Tony Insall - Secret Alliances: Special Operations and Intelligence in Norway 1940-1945 - The British Perspective

A fascinating and novel insight into British intelligence and special operations in wartime Norway. Among a number of important new sources, Tony Insall has discovered in Oslo top-secret SIS files which are unavailable in Britain.

P ROFESSOR C HRISTOPHER A NDREW, FOUNDER OF C AMBRIDGE U NIVERSITY I NTELLIGENCE S EMINAR AND AUTHOR OF T HE S ECRET W ORLD: A H ISTORY OF I NTELLIGENCE

Secret Alliances shines a light on a fascinating but little-known part of the war. Filled with new details and insight, it brings to life the drama of special operations and intelligence work in Norway, including the extent of SIS coast-watching, which provided significant coverage of the German fleet, especially the Tirpitz.

G ORDON C ORERA, BROADCASTER AND AUTHOR OF MI6: L IFE AND D EATH IN THE B RITISH S ECRET S ERVICE

This is a beautifully detailed account that brings to life the extraordinary story of the Norwegian resistance. So many played their part kings, prime ministers, traitors like Kim Philby but mostly this is a tale of bloody-minded determination on the part of unsung heroes. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand this vital period of Norwegian history.

M ICHAEL D OBBS

Secret Alliances is a gripping history of wide-ranging Anglo-Norwegian wartime cooperation, spiced with vivid stories of heroism and betrayal. Tony Insall makes unprecedented use of British and Norwegian archives to present a detailed picture of resistance operations in Norway, and also explains the political context that facilitated what was perhaps the most effective resistance movement in occupied Europe.

P ROFESSOR P ATRICK S ALMON, C HIEF H ISTORIAN, F OREIGN AND C OMMONWEALTH O FFICE

The most detailed and comprehensive study of wartime clandestine operations conducted in Norway yet published. Highly readable and thoroughly researched.

N IGEL W EST, INTELLIGENCE HISTORIAN

A gripping account of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation in the heroic struggle against German occupation.

A NDY M C N AB

Some of the most important links between Britain and Norway during WWII were welded through the vast and varied numbers of clandestine operations undertaken by SOE and SIS. Here, Tony Insall describes these activities against the complex political backdrop whilst drawing upon a thorough understanding of Norway to add considerably to our knowledge on the subject.

I VAR K RAGLUND, N ORWAYS R ESISTANCE M USEUM