Inside the Nazi Ring: Naval Attache in Germany

by Henry Denham

Holmes & Meier, New York

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

174 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book about Sweden during World War 2 through the experiences of the British Naval Attache stationed there. Captain Denham served for the duration of the war and it is interesting to see how he interacted with the Swedes, both pro German and pro Allied and all the obstacles he had to overcome dealing with it so as to do his job, which was mainly intelligence driven.

Sweden walked a tightrope between the Axis and Allies and the support and/or concessions they gave both, and thus trying not to get dragged into the war. The main focus of these were the iron ore exports to Germany, the use of Swedish territory for the conveyance of troops and materials and the use of Swedish waters for trade. Denham also gives good information on the use of intelligence in the operations around occupied Norway and the Arctic Convoys. Sweden was truly inside the Nazi ring during World War 2, and this is a very interesting part of history.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this book. An enjoyable and informative read. Denham is sent to Sweden to gather intelligence on Nazi movements in Scandinavia. Details (names, places, dates) make for excellent resource material. I'm no specialist, but I learned a lot about the precarious economic situation of Sweden during WWII, about concrete difficulties, and about the whims of politicians. Walking a tightrope between neutrality and the threat of invasion by Nazi Germany was Sweden's dilemma. The author provides plenty of anecdotes reminding us that, then as now, government ministers don't really know what they're doing and just muddle through.

[C. G. Telcontar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short little entry into WW2 history provides some good on the spot reporting about events in Scandinavia and the Baltic during the war. Absolutely no fluff and no frills, it is on topic throughout the text. Denham had a prewar naval career stretching back to the end of the Great War. He stayed in the RN during the interwar years, managing to be promoted to Commander, for of all things, rowing a boat successfully in many races for his admiral. Such silliness seemed to occupy much of the interwar RN's years and Denham seems to think it only natural he ought to have been recognized for his boating prowess. Ah, the Brits! Drifting into naval intelligence he is dispatched to Sweden during the Norwegian campaign and had a difficult and roundabout trip to reach Stockholm. Once there, he embarks on the dubious duties of a naval attache, a gentleman spy/not spy in a foreign country that was not at war and yet not very neutral, either.

Revealing Sweden's dance with Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and the Western Allies to retain her independence and her people's standard of living required deft maneuvering on Sweden's part, so much so they allowed trains full of German troops to use their railroads to deploy men to Finland and the Soviet Union, sowed minefields to assist the Germans, built minesweepers for Germany, sailed troop convoys under false flags for the Germans, refueled U Boats for the Germans. But Sweden also sold ball bearings and other high grade metals to the Brits, negotiated for Britain to allow oil tankers through to her ports so her military and civilian enterprises could continue to operate, engaged in long negotiations with both the Axis and the Allies regarding other business enterprises, interned military men from several nations, saving them from German prison camps and sometimes passively or not so passively, aided the Allies as the war shifted against the Axis.

Denham had to endure secret police surveillance and searches, along with the bugging of his apartment, being asked to leave the country twice but allowed to remain due to goings on at higher levels of government. During the war and shortly after he seems to have met just about every big mover and shaker in that region of the theater -- King of Norway, King of Sweden, Max Manus, Ian Fleming (of course, had to, right?), Ladislas Farago of Game of the Foxes fame, Lord Mountbatten and several others.

This book was published by his estate, so perhaps he was jotting down these reminiscences for his own benefit without real thought to publishing, who knows. It's a breeze of a read and with many tidbits of info that feed into the larger naval picture of the European war. Not worth full price for any reason, but if you can score it for under $3 I'd say it's a good volume to put in your collection if you're into naval matters in the Second World War.

[Dorayne Demoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very interesting. The author served as the British naval attaché to Sweden, throughout the Second World War. The "ring" in the title refers to the fact that Sweden, a neutral country, is located near Norway and Denmark, both of which were taken over by the Nazis.
The first chapter seemed to me to be a little slow as the author discusses his background and sets the stage, although some of his escapades are interesting. The pace really picks up when he is posted to Sweden. His job is mostly gathering intelligence about Nazi activities in Norway, the North Sea and in Sweden. He has to deal with informants that may or may not be reliable, with Nazi officers, Swedish officials and British intelligence. It is a fine tightrope, which he generally walks successfully.
One has to sympathize with the Swedish government - trying not to give in to too many Nazi demands so as not to antagonize the British, yet satisfying the Nazis enough to avoid full-scale invasion.
The intelligence operations are well-explained. I learned much about this area of the conflict from this exciting true story.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books about WW2 and the vast majority were concerned with battles (land, sea & air), specific operations & events or people. This is the first I have read concerning diplomatic activities during the war and it’s fascinating.

Captain Henry Denham was a Naval Attaché sent to Stockholm in 1940 and his experiences and insights whilst there give an interesting light on some events during the war. Sweden was officially a neutral country but was very aware of the dangers posed by Germany as German troops were in both her neighbouring countries – occupying Norway and assisting Finland in her war with the Soviet Union. Thus Sweden had a delicate line to tread between Germany and the Allies.

For anyone with an interest in WW2 history I thoroughly recommend this book.

Thanks to Sapere Books for a copy to review.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This book is about the part the British Naval Attache played in WW2. Being stationed in was interesting to read about as it was a neutral country surrounded by German occupation countries. At times the story was difficult to follow as I didn't know city names or areas of Sweden. This book is best read by WW2 enthusiasts.

[D.M. Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweden in WW2

This is a well written account of the writer’s activities as naval attaché in wartime Sweden. He certainly had an interesting time and provided a lot of valuable information.
As was to be expected there was a lot of pro German feeling but it wasn’t one sided.
I really enjoyed this book.

[MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward account of the author's six years as a naval attaché, first (briefly) in Denmark and then Sweden. Denham worked at the intersection of military strategy, diplomacy, and intelligence and had to occasionally deconflict between these roles and missions. He offers some insights into Sweden's balancing act of foreign policy as it attempted to keep its economy and security intact through negotiation with both Germany and Britain. Denham's concision makes reading or listening easy, but some readers (like me!) might wish he had included more day-to-day details.

[Deseree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inside

Interesting and the author definitely knew what he was talking about ; a bit dry in parts. This book was more for strategy buffs than for the general reader.

[NR COLBURN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdseye view

Fascinating insight into workings of neutral Sweden,discovered some facts about operations and people I had never heard of,quite excellent.shall read again

[daniel t west West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about as much as the best ever baseball game. There is nothing more fascinating than watching grass grow!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating memoir detailing the contribution played by the British legation to neutral Sweden in the winning of WWII. in order to maintain her neutrality Sweden played a difficult game of diplomacy herself, balancing concessions to the Third Reich with concessions to the Allies. The role of Denham, as naval attache to the British legation was important. The author does not boast about this, but gives a well documented account of the ways in which his department provided information to London which helped to win the war. This book would have been better read on a larger device. My Kindle could not give me sensibly sized maps, for instance. But I was heartily glad to read that Denham's work helped to sink the Torpitz.

[Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

A novice writer, and that is where the book has trouble, but an interesting topic for those looking for some more information on the war's impacts on Sweden.