Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies

Double Cross, by Ben Macintyre, is an unusual World War II story. It is the true and incredible story of how five Allied double agent spies working for the British Security Service, better known as MI5, fooled the Nazis into thinking the D-Day invasion, the biggest amphibious invasion of all time, would take place in a location that it would not take place. This deception, made by the Double Cross agents, the MI5 double agent section, was the most sophisticated and successful deception operation ever to take place. This book was very strong in the detail and interest departments, but weak in the department of being able to appeal to a large audience and was confusing at times. Despite this, I found Double Cross to be very good because of its interesting topic and extensive details. This book was, overall, very well written because it was interesting. The abundant little facts and details draw in the reader. Ben Macintyre uses these facts to make the reader better understand who the spies were and how they were able to make D-Day a victory, despite the odds against them. The reader learns that these spies were not the typical James Bond or Mission Impossible type. They had basic intelligence receiving and transmitting training, very different motivations for participating in the war, and they came from all over the world. “For the D-Day spies were, without question, one of the oddest military units ever assembled. They included a bisexual Peruvian playgirl, a tiny Polish fighter pilot, a mercurial Frenchwoman, a Serbian seducer, and a deeply eccentric Spaniard with a diploma in chicken farming” (5). They did not know martial arts and were not licensed to kill. Their roles were to plant lies into Hitler and the rest of Nazi Germany’s brains to make them the most unprepared for the D-Day invasion. Ben Macintyre does a very good job of making this story interesting and unique. Though Double Cross was a very good book, it has a couple problems. The first of which is not too much of a problem and is quite obvious. This book is intended to be interesting to a select audience, which is okay if the reader is part of this group. The story is very interesting, but not exciting, meaning the author expects that the reader is interested in espionage stories and World War II stories, and the details chosen show that. They make the book interesting to people who like the topic. The book would seem very boring to a reader not interested in World War II history. If this type of reader were to read, Double Cross, I can predict that they will think this book drags on forever. It would also be more confusing to any reader not interested in the topic. These assumptions of the author and the book are reasonable because the book would not have been as good without it. People like me, who love World War II stories, would not find the book as interesting. The second minor problem is that Double Cross gets a little confusing at times. It was clear that this book was going to be a bit confusing because of the complexity of the story, which is okay because it is a true story and is told how it happened. Ben Macintyre, did however, do a very good job of making the story as clear as possible. The story follows five Allied Forces spies which causes confusion at the beginning. It was easy to mix up their names and code names at the start of the book, but was no longer a problem by the middle of the book. The story also has a few important things to remember and can cause confusion if the reader forgets them. The story is also confusing to the reader because it is partially what the story is about. The spies had to confuse and deceive the Germans. Readers who are not interested in the topic will find the book to be more confusing than readers who like it. This is because non interested readers will be more prone to forget key elements and will cause the book to not make sense. Readers who like the book will be able to deal with the confusing bits and find that everything makes sense by the end. To conclude on Double Cross, it was very detailed, had an engaging topic, and will only appeal to those with an interest in the Second World War. Double Cross, in my opinion, was a fascinating book. I loved the extensive detail about this historical series of events. It feels like Ben Macintyre picked apart everything that happened and explained it. It shows how much work he must have put into writing this book to make it the best and most historically accurate as possible. I expected to learn about how the Allies were able to make the Normandy invasion a very possible success before it even happened. My expectation were very much met in this book and I am happy to have read it because of the historical significance of it. I however, would like to reiterate that anyone who does not find interest in espionage and World War II should stay away from this book.

Operation Fortitude, the British plan to keep the Germans from knowing their exact plans for D-Day and the storming of Normandy could not have been as successfully executed without the stable of double cross spies and their British spymasters. In his inimitable style, Ben McIntyre offers us a window into the minds of the some of the most creative military strategists on British soil. He offers us character studies into the heroic and indomitable spirits behind the Anti-Nazi men and women who had to keep their covers under dangerous situations, preventing their double identity being discovered by the Germans. The author also takes into the evaluation process of considering the suitability of converting German spies as double agents, why some are accepted and the characteristics that make others a bigger risk or completely unsuitable. It's not all nerve-wrecking tension in the book though. There are some moments of levity, such as the chapter where the author describes the homing pigeon strategies and the unforeseen end of the one and only heroic pigeon, Gustav, who carried a message back from Normandy to the British. The difference between this and some of the author's other books is that there wasn't a continuous flow between the chapters. They read a little like index cards on individual agents or certain events. It took a little while to get used to the rather abrupt starts and ends to each chapter, but this did not in any way detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Macintyre deftly weaves an intriguing tale about intrigue that heavily shaped the D-day invasion in World War II. Double Cross tells the amazing story of a motely group of double agents that the German’s thought were feeding them critical information about the Allies but each of the agents was skillfully controlled by the British. Impressively, a small group of British counter-intelligence experts ran the group as a coordinated effort called the Double Cross program. The scope and scale of the effectiveness of their efforts is mindboggling. At the program’s peak the Double Cross team used each agent like a different instrument in an ensemble to craft a sweet tune to which the Germans swayed. Macintyre brings the story to life by delving into each of the cadre of characters on both sides of the grift. In particular it is fascinating to learn so much about the five key agents, their background, how they ended up as spies and then how they excelled and in a couple of cases stumbled, under the pressures of the program. Macintyre is a gifted writer who is accessible and enjoyable to read. My one slight struggle with the book was attempting to keep straight the cast of characters initially. Macintyre attempts to introduce each of them briefly and then return and flesh them out. In time, as the reader you are able to keep straight the mass of characters but initially it is a little daunting. That minor foible aside, the book is filled with insight and gives great color and analysis to an important, and little appreciated, part of World War II history. Hilariously, some of the Double Cross agents were awarded medals by the Germans for their service (even an Iron Cross). At the end of the book, you’ll be so taken with the heroism of this rag tag group of double agents that you’ll want to award them a medal too.

