History Extra podcast Winthrop Bell: a Canadian spy who predicted Nazi horrors
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Feb 26, 2024 Explore the fascinating life of Dr Winthrop Bell, a Harvard professor turned spy who warned about Nazi supremacy post-World War I. Learn about his espionage missions, cultural activities at a German prison camp, recruitment by MI6, and crucial intelligence reports on Hitler's plans. Discover how his insights shaped diplomatic decisions and influenced global responses to the Nazi threat.
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From Husserl Student To Ruhleben Internee
- Winthrop Bell studied phenomenology under Edmund Husserl in Göttingen and finished his dissertation in 1914 just as war broke out.
- As a British subject he was interned at Ruhleben and used the time to master German and build key contacts.
Unique On-the-Ground Intelligence
- Bell's German contacts gave him an unrivalled, immediate picture of postwar politics that other Allied spies lacked.
- He warned in 1918–19 that a racist faction within the military aimed to regroup and could topple democracy.
Act Quickly To Prevent Extremist Gains
- Lift the punitive blockade to stabilise democracy before extremists exploit deprivation, Bell urged in 1919.
- His reporting directly influenced Winston Churchill and helped end the blockade that threatened Weimar's survival.