Elyse Graham, historian and professor at Stony Brook University, discusses her book 'Book and Dagger', revealing the surprising role of scholars and librarians as spies during World War II. She highlights their integral contributions to wartime narratives, likening information battles to physical fights. The conversation dives into the OSS's unconventional recruitment, the essential role of cartographers, and how ‘whispering’ propaganda shaped perceptions. Graham underscores storytelling's power in both history and politics, making for a captivating exploration of espionage.
The crucial role of librarians and scholars in WWII intelligence operations illustrates how knowledge and resources from libraries influenced military strategies.
The use of narrative and misinformation as a tactical approach in wartime propaganda underscores the necessity for modern media literacy and vigilance against deceptive information.
Deep dives
The Role of Libraries in WWII
The intelligence efforts during World War II significantly involved librarians and scholars, highlighting the instrumental role libraries played in shaping wartime strategies. While many view the conflict as a physicists' triumph due to the atomic bomb, the war was equally won with knowledge and resources found in libraries. Historians, artists, and professors contributed to intelligence operations by gathering and analyzing information that informed military actions, relying on a wealth of written materials. This underscores how the war was fought not only on battlefields but also in the realm of literature and ideas.
Unlikely Spies of the OSS
The recruitment of seemingly ordinary individuals, such as librarians and professors, into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) exemplified an innovative approach to intelligence work. Figures like Joseph Curtis were chosen for their inconspicuousness, allowing them to operate under the radar while gathering crucial intelligence. Curtis, for instance, posed as a book collector in Istanbul while secretly tracking down enemy agents, showcasing how everyday roles could be leveraged for espionage. This effective use of unlikely recruits shifted the narrative around traditional notions of spies, emphasizing the importance of intellect over sheer courage.
The Power of Stories in Warfare
The strategic use of narrative and misinformation, or 'whispering', emerged as a crucial tactic in wartime propaganda. Techniques used during WWII, such as creating compelling stories to mislead enemy forces, are relevant even in today's information landscape, where rumors can spread rapidly through social media. One notable operation involved disguising a corpse as a British marine to confuse German forces regarding invasion plans, demonstrating the effectiveness of a well-crafted narrative. The discussion highlights the ongoing need for media literacy and understanding the impact of stories, especially as similar tactics reappear in modern rhetoric.
We are living in history all of the time. Nevertheless, there are some times that seem more historical than usual. Like now, when academics and artists and even librarians have come under attack. We mention this particular sign of these times because of a new, delightful book by historian Elyse Graham, professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University called “Book and Dagger - How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War Two." The book is a breezy and enthralling read, but assiduously footnoted for those who might question her very compelling argument that without this unheralded corp of peculiar recruits, that war might very well have been lost.
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