Elizabeth Raum - Stealing Nazi Secrets in World War II: An Interactive Espionage Adventure

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YOU are living during World War II. The main battle is at the frontlines, but thats not where you belong. Youre a spy.

In this book youll explore how the choices people made meant the difference between life and death. The events youll experience happened to real people.

Chapter One sets the scene. Then you choose which path to read. Follow the links at the bottom of each page as you read the stories. The decisions you make will change your outcome. After you finish one path, go back and read the others for new perspectives and more adventures. Use your device's back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice.

YOU CHOOSE the path you take through history.

World War II began in September 1939 with the German invasion of Poland. The year before, Germany had used force to take control of Austria and large parts of Czechoslovakia. German power continues to grow.

Two days after the invasion of Poland, Great Britain declares war on Germany. Further attacks by Germany eventually lead to France, the United States, and the Soviet Union joining Great Britains side. They call themselves the Allies. Those who side with Germanymainly Italy and Japanform the Axis nations.

More than 70 million people around the world fought in World War II (19391945).

As time goes on, the war grows. Norway and Denmark are only two of the countries that fall under German control. Battles reach French soil. German planes begin bombing British cities. In September 1940 Italian troops move into Egypt and fighting begins in North Africa. By June 1941 Germany has invaded the Soviet Union. On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes bomb Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Around 350 aircraft were destroyed and 8 battleships, including the U.S.S. Shaw , were sunk or badly damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

As though a world war isnt terrifying enough, the newspapers bring the fighting to your front door every morning. Battle wins and losses are described in detail. Locations of dropped bombs or overrun towns and villages are revealed. The number of soldiers killed and wounded grows every day. You cant sit by and do nothing. But the frontlines arent for you.

Theres another war, a secret war, which no one reads about. But the signs are everywhere. Newspapers and signs warn to keep their mouths shut. From the beginning, both Allied and Axis leaders have gathered reports on the enemys strength and positions. To do that, they use spies.

Thousands of women enlisted as radio operators.

Some spies actually sneak into offices and military headquarters and steal official reports and war plans. But most spies are pilots, photo interpreters, code breakers, and agents working undercover. They live and work in occupied cities and observe the enemy close up. They take pictures of secret locations or interpret the photos. They intercept and coded messages from the enemy.

These spies work in secret, rarely revealing exactly what they do or how they do it. It is dangerous work. A mistake can cost you your life. Its no job for thrill or fame seekers. And chances are that no one will read about your heroic deeds. But your work will help the Allies win this war. What kind of spy are you?

The palm trees, sandy beaches, and coral reefs of Hawaii are your home. Your parents are Japanese immigrants, but you are an American. To other Japanese you are Nisei, the first generation born away from the Japanese homeland. You are fluent in both Japanese and English and are comfortable in both cultures.

As a student at Honolulus McKinley High School, you are required to join the ROTC, a military training program. Training both the mind and body are important. Your principal stresses the importance of involvement. You are charged with guarding important military areas on the island of Oahu.

Military outposts in Hawaii made the United States presence in the Pacific possible.

You graduate as a cadet officer, but dont think anything more of military service. After graduation you begin work for a company that manages sugar cane plantations. Its not very interesting work, but you try to convince yourself that its important to someone.

One day, though, you get a call from one of your ROTC officers. Would you consider joining a special branch of the U.S. Army? he asks. Your knowledge of Japanese language and culture will be an asset. The army wants to keep an eye on overseas activity. As a bonus, he tells you that the assignment involves travel to interesting places.

You jump at the chance. Arthur Komori, another Nisei, signs up with you. You attend the Counter Intelligence School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Its part of the United States Army War College.

You study languages and codes. The Japanese merchant fleet uses a code called JN25. The Japanese Navy uses a new code known as Purple. Code-breakers in Washington, D.C. struggled to decipher the code.

The college has built a model of the Purple machine. It consists of two typewriters, a rotor, and a 25-character alphabet. The rotor scrambles the letters every day. Only someone with the secret key can decipher the messages.

The Germans code machine was known as Enigma.

You and Komori are the very first Japanese-Americans to work for the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC). On April 7, 1941, you board a transport ship headed toward Manila, the capital city in the Philippines. The Philippine islands are an American territory.

Your mission is to integrate with the Japanese citizens in Manila. You travel undercover as civilian deck hands. None of the other passengers or crew, who are also mostly civilians, know that you work for the U.S. Army.

On April 21 you are summoned to the captains office. Two men in civilian clothes are there. They introduce themselves as Major Nelson Raymond, your CIC chief, and Agent Grenfall Drisko, who will be your contact.

Raymond gives you a cover story to use once you land. People must believe you are loyal to Japan, even though you were born in the United States. Only Major Raymond and Agent Drisko will know that you are CIC agents.

When you reach Manila, the major gives you a brief tour. He hands you keys to a mailbox at the Central Post Office in Manila. Its registered under a Filipino name, Sixto Borja. Check twice daily for instructions and to drop off your intelligence reports. You and Komori are instructed to register at different hotels.