Operation Mincemeat
Page 41
37 “on account of his linguistic abilities”: Ibid., p. 130.
38 “delighted with their new agent”: Ibid., p. 130.
39 “speculated that on account”: Ibid.
40 “steal some documents relating”: Ibid., p. 131.
41 “unmarried wife”: Ibid.
42 “officer who had been”: Ibid.
43 “pretend that the agent”: Ibid.
44 “would give the game away altogether”: Michael Howard, Grand Strategy (London, 1972), p. 91.
45 “not to be alarmed as the attack”: Crowdy, Deceiving Hitler, p. 206.
46 “received increasing reports”: Interrogation of Joachim Canaris, Kühlenthal file, TNA, KV2/102.
47 “was still regarded as the favourite”: Howard, Grand Strategy, p. 92.
48 “no measures were taken to reinforce the island”: Ibid.
49 “it was never possible for the Germans”: TNA, ADM 223/794, p. 455.
50 “Compared with the forces employed”: Ralph Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy 1941–1945 (London, 1989), p. 225.
51 “only half the supplies they needed”: Ibid., p. 231.
52 “well armed and fully organised”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 53.
53 “an almost unbelievably”: G2 Intell notes, no. 18, August 1, 1943, TNA, WO 204/983.
54 “hot mustard”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 54.
55 “It will be a hard and very bloody”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 37.
56 “If casualties are high”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 71.
57 “May God be with you”: Ibid.
Chapter Twenty-one: A Nice Cup of Tea
1 “We are about to embark”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 69.
2 “all the winds of heaven”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 67.
3 “The die was cast”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 69.
4 “It doesn’t look too good”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 67.
5 “breakers and boiling surf”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 112.
6 “lay in their hammocks, green and groaning”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 65.
7 “We are now getting Cadbury’s filled blocks”: Derrick Leverton, letter to mother and father, November 29, 1943, courtesy of Andrew Leverton.
8 “It was a most excellent cruise”: Ibid.
9 “He was excellent”: Ibid.
10 “I went up on deck”: Ibid.
11 “The sea had been wickedly rough”: Ibid.
12 “Day Trips to the Continent”: Ibid.
13 “See Naples and Die”: Ibid.
14 “I was standing up on deck”: Ibid.
15 “rather a nice small slam”: Ibid.
16 “There could be no more diving”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 127.
17 “three times as difficult as should have been”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 112.
18 “Unseen planes, hundreds of them”: Ibid.
19 “The invasion of Sicily would be”: Ibid., p. 109.
20 “Many of the men on this ship”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 36.
21 “great fires springing up in every direction”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 112.
22 “the faint throb of approaching engines”: Ibid.
23 “Their blindingly brilliant beams”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 128.
24 “a nerve-tightening, shell-packed eternity”: Ibid.
25 “as much to avoid the cascading water”: Ibid.
26 “throbbing beat”: Ibid., p. 129.
27 “a flicker of light from”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 113.
28 “dark shapes emerged slowly”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 129.
29 “The English language needs a new descriptive”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 114.
30 “like footlights on a stage”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 129.
31 “Shells whistled high overhead”: Ibid., p. 128.
32 “with different coloured tracer”: Ibid.
33 “With flares, searchlights and blazing fires”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 114.
34 “cheering the stubborn little submarine”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 129.
35 “Ahoy Seraph”: Ibid.
36 “a slightly astonished salute”: Ibid.
37 “You know those boys”: Ibid.
38 “slide warily back into the protective darkness”: Ibid.
39 “tiny, darting flashes marked the progress”: Ibid.
40 “hoped the friendly, ever-joking colonel”: Ibid.
41 “Darby is really a great soldier”: Carlo D’Este, Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily 1943 (London 1988), p. 275.
42 “wished my chaps good luck”: Derrick Leverton, letter to parents, November 29, 1943, courtesy of Andrew Leverton.
43 “As there was still a bit of time in hand”: Ibid.
44 “quite a bit of banging about”: Ibid
45 “It was getting close to dawn”: Ibid.
46 “slightly premature landings”: Ibid
47 “The first thing I was conscious”: Ibid.
48 “Occasional mines went off”: Ibid.
