Ian Fleming and Operation Golden Eye

Keeping Spain out of World War II

Nonfiction, History, Military, World War II, Biography & Memoir, Historical, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Ian Fleming and Operation Golden Eye by Mark Simmons, Casemate
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Mark Simmons ISBN: 9781612006864
Publisher: Casemate Publication: November 19, 2018
Imprint: Casemate Language: English
Author: Mark Simmons
ISBN: 9781612006864
Publisher: Casemate
Publication: November 19, 2018
Imprint: Casemate
Language: English

This book tells the story of the various Allied operations and schemes instigated to keep Spain and Portugal out of WWII, which included the widespread bribery of high ranking Spanish officials and the duplicity of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head of the Abwehr.

Ian Fleming and Alan Hillgarth were the architects of Operation Golden Eye, the sabotage and disruption scheme that would be put in place had Germany invaded Spain. Fleming visited the Iberian Peninsula and Tangiers several times during the war, arguably his greatest achievement in WWII and the closest he came to being a real secret agent. It was these visits which supplied much of the background material for his fiction - Fleming even called his home on Jamaica where he created 007 'Goldeneye.'

The book begins with Hitler's dilemma about which way to move and his meeting with Francisco Franco at Hendaye in October 1940, a major turning point in the war when an alliance between Germany and Spain seemed possible. Simmons explores the British reaction to this, with Operation Tracer being created by Admiral Godfrey, head of Naval Intelligence. This was a plan to leave a listening and observation post buried in the Rock of Gibraltar should it have fallen to the Germans. A chapter is also devoted to Portugal – the SIS and SOE operations there and the vital Wolfram wars. Operation Golden Eye was eventually put on standby in 1943 as the risk of the Nazis occupying Spain was much reduced. Simmons consulted Foreign Office, SOE, CIA and OKW files when writing this book.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book tells the story of the various Allied operations and schemes instigated to keep Spain and Portugal out of WWII, which included the widespread bribery of high ranking Spanish officials and the duplicity of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head of the Abwehr.

Ian Fleming and Alan Hillgarth were the architects of Operation Golden Eye, the sabotage and disruption scheme that would be put in place had Germany invaded Spain. Fleming visited the Iberian Peninsula and Tangiers several times during the war, arguably his greatest achievement in WWII and the closest he came to being a real secret agent. It was these visits which supplied much of the background material for his fiction - Fleming even called his home on Jamaica where he created 007 'Goldeneye.'

The book begins with Hitler's dilemma about which way to move and his meeting with Francisco Franco at Hendaye in October 1940, a major turning point in the war when an alliance between Germany and Spain seemed possible. Simmons explores the British reaction to this, with Operation Tracer being created by Admiral Godfrey, head of Naval Intelligence. This was a plan to leave a listening and observation post buried in the Rock of Gibraltar should it have fallen to the Germans. A chapter is also devoted to Portugal – the SIS and SOE operations there and the vital Wolfram wars. Operation Golden Eye was eventually put on standby in 1943 as the risk of the Nazis occupying Spain was much reduced. Simmons consulted Foreign Office, SOE, CIA and OKW files when writing this book.

More books from Casemate

Cover of the book When Washington Burned by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book The Fighting 30th Division by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Marine Corps Tank Battles in Vietnam by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Two Soldiers, Two Lost Fronts German War Diaries Of The Stalingrad And North Africa Campaigns by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book The Flag by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Hitler's Wave-Breaker Concept by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Valor in Vietnam by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Blocking Kampfgruppe Peiper by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book D-Days in the Pacific With the US Coastguard by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Marine Corps Tank Battles in Korea by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Knights by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Operation Thunderclap and the Black March by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book With Musket and Tomahawk by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book Gunship Ace: The Wars of Neall Ellis, Helicopter Pilot and Mercenary by Mark Simmons
Cover of the book America's First Clash With Iran The Tanker War 1987-88 by Mark Simmons
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy