Agent Garbo; The Brilliant,
Eccentric Secret Agent Who Tricked Hitler and Saved D-Day
By Stephan Talty
Date
Review Posted: January 8, 2014
Authors: Stephan Talty
Release
Date: 2012
CCCCC (A
case could be made that I would only review the best of the best because if
while reading a book it does not hold my interest, I would not finish it and
therefore would not review it.)
Format:
Fact Based Depiction of events leading up to and including D-Day, WWII
Reason
For Reading THIS book: I watched a one-hour program on The Military
Channel that described the real-life exploits of Juan Pujol, a Spaniard, who
became a Double Agent working for the British/Allied Forces. The show fascinated me, so much so, I
immediately searched the Internet for any books on the subject, immediately
ordered it and read it in one sitting which is something that I rarely do.
Number
Of Times I Have Read This Book: Only once and in this case once is probably
enough, I can relate the entire story (with the possible exception of some of
the names of the various players, especially on the German side). A second reading it not, however, out of the
question.
Brief
Summary of Content: WOW is the best description I could give; I
had no idea! I have read hundreds of
books but none better than this one. I
was aware that there were aspects of the Normandy Invasion that left a lot of
questions unanswered, at least to me.
This book explains a great many of them and where before reading the
book I assumed there was a lot of luck involved in the invasion, I no longer
believe it was luck at all but rather a very imaginative plan set in place by
one man, a Spaniard Juan Pujol as he was known.
Growing up in a time when Spain
was having wars of its own, he found himself torn between the various factions
to where he was unsure what path to take.
His time in Spain was like a fiction novel in itself in that is hard to
imagine or believe but what followed next goes even beyond that disbelief. He declared a personal war on Adolph Hitler
and became a double agent working with the British and allied forces. After reading the book, I am convince that he
almost single-handedly created deceptions and doubts within the mind of Hitler
himself and his generals that ultimately led to the successful Normandy
Invasion. This is a book that really
should be read by every freedom loving individual because that freedom in great
part is due to the efforts of one man, that of Agent Garbo as Pujol became
known as. It is only a matter of time
before this becomes a movie; I can only hope the directors do the book
justice. It is unquestionably the best
book I have ever read.
In addition to telling a most
remarkable story, it goes into great detail about how the minds of those in
charge on both sides of the war thought and acted. It provided me with a window to see how the
war was carried out and how the various players thought. It pointed out how every little detail had to
be thought out to avoid disaster and it was.
The war may have turned out quite differently had it not been for Agent
Garbo.
One result of the reading of this
book for was that it eliminated some of the beliefs taught that Hitler was an
idiot and that the successful invasion at Normandy was more lucky than planned. As it turned out, Hitler reacted to what he
thought was a diversionary invasion force at Normandy and subsequently withheld
his tanks in reserve to respond to what he believed (because of Agent Garbo) to
be a primary invasion elsewhere.
Reading the last Chapter brought
tears to my eyes. If anyone ever
deserved America's Medal of Freedom it is Juan Pujol.
Who
Should Read the Book? Everyone
who loves Freedom so that would make it everyone. Our freedoms in 2013 are a direct result of
this one man's actions when the world was at war.
Final
Test: Would I read the book again? As stated, probably. Would
I give it as a gift? ABSOLUTELY!
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