PDF Summary:The Secret War, by Max Hastings

In The Secret War, Max Hastings investigates the crucial role of intelligence operations during World War II. Meticulously researched, he reveals how undercover activities like code-breaking, signals intelligence, and espionage networks shaped the course of the conflict. Hastings explores major events—from the triumphs of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park to the impact of Soviet infiltration on the Allied war effort.

The book delves into how technological advances fueled an escalating intelligence arms race. Hastings also examines the consequences of spying on the postwar intelligence landscape, including the formation of agencies like the CIA. His comprehensive analysis offers insights into intelligence's enduring relevance in modern conflicts.

(continued)...

The operation 'Fortitude' played a pivotal role in misleading skeptical German commanders by employing an extensive strategy of radio subterfuge, which conjured the false impression of a fictitious First US Army Group poised to strike Pas de Calais, thereby ensuring that Germany's premier divisions were held away from the true invasion points in Normandy until the Allied forces had securely entrenched themselves on the shores. In 1942, the Russians successfully deceived Reinhard Gehlen about their strategic intentions for Stalingrad by feigning an attack through the 'Monastery' operation. Hastings argues that Hitler's strategic blunders had a more significant impact on the positioning of the Wehrmacht than the cunning strategies of Allied intelligence.

The book delves into the augmentation of conventional military efforts by units adept in unconventional warfare, including Soviet Partisans, as well as the British Special Operations Executive and the American Office of Strategic Services.

Hastings emphasizes the expansion of special operations units and the increasing range of unconventional warfare, emphasizing the significance of missions carried out in enemy territory by the British SOE, American OSS, and Soviet partisans as vital elements, though not the only ones, of the secret war.

Hastings acknowledges that SOE and OSS played a useful role in sabotaging Axis operations, gathering information, and conducting raids, though he asserts that their military impact was marginal. Winston Churchill and his British counterparts overestimated the influence that resistance fighters could have on battle results, particularly in the early stages when the Resistance's actions were limited and fraught with danger. The foremost achievement of the SOE and OSS in Western Europe was to maintain an Allied foothold, bolster local insurgencies, and provide assistance to standard military maneuvers after the D-Day landings. In the East, the operations of Soviet partisans considerably hindered the Germans' logistical operations and their tactics for retaining dominance. The brutal and repressive actions of Stalin's government towards those it suspected of collaboration instilled more fear than inspiration in its partisan operations and intelligence gathering, leading to a death toll surpassing that of similar occurrences in Western countries.

Technological Advancements Transforming Intelligence, Enabling Breakthroughs While Posing New Security Risks

Hastings emphasizes the significant impact that technological progress has had on gathering, analyzing, and applying intelligence data. Combatants' employment of sophisticated technologies such as punch-card computing and radio direction-finding significantly bolstered signals intelligence, resulting in substantial progress and the emergence of new weaknesses.

The book delves into various cases where technological progress significantly influenced covert activities. Alan Turing's creation of the electromechanical device was crucial in enabling the British to effectively decode the Enigma ciphers. The US Navy's use of sophisticated computing technology allowed Commander Rochefort and his team to decode specific communications from the Japanese fleet, leading to major cryptographic advances prior to the Battle of Midway. As reliance on radio communications grew among military commanders for orchestrating their forces, it offered an exceptional opportunity for cryptanalysts to gain the upper hand by decoding messages, while also compelling the development of innovative methods to protect sensitive data against eavesdropping. Radio direction finding became a critical tool for all sides in locating the transmitters of spies and partisans, but also intensified the perils of covert communications.

The worldwide consequences that arose from espionage activities throughout the Second World War.

The enduring consequences of communist penetration within the intelligence network of Western nations.

This section of the conversation explores a controversial and crucial subject, examining the penetration of Soviet adherents into the espionage frameworks of both the United Kingdom and the United States, alongside their infiltration into governmental and business institutions. Hastings explores the intricacies and consequences of deception, highlighting its profound impact on the formulation of plans and tactics, and emphasizes its lasting effect on postwar developments.

Individuals committed acts of treachery driven by a personal alignment with Soviet Communist ideology and the pursuit of personal gains.