49 “tea-sugar-and-milk powder”: Ibid.
50 “Most nourishing, appetising and intelligent”: Ibid.
51 “added zest to the party”: Ibid.
52 “As the bombs came down”: Ibid.
53 “Another bomb fell in the sea”: Ibid.
54 “little graves about three feet deep”: Ibid.
55 “I had rather an awful sort of dream”: Ibid.
56 “the concussion in my grave”: Ibid.
57 “plus quite a lot of ‘possibles’”: Ibid.
58 “I didn’t feel I was suitably dressed”: Ibid.
59 “I therefore designed myself”: Ibid.
60 “Throw them back into the sea”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 85.
61 “I’m convinced our men will resist”: Ibid., p. 84.
62 “We must be confident”: Ibid.
63 “I could see his heart beating”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 36.
64 “Stop, you bastards”: Ibid., p. 40.
65 “Most important. Have learned”: Thaddeus Holt, The Deceivers (London, 2004), p. 381.
66 “complete failure of coastal defence”: Intercepted Message 2124 Rome to Berlin, July 11, 1943, ADM 223/147.
67 “on enemy penetration many”: Ibid.
68 “half-clothed Italian soldiers”: Ralph Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy 1941–1945 (London, 1989), p. 225.
69 “At once and with all forces attack”: TNA, ADM 223/147.
70 “The counterattack against hostile”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 103.
71 “the shortest Blitzkrieg”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 310.
72 “The German in Sicily”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 123.
Chapter Twenty-one: A Nice Cup of Tea
1 “We are about to embark”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 69.
2 “all the winds of heaven”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 67.
3 “The die was cast”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 69.
4 “It doesn’t look too good”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 67.
5 “breakers and boiling surf”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 112.
6 “lay in their hammocks, green and groaning”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 65.
7 “We are now getting Cadbury’s filled blocks”: Derrick Leverton, letter to mother and father, November 29, 1943, courtesy of Andrew Leverton.
8 “It was a most excellent cruise”: Ibid.
9 “He was excellent”: Ibid.
10 “I went up on deck”: Ibid.
11 “The sea had been wickedly rough”: Ibid.
12 “Day Trips to the Continent”: Ibid.
13 “See Naples and Die”: Ibid.
14 “I was standing up on deck”: Ibid.
15 “rather a nice small slam�
�: Ibid.
16 “There could be no more diving”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 127.
17 “three times as difficult as should have been”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 112.
18 “Unseen planes, hundreds of them”: Ibid.
19 “The invasion of Sicily would be”: Ibid., p. 109.
20 “Many of the men on this ship”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 36.
21 “great fires springing up in every direction”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 112.
22 “the faint throb of approaching engines”: Ibid.
23 “Their blindingly brilliant beams”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 128.
24 “a nerve-tightening, shell-packed eternity”: Ibid.
25 “as much to avoid the cascading water”: Ibid.
26 “throbbing beat”: Ibid., p. 129.
27 “a flicker of light from”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 113.
28 “dark shapes emerged slowly”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 129.
29 “The English language needs a new descriptive”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 114.
30 “like footlights on a stage”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 129.
31 “Shells whistled high overhead”: Ibid., p. 128.
32 “with different coloured tracer”: Ibid.
33 “With flares, searchlights and blazing fires”: Jewell, Secret Mission Submarine, p. 114.
34 “cheering the stubborn little submarine”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 129.
35 “Ahoy Seraph”: Ibid.
36 “a slightly astonished salute”: Ibid.
37 “You know those boys”: Ibid.
38 “slide warily back into the protective darkness”: Ibid.
39 “tiny, darting flashes marked the progress”: Ibid.
40 “hoped the friendly, ever-joking colonel”: Ibid.
41 “Darby is really a great soldier”: Carlo D’Este, Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily 1943 (London 1988), p. 275.
42 “wished my chaps good luck”: Derrick Leverton, letter to parents, November 29, 1943, courtesy of Andrew Leverton.
43 “As there was still a bit of time in hand”: Ibid.
44 “quite a bit of banging about”: Ibid
45 “It was getting close to dawn”: Ibid.
