Secret World : Behind the Curtain of British Intelligence in World War II and the Cold War (9780857737038) by Trevor-roper Hugh; Harrison Edward (EDT)

Author:Trevor-roper, Hugh; Harrison, Edward (EDT) [Trevor-Roper, Hugh]
Language: deu
Format: epub
Publisher: I B Tauris & Co Ltd
Published: 2014-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

There are many other grotesque claims in this book, but I shall not pursue them. I shall content myself with two final observations, one particular, one general.

First, Sir William Stephenson had no direct responsibility in the European theater. He may have known about some intelligence activities there, and been a channel of communication, but his direct responsibility was for British security and propaganda, and the training of agents, in America. This function he performed well; but any claim that he initiated or controlled interception, cryptography, strategic deception, or special operations in Europe is impertinent.

Secondly, I have already observed, in my review of Mr. Cave Brown’s book, that Sir Stewart Menzies, the head of SIS, at the end of his life evidently suffered from delusions of grandeur, seeing the war as a dialogue between himself and Canaris. Now it seems that Sir William Stephenson has gone the same way – and been carried further by the greater silliness of his biographer. During my own period in the secret service, I was often astonished by the puerility of some of our grandees, which I ascribed to their insulation from real life, their absorption into a self-contained subculture. I now realize that the same quality, if events are magnified by war, can lead, in old age, to dangerous hallucinations. This is a sad fact, and we should draw the obvious conclusion. We should remember with affection our old club-land heroes but publishers should flee from their approaches and friends should prevail upon them to be silent.

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