Hastings delves into the complex array of motivations that led British and American traitors to commit acts of espionage on behalf of Moscow. Many were propelled by a profound conviction in communist ideologies, although some acted out of self-interest, betraying their country's confidential information to further their own goals.

Hastings notes that during the pre-war and wartime era, a considerable group of intellectuals from the Anglo-American domain gravitated towards communism, driven by their contempt for the inherent shortcomings of capitalist systems and their despair regarding the rise of fascism, which seemed to be most robustly countered by the international efforts of the Soviet Union in Europe. Many informants mistakenly believed they were aiding an international movement through their work with the Comintern, not realizing that their actions might be undermining the interests of their own country. The initiation of 'Barbarossa' compelled Britain, America, and Russia to form an alliance against Hitler, and within this framework, the spies considered their deception to be a vital component in the clandestine struggle against fascism. Stalin, on the other hand, consistently viewed the West as an enduring adversary and welcomed the assistance from his British and American counterparts, whose subsequent treachery highlighted his nation's stance during the ideological and military clashes of the Cold War.

The scale of deception, underscored by the notorious Cambridge Five and key informants within the United States.

Hastings emphasizes the sheer scale and penetration of the subterfuge, reaching the uppermost levels of government power and involving a substantial group of people, whom he dubs the "Berkeley and Washington five hundred." He focuses on two principal groups active in espionage: the British Cambridge Five, which included individuals such as Kim Philby and John Cairncross, as well as prominent American personalities like Alger Hiss, Harry Dexter White, and Laurence Duggan, who occupied key roles in essential government agencies including the State Department, the US Treasury, and the Office of Strategic Services.

Hastings argues that the damage inflicted was greatly intensified by two interlinked elements associated with these intelligence operatives. In democratic societies, a profound respect for liberty typically resulted in a predisposition to trust, which caused intelligence agencies to be reluctant to question the allegiance of individuals with prestigious social and academic pedigrees, even when there was undeniable proof of their connections to leftist groups. The FBI played a crucial role in severely hindering Soviet attempts at infiltration, unlike British intelligence. The network of spies established by the NKVD extended beyond merely a handful of significant agents; it encompassed a diverse group of people from governmental agencies, educational entities, workers' collectives, and business organizations, all motivated by the desire to advance the worldwide socialist cause.

The impact on the choices made by Soviet leaders was significant, particularly in providing them with a more comprehensive insight into the strategies of the Allies and solidifying Stalin's position after the conflict.

The most serious consequence of the British and American failure to fully recognize the Soviet threat allowed the Kremlin to engage in key strategic discussions, especially during the wartime summits in Tehran and Yalta, with full knowledge of the Western allies' strategic plans and negotiating positions. Hastings argues that while this approach may not have greatly influenced Allied wartime efforts, it certainly strengthened Stalin's stance in the territorial negotiations and political maneuvering following the war.

Stalin was privy to information that revealed the definitive position of the Allies, encompassing the timeline for establishing a Second Front in Europe and the eventual status of the Eastern European nations within his sphere of control. The UK and the US consistently faced obstacles in creating strategic assessments due to uncertainties about the extent of Moscow's knowledge of their confidential information. Churchill frequently anticipated how Stalin would respond to unwelcome updates, especially regarding the delay in escalating the Allied assault across the Channel, unaware that the Soviet leader's surprise was feigned, followed by an outburst of boisterous and confrontational conduct.

The lasting influence of intelligence activities on security arrangements after the war.

The book's final section explores the long-term consequences of covert operations, highlighting the development of organizational structures and agencies, the balance between individual freedoms and security, and the ongoing influence of these secret engagements on today's international relations.

Intelligence bodies evolved, transitioning from the Special Operations Executive and the Office of Strategic Services to entities such as the British Secret Intelligence Service, America's Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency.

Following the conflict, Hastings elaborates on how thorough assessments of intelligence operations led to the disbandment of both the British Special Operations Executive and the American Office of Strategic Services. Despite the significant accomplishments of Donovan and Colin Gubbins, the military leaders were eager to shift the supervision of intelligence activities to traditional military and governmental bodies.