Macintyre makes the stories easy to read. With a large cast of characters, he provides their real name, British code names and German code names. He does this frequently and makes it easier to follow the number of spies and their British and German handlers that he is telling the stories of. He makes the characters real.

Alas, this book lacks the marvelous, spell-binding MacIntyre touch so evident and satisfying in "Operation Mincemeat" and "Agent Zigzag." It is not, however, without redeeming treasures. As a number of commentators have noted, names/people/places/dates zig-zag; characters, major and minor, step on one another; one loses one's place all too easily. What should be a real "page-turner" instead at times seems confusing and a bit garbled. With six or seven highly eccentric and complex double-agents (and their diverse German and UK handlers and many others) to try to weave together into a compelling narrative, what MacIntyre ends up producing unfortunately is a crazy-quilt that really does not do full justice to any of these extraordinary doubles--with one notable exception. That exception is a double-agent dubbed "Artist." MacIntyre succeeds wonderfully in portraying "Artist"--Johnny Jebsen, double-agent Popov's ("Tricycle's) Abwehr handler, who turns double himself, and who probably single-handedly made the British "Operation Fortitude" (and the entire Double Cross) so triumphant. Also on a high note: the many fascinating photos. The mysteries in their eyes and poses are fascinating! If interested, get it in print, not on Kindle. One's fingertips may not survive, and the picture quality and note-reading probably would disappoint. Recommended highly: Stephan Talty's recent "Agent Garbo...Saved D-Day." Talty anticipated possible reader confusion even with just one complicated double-agent, and included very helpful cast-of-characters and lists/thumbnail descriptions of organizations. Talty's book abundantly provides the sizzle and sparks too-often submerged in the new MacIntyre book.

The story of the Double Cross System is the largely untold history of the unbelievably elaborate ruse to mislead the German war machine about the true target of the D-Day invasion of Europe. The deception was so successful, it kept German reinforcements out the fight at the Normandy beachhead until weeks after the initial landing--the Nazis withheld their best divisions from Normandy until it was far too late. Because of the Double Cross System, Hitler and the German High Command were convinced that the landings in Normandy were merely a diversionary feint to lure crucial defensive forces away from the Calais area where they expected the allies main attack to occur. The misinformation fed to them by the Double Cross spies led to the complete confusion of the German military before the invasion and even after the allied troops were actually on the beaches in Normandy. Eisenhower said that he would be satisfied if Double Cross could buy him 48 hours--by that measure it was a resounding success. Churchill and Montgomery were enthusiastic about the incredible contribution of British Intelligence to the most crucial battle of the war. This book is a highly detailed and personal account of the dedicated, oddly assorted and sometimes flamboyant cast of characters at the center of this historic charade. While it has many elements of a spy thriller, it isn't really the usual fare for devotees of that genre. I think it will be much more satisfying for history buffs--particularly those specializing in military history or in World War II.

