By the summer of 1940, Nazi blitzkrieg had blazed across much of Europe, culminating in the Fall of France. The invasion of Britain, once unthinkable, now seemed inevitable but Churchill's cabinet resolved to try every means to turn the tide. One of their boldest moves was the formation of a 'fifth column', the Special Operations Executive (SOE), tasked to hamstring the enemy from the shadows. Prospective agents, often bilingual, were drawn from diverse callings and countries. After intensive tuition in subversion and espionage, SOE's secret band of saboteurs dropped behind the lines to mobilise resistance and pave the way for D-Day. SOE in 100 Objects picks up the clues they left behind - a button compass in Greece, a silk map in Burma - and follows their trail across land and sea, from moonlight flights to high-risk missions and hard-won liberation.

About the Author
Belinda Curwen's interest in the SOE was inspired by her father, who was an SOE field agent in Greece. She did her BA and MA in the history of art and architecture, before embarking on an editorial career in illustrated and interactive publishing across both trade and heritage lists with a strong focus on cultural history. She lives in London.


Book Information
ISBN 9780750997966
Author Belinda Curwen
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint The History Press Ltd
Publisher The History Press Ltd