The Secret War: The Inside Story of the Code Makers and Code Breakers of World War II

By Michael Paterson

Book Overview

Offers a look at the undercover war, revealing just how much of WWII was won away from the battlefields and how each side desperately tried to get into the 'mind set' of their enemies' code makers. This book includes a glimpse of the early history of the computer - its uses and subsequent development. This title offers a comprehensive look at the undercover war, revealing just how much of WWII was won away from the battlefields and how each side desperately tried to get into the 'mind set' of their enemies' code makers.From the British cryptologists to the Navajo Indians whose codes helped win the war against Japan, this book reveals the stories of extraordinary people and their chance finds, lucky accidents, dogged determination and moments of sheer brilliance, to expose how the war was really won.It includes an intriguing glimpse of the early history of the computer - its spectacular uses and subsequent development. It features vivid first-hand accounts from the staff of Bletchley Park, French and Dutch resistance fighters, the American secret agents and members of the Services Liaison Unit who passed on vital coded information to field commanders. It also includes a 16 page plate section with rare archive photographs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0715327194
• ISBN13: 9780715327197
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: David & Charles
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Very interesting oral history

This delightful little book has a somewhat misleading title. The words "inside story" made me think this was more explanation of the miracles at Bletchley Park, but what it turned out to be is a collection of memories from people who were there, from the lowest clerks to about mid-level decoders. The recollections were nicely sewn together with commentary that put things in context and provide an inside look into life in England during the war. I wish that there had been some recollections from those who were more central to the cracking of the German (and other) codes. Note that this book nearly entirely concentrates on the English effort against the Germans, with only a short chapter focused on English contributions to the Pacific War. Since I've read extensively about Enigma and the happenings at Bletchley Park, it was easy to put everything in context, but I think that without that background this book might be a little hard to follow. I recommend this book to those who've already become at least somewhat familiar with Enigma and Ultra and how the German codes were broken, as this book will neatly fill in many of the details of daily life at Bletchley Park and how incredibly hard everyone worked. The teamwork there was fantastic, even under conditions of utmost security.