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Man Who Never Was: World War II's Boldest Counterintelligence Operation (Bluejacket Books) Paperback – January 23, 2001

by Ewen Montagu (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 415 ratings
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As plans got under way for the Allied invasion of Sicily in June 1943, British counter-intelligence agent Ewen Montagu masterminded a scheme to mislead the Germans into thinking the next landing would occur in Greece. The innovative plot was so successful that the Germans moved some of their forces away from Sicily, and two weeks into the real invasion still expected an attack in Greece. This extraordinary operation called for a dead body, dressed as a Royal Marine officer and carrying false information about a pending Allied invasion of Greece, to wash up on a Spanish shore near the town of a known Nazi agent. Agent Montagu tells the story as only an insider could, offering fascinating details of the difficulties involved--especially in creating a persona for a man who never was--and of his profession as a spy and the risks involved in mounting such a complex operation. Failure could have had devastating results. Success, however, brought a decided change in the course of the war.
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Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Bluejacket Books
  2. Print length
    160 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Naval Institute Press
  5. Publication date
    January 23, 2001
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1557504482
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1557504487
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a splendid read about the most curious scheme of World War II." -- Nautical Magazine, February 2004

About the Author

Ewen Montagu ran the counterespionage sub-branch of the naval intelligence division at the British Admiralty. He later became judge advocate of the fleet and died in 1985.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; First Edition (January 23, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1557504482
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1557504487
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 415 ratings

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Ewen Montagu

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
415 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer 831xray@ gmail. com
5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent classic of deception
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2022
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Read first in the 1960's and somehow lost over the years, I was prompted to order and re-read (actually for the third time in the intervening years and operational service) it in electronic form after the Netflix movie Operation MINCEMEAT came out. Thus, comparing this with the usual fine work of Ben MacIntyre with the movie version, there are some interesting elements worthy of comment.
One might consider a major omission in the film was that the overall deception plan was to have the Germans anticipate the landings in the Eastern Med and in the west against Corsica and Sardinia. Thus, positing the hopeful cutting off of Sicily to dry off the rest of the Italian vine all while allowing for further movement against either or both middle Italy/ Southern France (actually the object in Operation ANVIL in mid 1944) to be attached from potential bases on Sardinia and Corsica.
Further, the less obvious results of MINCEMEAT were very modestly treated in the film. The post war evaluations of the actual German beliefs and responses to it, e.g., Romell being sent to Greece along with tons of armor and artillery as well as Seaborne reconnaissance assets from Sicily to the Aegean, etc, could certainly have been included with minimal effort and shown the multiple accomplishments beyond protecting HUSKY.
The movie may have been designed for more drama, occupying space that might have allowed for better expansion of the actual activities and outcomes, but yet reading the book is always better than the movie. For that reason alone, if you happened to have enjoyed the NETFLIX version, you'll enjoy the complexities that are included in this, original Montagu book.
Finally, that the voice over at the beginning made two references in one sentence that really and succinctly lays the entire effort out: the wilderness of mirrors (former head of CI at CIA, James Jesus Angleton's classic phrase for counterintelligence operations) and bodyguard of lies ( famously attributed to Churchill in the 1970's book of that same name by Anthony Cave Brown). Attribution of those two wonderful phrases should have at least warranted sourcing of of the phrases.
6 people found this helpful
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Gregg Romens
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting piece of history
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2022
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I had meant to read this book ever since my brother had it 40 years ago. I kinda wish I’d read it then. It’s a good book, but is a little dated. It’s a rare example where the movie (Operation Mincemeat,2021) is actually better than the book, because they were at liberty to go into greater detail in the movie, as well as add drama to the story. At the time this book was written, there were still a lot of the information that was sensitive or classified, so it reads a bit more like a briefing report, and less like a novel. But, it’s still worth the time.
One person found this helpful
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Lynn Hancock
5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to find!
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
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This is a really good movie about Operation Mincemeat, which was a successful British operation during WWII. The plot/scheme is almost unbelievable, so the fact that it's true makes it that much more interesting.
We've been trying to stream this title for a while, but it's not available. I was thrilled to find this DVD as a Christmas gift for my husband.
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Nick Fraser
5.0 out of 5 stars THE ONY WORD TO DESCRIBE THIS STORY IS "MACABRE" BUT IT'S TRUE
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2020
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Read a paperback version of this story in 1967 when I was 12 years of age. At the time, I thought the story rather fanciful but my father, WWII ex-RAF, assured me it was factual. This kindle version seems to be far more detailed than the version I read back then (not really sure if this is so, but then 50 years does cloud one's recall but it also seems likely that some details may not have been ready to be publicly released back in 1967, the end of the 2nd WW being only twenty years earlier) and, of course, the internet is available now so I looked up the places and personnel involved making for a far more interesting read. The cemetery in Spain and the history of the personnel involved were particularly intriguing. I cannot imagine myself coming up with an idea as macabre as Operation Mincement but there is no denying its effect on the outcome of WWII. This book is very well written and I think anyone interested in WWII will find this story of value if they haven't read it before.
5 people found this helpful
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Maxwell Stern
3.0 out of 5 stars Good as far as it goes
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2010
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The story of the man who never was is told in this book by one of the men involved in the scheme. It does not go as far as the latest book on the subject, "Operation Mincemeat", but that is because there were restrictions on release of information and documents in the 1950's when Montagu wrote his early version. Nevertheless, it is of interest because it is in the words of one on the "inside" of the scheme - a scheme which, unbelievably, actually succeeded in befuddling the German high command, and contributed to the successful allied invasion of Europe in 1944.
13 people found this helpful
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janedmcc
5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
A brilliantly written personal account of the mastermind behind a daring and innovative plot to foil the Germans that transports you into the thrilling and mind-boggling world of counter-intelligence with all its riveting espionage, deception and subterfuge. All-told a thoroughly exciting and fascinating study of not only the physical but moral and ethical sacrifices that have been made in war. The collaboration of multi-skilled intelligence experts across naval and military sectors and culmination of meticulous planning of all aspects required to carry out the plot - down to the tiniest detail and contribution from people in the highest authoritative positions down to ordinary men and women in the street is awe-inspiring and thought-provoking as it speaks to these early WW1 & WW2 eras and reminds us all of by-gone times when every citizen played their part leaving the reader in awe of the savvy and smarts of the cumulative strength of our British intelligence units. MI5 & MI6 still recognised as setting the global benchmark in security and military intelligence service.
2 people found this helpful
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Marcello
5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo
Reviewed in Italy on March 20, 2018
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Ottimo il libro in sè e molto buona anche la copia che mi è arrivata nonostante avesse qualche decennio sulle spalle ('60), probabilmente mai aperta da nessuno prima di me.
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deshpande, cv
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on January 24, 2018
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An engrossing book about a true life story. It has also been transformed into a film.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars These WWII stories are simply beyond amazing.
Reviewed in Australia on February 27, 2020
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The characters depicted in this book deserve to be household names. Their exploits and imagination in the face of incredible odds are simply unbelievable by todays standards.
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Cliente Amazon
3.0 out of 5 stars Una historia única
Reviewed in Spain on October 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
Todavía no lo he leído, porque este ejemplar me salió muy barato pero está un poco mal. Aunque no está roto, las páginas están muy oscuras y cuesta leerlo.
Igualmente, la historia del "hombre que nunca fue" es una historia real que parece un guión. En plena segunda guerra mundial, los ingleses se inventan a alguien y los alemanes se lo creen todo todo. Es muy buena.
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