
BEHIND THE BATTLE
Intelligence in the war with Germany, 1939-45
Ralph Bennett(Author)
Marble Hill Publishers
Published on 12. January 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
404 pages
978-1-8383036-3-1 (ISBN)
Description
Many studies have covered aspects of military intelligence available to Britain and her allies during the Second World War. This distinguished book provides a succinct and authoritative survey of the vital role Ultra played in achieving final victory.,
When war began Britain was as ill-prepared in intelligence as armaments. Civilian scientists had discovered the principle of radar in the mid-1930s, but everything had to be learned from scratch in the heat of emergency. First signs of improvement came in mid-1941, when Ultra targeted naval vessels and bomber aircraft onto so many of Rommel's supply ships that the Africa Corps almost withered on the vine.
From then on intelligence played an increasingly indispensable part in final victory. Ultra won the Battle of the Atlantic, driving U-boats back to coastal waters by June 1943. Ultra confirmed the whereabouts of the German tanks as Montgomery planned the breakthrough to Alamein. Only 'Bomber' Harris refused to give intelligence the credit it deserved; on the basis of new evidence this fascinating book strongly reinforces criticism this costly mistake.
When war began Britain was as ill-prepared in intelligence as armaments. Civilian scientists had discovered the principle of radar in the mid-1930s, but everything had to be learned from scratch in the heat of emergency. First signs of improvement came in mid-1941, when Ultra targeted naval vessels and bomber aircraft onto so many of Rommel's supply ships that the Africa Corps almost withered on the vine.
From then on intelligence played an increasingly indispensable part in final victory. Ultra won the Battle of the Atlantic, driving U-boats back to coastal waters by June 1943. Ultra confirmed the whereabouts of the German tanks as Montgomery planned the breakthrough to Alamein. Only 'Bomber' Harris refused to give intelligence the credit it deserved; on the basis of new evidence this fascinating book strongly reinforces criticism this costly mistake.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Illustrations
27 maps
Dimensions
Height: 126 mm
Width: 204 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
358 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-8383036-3-1 (9781838303631)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
In 1940, Ralph Bennett, a Cambridge historian, was drafted into Hut 3 at Bletchley Park where secret German army and navy signals were decoded, translated and sent to commanders in the field. Thirty years after the end of the War, when the Ultra secret was revealed, Bennett re-read thousands of messages that he himself had translated, a rare experience for any historian. He became a prolific author of books and essays on Bletchley's role in the Second World War.
Content
List of Maps
Preface to New Edition
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. 1939: Thick Darkness Brooding
2. 1940-1941: First Rays of Light
3. 1941-1943: A Brighter Prospect in the Mediterranean
4. 1939-1945: Ten-Tenths Cloud Cover: Intelligence and Bomber Command
5. 1941-1945: Shadow and Sunlight Over the Atlantic
6. 1943-1945: Clear Skies in Italy, Storm Over the Balkans
7. 1944-1945: Set Fair in the West, then Autumn Showers
Appendix I: Enigma and Ultra
Appendix II: The Controversy Over Crete
Appendix III: Harris and Intelligence
Appendix IV: Signals to Command Abroad
Appendix VI: How It Was Done
Appendix VII: Illustrations of Ultra
Reference Notes
Select Bibliography
Main Events 1939-1945
Abbreviations
Index
Preface to New Edition
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. 1939: Thick Darkness Brooding
2. 1940-1941: First Rays of Light
3. 1941-1943: A Brighter Prospect in the Mediterranean
4. 1939-1945: Ten-Tenths Cloud Cover: Intelligence and Bomber Command
5. 1941-1945: Shadow and Sunlight Over the Atlantic
6. 1943-1945: Clear Skies in Italy, Storm Over the Balkans
7. 1944-1945: Set Fair in the West, then Autumn Showers
Appendix I: Enigma and Ultra
Appendix II: The Controversy Over Crete
Appendix III: Harris and Intelligence
Appendix IV: Signals to Command Abroad
Appendix VI: How It Was Done
Appendix VII: Illustrations of Ultra
Reference Notes
Select Bibliography
Main Events 1939-1945
Abbreviations
Index