This is Ben Macintyre's last book in what is stated to be his trilogy of WWII non-fiction British spy books (the other two being Operation Mincemeat and Agent ZigZag). Having read them all I would have to say this is his most ambitious and epic in scope although the other books are both well worth your attention. What we have here is the story of how Britain's MI5 controlled every single German spy in England with emphasis on the five most important double agents in operation "Fortitude". In fact MI5 controlled more spies than were actually alive as they created whole fictional networks of German spies. All of this lead to the greatest deception of WWII and perhaps changed history but no doubt saved countless lives during the D-Day landings on Normandy. The rhythm of Macintyre's narrative takes some getting use too as he presents five individual spies and their stories and it takes a while to introduce them , their backgrounds, and both German and British handlers.. But take it in stride because as you become familiar with each individual and their back stories I promise you that the suspense builds and your interest in each individual case and fate increases. The last chapter is a great epilogue that brings each significant character's (spies, MI5 handlers, and Germans) post war lives to light. Just one example: One of the spies, who before the war was a chicken hating Spanish chicken farmer living outside Barcelona, won the Iron Cross from the Germans... AFTER D-Day so total was his act of deception. If I have a complaint about the book... it would be that there is material here for several books (and several movies). But no doubt about it this is a history that is a very entertaining well researched true life story. And a tribute to those who participated in the deception, lies, immorality, friendships, ideology, loyalty, love and survival that ultimately resulted in the success of Operation Fortitude. Your understanding of the D-Day landings will never be complete without learning of a Serbian playboy, a Polish fighter pilot, a bi-sexual Peruvian party girl, a Frenchwoman who cared more for her dog than the mission's success, and of course that chicken farmer who ended up winning the Iron Cross.

Awesome read. Ben MacIntyre's style of writing keeps me wanting to read another chapter every time

Ben Macintyre has outdone himself, which is quite an accomplishment, in this exciting book on the thrilling espionage & counter-espionage that ultimate won WWII. great writing, great history, great everything.

Ben Macintyre has written what could prove to be the definitive account of the Double Cross system, operated by Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) during WW11, under which captured German spies were given a stark choice: collaborate with us against the Nazi regime or face execution or imprisonment. For most of those deemed suitable to be `turned' it was an offer they couldn't refuse. B1A Section of the SIS comprised a small collection of able individualists from many different walks of life who became a cohesive group under the brilliant leadership of TAR Robertson (aka Tar). The section was tasked with identifying German agents sent to operate in Britain, capturing them, and where practicable using them as `double' agents to feed misinformation to their German spymasters in order to impede the German war effort in various ways. Thanks to the work cryptographers at Bletchley Park the British had cracked the wireless codes used by the Abwehr and were able to monitor and decode their transmissions. Thus they were forewarned about every Abwehr agent despatched to Britain and were able to capture each and every one of them, without exception. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1942, Germany declared war on the USA and America was inevitably drawn into the war in Europe. On the Eastern front the strategic balance was shifting in favour of the Red Army and in the West there was no doubt that an Allied landing on mainland Europe would occur; the relevant questions were `where' and `when'. Operation Bodyguard was an Allied initiative whose object was to deceive the Germans as to where and when the main thrust of the Allied invasion would occur and for as long as possible to tie up German troops in areas where it would not occur, thus saving innumerable Allied lives. (The name derived from a famous remark made by Churchill that in wartime the truth is so precious that it must be protected by a bodyguard of lies.) It was apparent to the Nazis that the main landings were bound to take place on the French coast and they had built their Atlantic Wall to counteract this threat. They believed the invasion would be attempted either in the Pas de Calais region or on the Normandy beaches. Tar Robertson was tasked with using his double agents to reinforce Hitler's belief that the main thrust would be at the Pas de Calais and not the Normandy beaches. His operation was code named Fortitude. It is well known that it was a brilliant piece of deception; not only did the Nazis believe Pas de Calais would be the focus of the invasion, they clung to this belief long after the D-Day landings - which took the Germans completely by surprise - were underway. Ben Macintyre is an excellent story-teller. He introduces us to the Double Cross system, to Tar Robertson and his team of British spymasters. We learn about the double agents - Artist, Brutus, Bronx, Garbo, Tricycle, Treasure, who played key roles in Operation Fortitude. We read about their German spymasters and the workings of the Abwehr. Much of the remainder of the book is concerned with the denouement of Operation Fortitude as the spies and their British handlers wove a tissue of believable lies to protect the secret of the D-Day landings. Macintyre's book is impeccably researched and I found it entertaining and utterly engrossing. Five stars.

This well written story based on the released documents of MI5 operations during World War two is quite extraordinary. It is all about personalities. The extraordinary character of the spies themselves and the equally extraordinary ability of MI5 case officers who managed them. I have often been struck by the narrow margin by which Britain prevailed over Germany in the Battle of Britain. This book provides insight to the circumstances by which the British confused the Third Reich, especially in preparation for the D-day landings. A remarkable record of deceit and cunning in the interests of survival. Highly recommended.

I love his books. Always historically accurate. The characters always come to life and paint the picture of complicated relationships, and the day to day challenges of human nature in war time events. The eccentric personalities required to execute a believable subterfuge. The assumptions needed to understand the enemy. Such a great story teller

I never thought that a story like this (totally unknown before) could actually catch my attention from the very first page to the last. A real eye opener to what actually happened during the days prior to D-Day.