Book- Britain's Secret Defences: Civilian Saboteurs, Spies and Assassins During the Second World War- Hardcover

The narrative surrounding Britain’s anti-invasion forces has often centered on ‘Dad’s Army’-like characters running around with pitchforks, on unpreparedness and sense of inevitability of invasion and defeat.

The truth, however, is very different.

Top-secret, highly trained and ruthless civilian volunteers were being recruited as early as the summer of 1940.

Had the Germans attempted an invasion they would have been countered by saboteurs and guerrilla fighters emerging from secret bunkers, and monitored by swathes of spies and observers who would have passed details on via runners, wireless operators and ATS women in disguised bunkers.

Alongside these secret forces, the Home Guard were also setting up their own ‘guerrilla groups’, and SIS (MI6) were setting up

post-occupation groups of civilians – including teenagers – to act as sabotage cells, wireless operators, and assassins had the Nazis taken control of the country.

The civilians involved in these groups understood the need for absolute secrecy and their commitment to keeping quiet meant that most went to their grave without ever telling anyone of their role, not even their closest family members.

There has been no official and little public recognition of what these dedicated men and women were willing to do for their country in its hour of need, and after over 80 years of silence the time has come to highlight their remarkable role.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One - Formation

Chapter Two - Role, ruthlessness and training

Chapter Three - Bunkers, equipment, explosives and weapons

Chapter Four - Changing role and stand-down

Chapter Five - Special Duties Branch:

Civilian spies and wireless operators

Chapter Six - Signals and ATS

Chapter Seven - Secrecy and change of role

Chapter Eight - 'Unofficial' auxiliary unites and Home Guard guerrillas

Chapter Nine - Post-occupation resistance:

SIS Section VII and industrial saboteurs

Conclusion

256 pages.