Canaris : the life and death of Hitler's spymaster

This biography of the Nazi intelligence chief who spied both for and against Hitler examines the life of one of WWII’s most intriguing figures. An early supporter of Adolph Hitler, Wilhelm Canaris became chief of German military intelligence before secretly turning against the Nazi regime at the start of World War II. Throughout his career, few who knew him ever understood his plans. Even today, historians find Wilhelm Canaris a man of mystery among Hitler’s top lieutenants. The great protector of German opposition to Hitler, Canaris was also the one who prepared the Third Reich’s major expansion plans. While he motivated those who were eager to bring down Hitler, he also hunted them as conspirators—one of the many contradictions he was forced to live with in order to stay in control of the Nazi spy network. This superbly researched biography follows Canaris's career from his first dabbling in the intelligence business during World War I through his time as head of the Abwehr to his execution in 1945 for his role in the July Plot. A highly readable account, it tells the story of an apparently old-fashioned naval officer, drawn into the web of the Nazi regime. "Reinhard 'Teddy' Suhren fired more successful torpedo shots than any other man during the war, and fought in waters as far apart as the Indian Ocean and the eastern seaboard of the United States. He was also the U-boat service's most irreverent and rebellious commander, and this combination made him a legend within the U-boat world." "Valued for his good humor and an ability to lead, Suhren was frequently in trouble with higher authority, and his lack of a military bearing was a constant source of friction. Significantly, the German title of his published reminiscences, Nasses Eichenlaub, implied that though he was decorated with the Oak Leaves, he was always in hot water." "Despite his refusal to conform to the rigid thought-patterns of National Socialism, his operational successes protected him, and he found himself accepted in the highest circles of power in Germany, staying as a guest at Martin Bormann's house and, on one occasion, dancing with Eva Braun." "Interest in his career was recently rekindled by the discovery of a cache of photographs documenting one of his operations in U-564, and this new translation brings to an English-language readership a forthright and unconventional memoir, a wartime narrative, and a insider's view of the workings of Hitler's navy."--BOOK JACKET "Michael Mueller's account of the life of Wilhelm Canaris is the first major biography of Hitler's spymaster for more than thirty years, and is an account of espionage and intrigue across the globe and within the German high command." "More than sixty years after the end of the Second World War, Canaris remains the principal mystery man of the Nazi regime. This old-fashioned naval officer who, on the outbreak of the First World War, was intelligence officer on board Dresden in the South Atlantic, was drawn remorselessly into the web of the German secret service until, in 1934, he was appointed to head the Abwehr. He had been an early convert to National Socialism which he saw as a means of restoring Germany's position in the world but disillusionment was to follow, and during the war years, in order to retain his control of the Nazi network, he was forced to balance the contradiction of his position with his beliefs." "Long thought to be politically unreliable by many in the regime, he was implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler in July 1944 and was executed in April 1945, just days before the end of the War." "This biography sheds light on this spectral figure and the shadowy agency he led, whose power and influence was felt across every theatre of the War."--Jacket Contents Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations Foreword PART I OFFICER OF HIS MAJESTY 1 A Naval Cadet from the Ruhr 2 The Epic Last Voyage of the Dresden 3 Agent on a Special Mission 4 U-boat War in the Mediterranean PART II THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE REPUBLIC 5 Servant of Two Masters 6 The Murderers' Helpers' Helper 7 On the Side of the Putschists 8 Agent of the Counter-Revolution 9 Military-Political Secret Missions 10 The Shadow of the Past PART III RISE UNDER THE SWASTIKA 11 Hitler's Military Intelligence Chief 12 The Duel with Heydrich 13 Between Fuhrer, Duce and Caudillo 14 Ousting the Generals 15 A Double Game 16 Between Obedience and Conscience PART IV FINIS GERMANIAE 17 The Will for War 18 The Madness Unfolds 19 The War of Extermination — Act One 20 The Spirit of /Zossen 21 Now There is No Going Back' 22 Operation Felix PART V THE TRIUMPH OF THE BARBARIANS 23 The War of Extermination — Act Two The Struggle for Power with Heydrich 24 The Struggle for Power with Heydrich 25 With His Back to the Wall 26 The Undoing of Canaris PART VI Hitler’s Revenge Notes Sources and Bibliography Published Sources, Editions, Documents Research, Monographs and Essays Back Cover "The U-boat was one of the most potent weapons of the twentieth century, and in this new book Jak Mallmann Showell explains how it was developed and designed and then deployed to wreak havoc in European waters and further afield in the Atlantic and off the American East Coast." "This is not a dry technical book but a work that looks behind the scenes at the men who built the boats and those who fought in them. While the boats themselves are described, a broader picture is painted of life in the U-boat arm. Weapon systems, operational areas, bases, builders and the organization of the fleets are all covered, and as well as dealing with the two world wars, the author covers the modern German Navy and brings the story up to date and includes the third, and latest, generation of U-boats." "This is an overview of 100 years of German submarine development by a leading U-boat writer and, with its fascinating collection of more than 400 photographs, many not published before, is destined to be a core addition to the library of every modern naval historian and enthusiast."--BOOK JACKET

The U-boat was one of the most potent weapons of the twentieth century, and in this book one of the world's leading U-boat historians explains how the German submarine was developed and designed and then deployed to wreak havoc in European waters and further afield in the Atlantic and Far East. This is not a dry technical study but a work that looks behind the scenes at the men who built and fought in them. While the boats themselves are described, Mallmann Showell paints a broader picture of life in the U-boat arm. Weapons systems, operational areas, bases, builders and fleet organization are covered, and as well as dealing with the world wars, the author covers today's German navy and brings the story up to date with a full description of the third, latest generation of U-boats. The text is augmented by some 400 photographs, many never before published. The book's publication coincides with the centenary of the launch of Germany's first U-boat in August 1906. It is an essential addition to the library of every modern naval historian and enthusiast.

"Reinhard 'Teddy' Suhren fired more successful torpedo shots than any other man during the war, many before he even became a U-boat commander - indeed, he was the first junior officer to be awarded the Knight's Cross for his achievements. However, this is not the reason Teddy remains legendary within the U-boat world. Fondly remembered for his good humour and man-management skills, he was also irreverent and rebellious by nature, and frequently in trouble with higher authority - his lack of a military manner was a constant source of friction, and his nickname was acquired because he marched like a teddy-bear."--Publisher description The U-boat was one of the most potent weapons of the 20th century. This book explains how it was developed and designed and then deployed to wreak havoc in European waters and further afield in the Atlantic and the Far East. It looks behind the scenes at the men who built and fought in them. It is for the modern naval historians and enthusiasts.