Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford WW2: How Britain Ignored the Mother of All Secrets
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May 10, 2024 This is the tale of Hans Ferdinand Mayer, a corporate executive who risked everything to leak critical Nazi military secrets to Britain. Despite the urgency of his revelations about Germany's radar technology, British officials surprisingly dismissed them. The discussion navigates Britain's intelligence failures and overconfidence during World War II, highlighting how ignored warnings led to dire consequences. Personal stories intertwined with military drama reveal the high stakes of information and the tragic losses that followed.
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The Oslo Report
- In 1939, Hans Ferdinand Meyer, a German executive, leaked Nazi secrets to the British.
- Using a borrowed typewriter in an Oslo hotel, he detailed sensitive military technologies.
German Technological Prowess
- The Oslo Report detailed German radio wave technology, including guidance systems for bombers and defensive radar.
- This revelation challenged British assumptions about German engineering.
Wilhelmshaven Raid
- Despite Meyer's warning, the British dismissed the possibility of German radar, leading to a disastrous raid on Wilhelmshaven.
- German radar alerted the Luftwaffe, resulting in heavy British bomber losses.