46 “slightly premature landings”: Ibid
47 “The first thing I was conscious”: Ibid.
48 “Occasional mines went off”: Ibid.
49 “tea-sugar-and-milk powder”: Ibid.
50 “Most nourishing, appetising and intelligent”: Ibid.
51 “added zest to the party”: Ibid.
52 “As the bombs came down”: Ibid.
53 “Another bomb fell in the sea”: Ibid.
54 “little graves about three feet deep”: Ibid.
55 “I had rather an awful sort of dream”: Ibid.
56 “the concussion in my grave”: Ibid.
57 “plus quite a lot of ‘possibles’”: Ibid.
58 “I didn’t feel I was suitably dressed”: Ibid.
59 “I therefore designed myself”: Ibid.
60 “Throw them back into the sea”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 85.
61 “I’m convinced our men will resist”: Ibid., p. 84.
62 “We must be confident”: Ibid.
63 “I could see his heart beating”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 36.
64 “Stop, you bastards”: Ibid., p. 40.
65 “Most important. Have learned”: Thaddeus Holt, The Deceivers (London, 2004), p. 381.
66 “complete failure of coastal defence”: Intercepted Message 2124 Rome to Berlin, July 11, 1943, ADM 223/147.
67 “on enemy penetration many”: Ibid.
68 “half-clothed Italian soldiers”: Ralph Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy 1941–1945 (London, 1989), p. 225.
69 “At once and with all forces attack”: TNA, ADM 223/147.
70 “The counterattack against hostile”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 103.
71 “the shortest Blitzkrieg”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island, p. 310.
72 “The German in Sicily”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 123.
Chapter Twenty-two: Hook, Line, and Sinker
1 “Even if I have once brought off”: Ewen Montagu to “Ginger,” July 6, 1943, Montagu Papers.
2 “too keyed-up to read”: Ibid.
3 “It is really impossible”: Ewen Montagu, unpublished note, October 7, 1976, IWM 97/45/1, folder #4.
4 “Joy of joys to anyone”: Ibid.
5 “We fooled those of the Spaniards”: Ewen Montagu, The Man Who Never Was (Oxford, 1996), p. 196.
6 “One specially made canister”: Ewen Montagu, unpublished critique of Constantine Fitzgibbon, Secret Intelligence in the Twentieth Century (London, 1976), IWM, 97/45/1, folder #4.
7 “The most I could do”: Ewen Montagu, Beyond Top Secret Ultra, p. 166.
8 “I do congratulate you”: Dudley Clarke, Note to Ewen Montagu, May 14, 1943, TNA, CAB 154/67.
9 “It is a most interesting story”: A. Nye to J. H. Bevan, July 20, 1945, TNA, CAB 154/67.
10 “the greatest achievement”: Ewen Montagu to “Ginger,” July 6, 1943, Montagu Papers.
11 “Mincemeat has been an outstanding success”: Guy Liddell, Diaries, May 20, 1931.
12 “From evidence at present available” J. H. Bevan to Inglis, October 10, 1943, TNA, CAB 154/67.
13 “was the originator of this ingenious”: J. H. Bevan to Lamplough, August 21, 1943, TNA, CAB 154/67.
14 “papers from Sikorski’s aircraft”: Ewen Montagu to JB, July 10, 1943, TNA, CAB 154/67.
15 “to show that Mincemeat was genuine”: Ibid.
16 “Not worth trying”: Initials illegible, note attached to Ewen Montagu to JB, July 10, 1943, TNA, CAB 154/67.
17 “mousetrap for all German”: John Follain, Mussolini’s Island: The Untold Story of the Invasion of Italy (London, 2005), p. 311.
18 “Most Immediate”: Signal General Keitel to Commander in Chief Med, July 9, 1943, translation accompanying Rushbrooke report, July 19, 1943, IWM, 97/45/1, folder #2.
19 “Western assault forces appear”: Ibid.
20 “A subsequent landing”: Ibid.
21 “stating that the High Command”: ADM 223/794, p. 456.
22 “entirely consistent with the Mincemeat story”: Ibid.
23 “the departure of the 1st R-Boat”: ADM 223/794, pp. 460–61.
24 “macaroni-eaters”: David Irving, Hitler’s War (London, 1977), p. 437.
