Secret Alliances

In this extraordinary book, historian Tony Insall reveals how some of the most striking achievements of the Norwegian resistance were the detailed reports produced by intelligence agents living in the dangerous conditions of the country's desolate wilderness.

Secret Alliances provides remarkable insights into the uniquely close political relationship that afforded powerful assistance for a successful resistance movement. Using previously unpublished archival material from London, Oslo and Moscow, Insall explores how SIS and SOE developed productive links with their Norwegian counterparts and examines the crucial intelligence from the Security Service and Bletchley Park codebreakers who supported their sabotage operations.

Offering dramatic details on operations such as GUNNERSIDE which targeted the heavy water plant in Vemork in order to foil the Nazis' plans to build an atomic bomb and the sinking of the Tirpitz in November 1944, Secret Alliances is an authoritative new perspective on some of the most remarkable exploits of the Second World War.

'A beautifully detailed account that brings to life the extraordinary story of the Norwegian resistance. So many played their part kings, prime ministers, traitors like Kim Philby but mostly this is a tale of bloody-minded determination on the part of unsung heroes.' - Michael Dobbs

'A fascinating account of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation in the heroic struggle against German occupation.' - Andy McNab

'A fascinating and novel insight...Among a number of important new sources, Tony Insall has discovered in Oslo top-secret SIS files which are unavailable in Britain.' - Professor Christopher Andrew

'Shines a light on a fascinating but little-known part of the war.' - Gordon Corera

'An authoritative perspective on some of the most remarkable operations of the Second World War.' - Military History Monthly