Secret Weapons of World War II (ebook)

Argumento de Secret Weapons of World War II (ebook)

In his previous books Unexplained Mysteries of World War II, Undercover Tales of World War II, and Top Secret Tales of World War II, William Breuer revealed the riveting untold stories of the Second World War, tales of derring-do, espionage, and unsung heroism that few history books record. Now, in Secret Weapons of World War II, this first-class historian chronicles the clandestine battle that occurred between the brilliant scientists and codebreakers of the Allies and the Axis powers.

Here are the extraordinary tales behind the ingenious weapons and technological wizardry that determined the outcome of the war. From radar, huff-duff (high frequency direction finding), invisible radio beams, and "Perfectos" to secret codes, electronic guidance systems, homing devices, and submarine detection equipment, Breuer deftly exposes the gargantuan efforts employed by both adversaries and the fascinating details of the high-stakes warfare waged behind the well-known scenes of combat.

Re-creating the covert missions, plots, hoaxes, spying, conspiracies, and electronic sleuthing, Breuer goes beyond the famous military leaders and statesmen to give an entirely fresh and startling perspective of the Second World War. He deftly uncovers all the spectacular feats of those who determined the outcome of the climactic struggle of the twentieth century–the brilliant codebreakers, scientists, and mathematicians–to provide an unprecedented look at the least-known operations and plots conducted by both sides. In Secret Weapons of World War II, you will:

• Attend the midnight meeting where Winston Churchill, desperate and waving a cigar for emphasis, launched the idea for a pet weapons project–a gigantic mousetrap in the sky that would snare Luftwaffe bombers.
• Meet the young genius Reginald Jones, a member of the British Secret Service and the scientist who hatched Operation Jay, an intricate hoax that bamboozled German scientists and ended Germany’s devastating long-range bombing campaign.
• Shadow former American schoolteacher Frank Rowlett as he and his small team of scientists crack the Japanese diplomatic code called Purple, now known as the greatest success in the history of United States intelligence.
• Witness the curious-looking truck known as the "secret weapon that was shipped in from Mars" that later played a crucial role in the outcome of the war.

Packed with more than seventy riveting tales, Secret Weapons of World War II displays Breuer’s signature blend of dynamic storytelling and meticulous detail. Vivid, fast-paced, and suspenseful, this engrossing volume captures the human drama of the men and women–many as eccentric as they were brilliant–who raced to beat the enemy to the discoveries that turned the tide of war.

WILLIAM B. BREUER is a military historian and author of more than twenty-six books, ten of which have been main selections of the Military Book Club. They include Undercover Tales of World War II, Unexplained Mysteries of World War II, The Great Raid on Cabanatuan, Feuding Allies, and MacArthur's Undercover War, all published by Wiley.0Partial table of contents:

WAR BREAKS OUT.

German Invention Triggers Global Search.

Stealing America's Radar Secrets.

Charles Lindbergh Helps the "Moon Man".

An American Aids Japanese Nuclear Project.

A Hassle with British Bureaucrats.

Conjuring Up Wild Theories.

GREAT BRITAIN STANDS ALONE.

A Nation's Survival at Stake.

A Little Black Box of Secrets.

A Huge Mousetrap in the Sky.

Enigma Betrays the Italian Fleet.

Code Names Rebecca and Eureka.

England's "Kamikaze" Pilots.

THRUST AND COUNTERTHRUST.

Could Pearl Harbor Have Been Avoided?

The British Invade Washington.

The Century's Most Audacious Heist.

A Secret Move to a Secret Site.

A Nuclear Laboratory Explodes.

A Gathering of "Luminaries".

TURNING OF THE TIDE.

A Spectacular Rocket Feat.

Stealing German Weather Forecasts.

"I Fear We Are in the Soup!"

A Burglar Alarm at Gibraltar.

Feuds among Nazi Bigwigs.

A Plan to Poison the German Food Supply.

Bouncing Bombs and Dambusters.

BEGINNING OF THE END.

Protecting a Sacred Secret.

A Triumph for German Cryptanalysts.

"You Scare Hell Out of Me!"

A Soviet Plot Fizzles.

Hitler Counts on Wonder Weapons.

A Trainload of German Brainpower.

Japan's Secret Weapons Await Invasion.

Treachery at Los Alamos.

Notes and Sources.

Index.