25 “Hitler’s own reaction”: Michael Howard, Grand Strategy (London, 1972), p. 368.
26 “This report has been proved”: F. W. Deakin, The Brutal Friendship: Mussolini, Hitler and the Fall of Italian Fascism (London, 1962), p. 417.
27 “Undertake a most careful”: Ribbentrop to Hans-Heinrich Dieckhoff in Madrid, July 29, 1943, in Deakin, The Brutal Friendship, p. 417.
28 “The documents had been found”: Deakin, Brutal Friendship, p. 417.
29 “The English and Americans had”: Ibid., p. 419.
30 “The British Secret Service is quite”: Ibid.
31 “that we should not adopt”: Ibid., p. 418.
32 “It is practically certain”: Ibid.
33 “Who originally circulated”: Ibid.
34 “after the invasion of Italy”: MI5 interrogation of Joachim Canaris, Kühlenthal MI5 file, TNA, KV2/102.
35 “at present at any rate”: IWM, MI 14/522/2 Kurze Feind Beurteilung West, 982 of July 25, 1943, cited in Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy, p. 227.
36 “The only thing certain”: Joseph Goebbels, The Goebbels Diaries (London, 1948), p. 437.
37 “The sacrifice of my country”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 139.
38 “inept and cowardly”: Ibid.
39 “We are fighting for a common”: Ibid., p. 140.
40 “It can’t go on any longer”: Follain, Mussolini’s Island,
p. 240.
41 “Fascism fell, as was fitting”: Atkinson, Day of Battle, p. 142.
42 “It is well known that under”: OKW/KTB iv. 1797, quoted in Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy, p. 227.
43 “On no account should we”: Alan Clark, Barbarossa: The Russian-German Conflict 1941–45 (London, 1966), p. 337.
44 “Inescapably faced with the dilemma”: Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy, p. 222.
45 “With the failure of Zitadelle”: Christer Bergström, Kursk: The Air Battle of July 1943 (London, 2007), p. 58.
46 “a small classic of deception”: ADM 223/794, p. 442.
47 “as widely and thinly as possible”: Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy, p. 227.
48 “There can be no doubt”: ADM 223/794, p. 455.
49 “Special intelligence enabled us”: ADM 223/794, p. 442.
50 “Sicily has impressed”: David Stafford, Roosevelt and Churchill: Men of Secrets (London, 1999), p. 107.
51 “really affected the outcome”: Robertson, Ship with Two Captains, p. 132.
52 “impossible to estimate”: Ibid.
53 “the most spectacular single episode”: Hugh Trevor-Roper, Foreword to Ewen Montagu, Beyond Top Secret Ultra (London, 1977), p. 10.
54 “perhaps the most successful single”: Howard, British Intelligence in the Second World War, Vol. V: Strategic Deception, p. 89.
55 “Mincemeat swallowed rod, line and sinker”: Howard, Grand Strategy, vol. 4, p. 370.
Chapter Twenty-three: Mincemeat Revealed
1 “I am a prejudiced party”: Ewen Montagu to Colonel Patavel of War Cabinet Office, July 9, 1945, IWM 97/45/1, folder #1.
2 “It would pay to release Mincemeat”: Ibid.
3 “The Foreign Office”: Ewen Montagu to John Drew, November 7, 1950, IWM 97/45/2.
4 “in case the embargo”: Ibid.
5 “Our intelligence [agents] obtained”: radio monitoring report, August 6, 1944, IWM 97/45/1, folder #1.
6 “I believe this story”: Ibid.
7 “Unless some action is taken”: T. A. Robertson to J. H. Bevan, August 31, 1944, TNA, CAB 154/67.
8 “there was in fact some truth”: Ibid.
9 “leave the American authorities”: Ibid.
10 “We should do our utmost”: Note to T. A. Robertson, August 21, 1944, TNA, CAB 154/67.
11 “Dawn had not broken”: Alfred Duff Cooper, Operation Heartbreak (London, 2007), p. 103.
12 “Duff Cooper learned of Mincemeat”: Ewen Montagu to Roger Morgan, April 19, 1982, IWM 97/45/1, folder #5.