of Hitler’s most closely guarded secrets―and from those most entrusted to protect them.
From the Publisher
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press (22 Sept. 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300254857
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300254853
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.34 x 2.54 x 20.32 cm

13 reviews for The Walls Have Ears: The Greatest Intelligence Operation of World War II

  1. Patricia, Norfolk

    A very interesting, factual and deeply researched book about intelligence gathering during WWII.
    I downloaded this book after I had finished reading a novel by Jules Wake called “The Secrets of Latimer House”, which did not delve very deeply into the secrets, but which awakened my interest. Ms Wake referred to “The Walls have Ears” as being one of the books she used for her research, and I wanted to know more.This book, “The Walls have Ears” was deeply researched from material that has only recently become declassified as it has been top secret and I found it fascinating, full of facts so I shall probably read it again. When enemy airmen, soldiers and seamen of all ranks were captured, they were brought to one of several prisons where the living accommodation of the prisoners was bugged with microphones. The intelligence that was gathered in this way is said to have shortened the war by two years, by learning secret information about weapons and secret codes etc. They did not resort to torture, and many of the prisoners thought that the British were too stupid to bug the cells and felt able to talk amongst themselves about details that would prove useful to the Allies. Even small snippets were used, and fed back to the prisoners when questioning them so that they would believe that the Allies knew more than they actually did. Stool pigeons were also used, German speakers masquerading as prisoners, planted in the cells to try and encourage their cell mates to talk. Many German Jew refugees were used in these prisons and helped to translate the conversations heard, all of which were documented. Frustratingly though, if any information was gathered from the prisoners about atrocities committed, the Government for various reasons were not able to use it to bring those responsible to justice.An excellent book, highly recommended.

  2. country lover

    Fascinating book
    Absolutely compelling reading! Couldn’t put it down.

  3. Cameron Cullen

    Often very good, though perhaps not for the casual reader.
    Information in WW2 was gathered by listening to Nazi staff, particularly the captured generals. Sometimes their arrogance is manifest, though it became their undoing. They spout all manner of views, still trapped in delusions of supremacy. Heavy stuff at times. For the casual reader then, not the best book on this subject. The cover suggests something rather more encompassing that it can be. That said, to date there aren’t many other options. It’s a sprawling subject. Try condensing that into a book, and it becomes bitty. It’s a good overview. The only improvement possible could have been to extend it further. It’s an interesting book and worth reading for several nuggets unpublished elsewhere.

  4. A. Zeyfert

    A fascinating account!
    Everybody knows about Bletchley Park nowadays. This is another amazing story from those times which has never been told. My only complaint is that it clearly does not tell the full story. This is not the fault of the author. She has done her research thoroughly and made it into an absorbing account which held my attention from beginning to end. Perhaps more details will surface (or be declassified) in the future, and I look forward to reading an amplified second edition.As an example, one wonders why the details of Rudolf Hess’s mission are still being kept secret after so many years? One can only speculate…

  5. Lee Lewis

    Fascinating!
    This is a fascinating book – the British Intelligence were extremely shrewd and effective after all! I attended a talk by the author, a well known World War II historian, and happen to live just opposite Trent Park, where we regularly walk our little dog.

  6. Mahonj

    A great read, about a critical and not well known part of WW2 espionage
    A great read, about a critical and not well known part of WW2 espionage.Well written etc.Recommended for anyone who knows about Enigma and Bletchley park and thinks that was it.

  7. teleview

    Intriguing
    Only a few chapters in, but I’m hooked on this one!

  8. Chris

    Excellent book
    A great read if you are interested in WW2 and clandestine operations. Very British and cultured which reflex of its time

  9. Robin le Bois

    An absolutely fascinating book about one of WWII’s best kept secrets. Full of intriguing facts about how the senior German prisoners were duped and played into revealing all kinds of secret information that proved to be, perhaps as important as the Enigma data.

  10. Tom. This item is crap. Poor description and i was totally surprised receiving this teenie tiny hair brush.

    Enjoyed reading it along with the author’s other books.

  11. theJZ

    This book has a ton of information. While the focus surrounds one individual’s (Kendrick) leadership during Britain’s spying campaign during WW2. The amount of names cited becomes impossible to keep track of. Notwithstanding the information overload, the spying campaign had a major successful impact on the war. Gives you a great insight on what was happening behind the scenes. The stories appear to be right out of the movie, yet factually 100% true.The Author manages to cover a lot of ground on the topic even though the amount of classified documents released was enormous and overwhelming. Anyone interested in WW2 History should definitely pick up this book.

  12. Jack Cage

    I started studying the European Theater of WWII while I was cadet at West Point 48 years ago. Pre- and post-ULTRA.But I’m amazed at the newly revealed content from British Intel.Love this book, and have her others as well.

  13. Phillip Bussey

    I’ve heard bits of this story before, but never at this level of detail. Makes you wonder what else went on that is not yet told. Shades of ‘Stalag 17!’

Add a review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button