The wartime intelligence recruits, potentially more skilled and viewing the SOE as a significantly better organization, were often disregarded. In both the UK and the US, the established authorities maintained their influence, now placing more emphasis on the ongoing collaboration between civilian experts and defense establishments. Stewart Menzies continued to lead the British Secret Intelligence Service until 1952, his tenure extended due to his oversight of Bletchley Park, and the disruption of the 'Red Orchestra' and the 'Lucy' Ring during the war significantly hindered Soviet intelligence operations in the West. Reinhard Gehlen skillfully transitioned his intelligence operations from the wartime period into a new framework designed to counter Moscow, and unexpectedly established a substantial alliance with the United States that became a key factor in the Cold War competition. The establishment of GCHQ and the NSA was driven by the confidence of authorities from the UK and the US in the gathering of electronic intelligence, a confidence that originated from the successes of Room 40 in World War I and solidified through the achievements of Bletchley Park.

Insights on the balance between centralization and dispersal, the importance of choosing the right individuals, and the essential part that trust plays in a society that cherishes liberty.

Hastings argues that World War II was a crucial period for reassessing whether to consolidate intelligence activities or to spread them out among various agencies. Max Hastings assesses the pros and cons of relying exclusively on skilled professionals versus the inclusion of civilians throughout the conflict. The story of how the United States and Britain struggled to balance trust in their open societies with the protection of classified information highlights the difficulties created by the existence of individuals sympathetic to communism.

While recognizing the dangers inherent in competition between agencies, duplicated work, and conflicting goals, Hastings highlights the advantages seen in the strained relations between British intelligence and special operations entities due to the distribution of authority and resources. The war efforts in Britain could have been compromised if espionage and codebreaking had been solely under the jurisdiction of MI6, due to potential deficiencies at Broadway.

Hastings argues that the successful enlistment and expert orchestration of knowledgeable civilian experts, with their natural aptitude and intense desire to unravel intricate enigmas, were crucial to the significant intelligence successes, including codebreaking, achieved by the British and Americans. The intelligence agencies of Germany and Russia were primarily composed of conventional military personnel who lacked the essential combination of skills, inventiveness, and a tendency to challenge existing norms. The intelligence services of the United Kingdom gained an advantage by employing uniformed officers at Bletchley Park, focusing on providing critical intelligence and support to commanders involved in ongoing military operations.

Finally, Hastings acknowledges the profound impact on international relations due to the widespread leakage of top-secret data to the Soviet Union by betrayers within the US and UK, which fortified Stalin's stance post-war and fostered enduring suspicion between the intelligence entities of the UK and US. The well-being of democratic societies is bolstered when they opt to place trust in their citizens instead of embracing a dictatorial attitude characterized by deep-seated suspicion. Western nations, committed to upholding liberty, view it as a legitimate obligation to oppose the covert operations and intelligence gathering efforts of their foes, a role they have embraced historically and persist in today.

The lasting significance of covert activities in today's world is underscored by the role of cyber warfare and counterterrorism strategies.

In his concluding observations, Hastings asserts that the data procured from clandestine activities during wartime remains significant and relevant in modern contexts. In the view of Max Hastings, the evolving nature of warfare and national loyalty underscores the growing importance of intelligence gathering, codebreaking, electronic surveillance, and covert operations, even as the roles of traditional military forces like infantry, naval fleets, and air wings may diminish.

Hastings argues that the modern arena of cyber-warfare represents the newest form of warfare, which was once characterized by the rivalry involving Bletchley Park and the intelligence entities of Germany. Max Hastings emphasizes the persistent, though frequently unseen, competition between GCHQ, the NSA, and their counterparts in nations such as Russia and China, portraying a contemporary form of covert warfare that takes place within the realms of electronic signals and digital networks rather than on conventional battlefields, yet holds equal importance in determining the fate of nations and the global balance of power. He also emphasizes that Western nations currently face a unique threat from terrorist organizations that, despite lacking advanced technology, employ methods and strategies that evoke the approaches once characteristic of the intelligence apparatus of the Soviet Union and the espionage operations under Hitler. Max Hastings' analysis of espionage successes and failures during World War II not only provides a fascinating topic for historical study but also imparts essential insights for current and future leaders engaged in secret operations.