Sigrid von Hoyningen-Huene MacRae Libri

This thrilling history explores the secret World War II relationship between Nazi Germany's Abwehr and the American OSS, the precursor to the CIA. The individuals involved often found themselves at odds with their governments, navigating competing ideologies and personal risks in their quest for an early peace. Utilizing recently declassified files, personal interviews, diaries, and unpublished accounts, the authors reveal Franklin Roosevelt's unexpected stance toward Hitler before the U.S. entered the war and examine American business ties to the Third Reich. They detail the German resistance's desperate attempts to prevent war and collaborate with enemy representatives to end it, highlighting the scope of resistance efforts and failed plots to eliminate Hitler. New names and wartime schemes emerge, shedding light on the power struggles in Istanbul and Lisbon, both teeming with spies. The narrative uncovers intense clandestine communications and the self-serving neutrality of Switzerland and Portugal, alongside the postwar scramble for German spies and scientists to combat rising communism. This work fills a significant gap in our understanding of the covert warfare and peace attempts during World War II, captivating historians, spy enthusiasts, and those interested in intelligence's role in tumultuous times. It presents a comprehensive and provocative account of the hidden conflicts behind the war.