The Rest Is History

37. Spies, with Ben MacIntyre

Mar 25, 2021
Ben MacIntyre, an expert on espionage and author of notable works like Agent Zigzag, joins the hosts to dive into the captivating world of spies. They discuss the moral dilemmas faced by these operatives and their significant impact on history. The conversation also touches on the role of women in espionage, highlighting figures like Agent Sonia. Listeners will learn about the intriguing fusion of espionage in literature and real-life operations, plus the ever-evolving techniques of intelligence amidst modern challenges.
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ANECDOTE

The Garbo Case

  • Operation Garbo, a WWII double agent, fabricated an entire spy network.
  • This disinformation campaign, based on a failed chicken farmer's lies, significantly impacted D-Day.
ANECDOTE

Operation Mincemeat

  • Operation Mincemeat involved planting a fake British officer's corpse with misleading documents.
  • This ruse successfully convinced Germans that the Allied invasion target was Greece, not Sicily.
ANECDOTE

D-Day Deception

  • The D-Day deception used double agents to mislead the Germans about the invasion location.
  • By feeding false information, the Allies convinced the Germans that the main target was Calais, not Normandy.
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