Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
WW2: How Britain Ignored the Mother of All Secrets
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.
42:39
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Quick takeaways
- British authorities initially ignored critical intelligence provided by Hans Ferdinand Meyer about German military secrets.
- Delayed acceptance of German radar technology by the British led to real consequences in military operations.
Deep dives
Hans Ferdinand Meyer's Risky Warning About German Radar
Hans Ferdinand Meyer, a German executive, visiting Oslo on a business trip during World War II, risked his life by typing detailed reports about Nazi Germany's military secrets on a borrowed typewriter and sending them to the Oslo British Embassy. Meyer, who was the director of the Siemens Research Laboratory in Berlin, revealed critical information about advanced military technologies, including autopilot systems, ballistic missiles, and radar technology. Despite Meyer's brave act of espionage, the British authorities initially struggled to accept the existence of German radar, showcasing a delayed response to the crucial intelligence provided by Meyer.
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