Secret Weapons of World War II

by William B. Breuer

In  Secret Weapons of World War II , first-class historian, William Breuer, chronicles the clandestine battles that occurred between the brilliant scientists and codebreakers of the Allies and the Axis powers.

Here are the extraordinary tales behind the ingenious weapons and technological wizardry that determined the outcome of the war.  From radar, huff-duff (high frequency direction finding), invisible radio beams, electronic guidance systems, homing devices, and submarine detection equipment, Breuer deftly exposes the gargantuan efforts employed by both adversaries and the fascinating details of the high-stakes warfare waged behind the well-known scenes of combat.

Re-creating the covert missions, plots, hoaxes, spying, conspiracies, and electronic sleuthing, Breuer goes beyond the famous military leaders and statesmen to give an entirely flesh and startling perspective of the Second World War.

In  Secret Weapons of World War II , you

-Attend a meeting where Winston Churchill launches the idea of a giant mousetrap in the sky that would snare Luftwaffe bombers.

-Meet the young genius in the British Secret Service and the scientist who hatched Operation Jay, an intricate hoax that bamboozled German scientists and ended Germany's devastating long-range bombing campaign.

-Shadow former American schoolteacher Frank Rowlett as he and his small team of scientists crack the Japanese diplomatic code called Purple, now known as the greatest success in the history of the United States intelligence.

-Witness the curious-looking truck known as "secret weapon that was shipped in from Mars" that later played a crucial role in the outcome of the war.

Packed with more than seventy riveting tales,  Secret Weapons of World War II  displays Breuer's signature blend of dynamic storytelling and meticulous detail.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2000

About the author

William B. Breuer landed with the first assault waves in Normandy on D-Day (June 6, 1944), then fought across Europe. Later, he founded a daily newspaper on a string in Rolla, Missouri, and after that, a highly successful public relations firm in St. Louis, Missouri. He had been writing books full time since 1982

Reviews

[Hosein]

کتاب خیلی خوبی بود. تقریبا تا ریز جزئیات جنگ جهانی و نوشته بود و خوندش لذت بخش بود. اما یک مشکل بزرگ داشت، نویسنده ـش اهل شوروی بود و در نتیجه خیلی جانب دارانه این کتاب رو نوشته بود و عملا شوروی رو از هر کار خطا و جنایتی پاک دونسته بود. اما در کل به نظرم 90% ماجرا رو راست و درست نوشته بود .

[Mohammad]

من زمان كان نفسي اقرأ كتاب عن الحرب العالمية الثانية وبدأت في الكتاب . الايجابيات :
1- عرفت معلومات كتير وكونت وجهة نظر مبدئية عن الفترة التاريخية المهمة 1939-1945

2- الحرب كانت حرب علمية وتكنولوجية ف الاساس بين العلماء

3- القادة العسكريين في كلا الجانبين كنو عارفين ان العامل الحاسم في الصراع هو العلم

4- عرفت اسلحة اسنخدموها في الحرب دي احنا في مصر لسه منعرفش عنها حاجة :: عمار يا مصر :D

5- عرفت ان الالمان دول جبارين دولة واحدة بتحارب العالم كله (بريطانيا-امريكا روسيا) .

السلبيات ::

1- مستوي الترجمة سئ

2- الكاتب منحاز بطريقة فجة الانجليز والامريكان ومش مدي الالمان حقهم بشكل يليق بدوبة كانت منتصرة علي العالم لمدة 3 سنوات من بدء الحرب

الكتاب ان شاء الله هي ضيف كتير لمعلوماتك :)

[David Devine]

A behind the scenes looks at not only well known secret weapons like the V-1 and V-2 rockets, but also many of the secretive operations of both the Allied and Axis to get the upper-hand on the other. Code breaking, smuggling of scientists, radar, proximity fuses as well as failed operations and fantastic ideas too outlandish to work. The book is put together in separate short stories organized along the timeline of the war.

[Robert Dunn]

This book is full of vignettes about events and people behind the scenes.

[Mazen]

كتاب مسل للغاية ولا يخلو من بعض الطرائف التي قد تستغرب وجودها زمن الحروب.
المعلومات التي يحتويها بالغة القيمة لكل باحث تاريخي.

[Benjamin]

Excellent history full of vignettes and mind blowing tales of real heroism during WWII and the gargantuan effort by both sides to outdo the other in shear desperation. It was all or nothing, and they spared no expense. I was awed after reading the book about how much was actually undertaken and accomplished in such a short span of time. Projects that would now take decades to complete were done in a manner months. And simultaneously with hundreds of other complicated projects. Also the reliance on extremely intelligent savants on both sides to essentially work miracles, even by today's standards, is breathtaking.

[Doug Dams]

The book is mostly a series of short stories describing a secret operation, codebreaking or weapon that occurred in WW2. Some of the stories I had heard before but many I hadn't. There isn't a lot of detail in the stories but the stories are interesting. It was a quick read as many of the stories only take up a page or two. The author seems to feel that Germany if given more time might have won the war with their super weapons. But I think the Axis was running out of resources to implement most of their plans. What worried me was that both sides considered using radioactive gas or chemicals to poison the population of the other side. I'm glad neither side went ahead with that.

[Ruth]

another great book--

[Михей Кресто]

Great overall book, very interesting facts and details about World War 2 that people never ask about.

[Abdullah Alhassan]

interesting facts about ww2 i loved the Enigma part.

[Pam]

This book has interesting short stories that are fast reads. It includes "Notes and Sources" to allow the reader to find additional information on the subjects presented.

[Jbussen]

Secret weapons include cryptographers. Radar, radar jamming and spies. If this is your thing.

[Saba Hussam]

errw

[Scott]

Some interesting tidbits I wasn't perviously aware of.

[Soheb]

Bbbbb