Tactical Radio Intelligence in World War II

Tactical Radio Intelligence in World War II: Silent Warriors in Europe fills a unique void in United States military and intelligence histories by providing exceptional insight into the contributions made by a very select group of veterans: the US Army Signal Corps Radio and Signal Intelligence soldiers. During World War II, thousands of young soldiers swore an oath of secrecy; violating the oath meant severe repercussions, including the possibility of execution. They honored their wartime oaths, even until death, though they were quietly released from their oaths decades after the war. In the early 1980s, the United States government declassified and publicly released hundreds of World War II radio and signal intelligence documents.

Until now, historians and authors have focused almost exclusively on Ultra and the Allies' breaking the German Enigma cipher. However, many strategic histories lack insight on the "silent warriors'" experiences and challenges in conducting tactical radio and signal intelligence operations just miles from German lines. Strict secrecy, failing memories, and rapidly dwindling numbers have severely limited our understanding of the veterans' contributions. Now, veteran military intelligence officer and author Robert A. Peterson has conducted hours of interviews with these unsung heroes who gathered information crucial for American and Allied field commanders, enabling success in battle and saving combat soldiers' lives.

Tactical Radio Intelligence in World War II's firsthand accounts will have readers following veterans from the prewar British-American lend-lease and cryptologic agreements through campaigns across Europe as they intercepted messages and located German Panzers for D-Day, Mortain, the Falaise Gap, the Battle of the Bulge, and Germany's downfall. This book provides new context to our understanding of how the Allies accomplished a hard-won victory in the European Theater during World War II.