From the premise that gathering information is ‘part of mankind’s basic survival instinct’, John Hughes-Wilson surveys the way in which spying has shaped history. Through topics including the network maintained by the Catholic Church in medieval Europe, George Washington’s prioritizing of military intelligence and subterfuge in 20th-century conflicts, he demonstrates the value of knowledge, concluding with notes on the impact of modern communication.
For sixty years, speculation about the assassination of John F Kennedy has been rife. Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone, or was he part of a wider conspiracy? John Hughes-Wilson, a former British intelligence officer, has painstakingly sifted the evidence from official inquiries, court cases and personal testimonies to determine who had the motive, the means and the opportunity to kill the President, and draws startling conclusions.
Leading military historian, John Hughes-Wilson exposes just how close we have come to genuine nuclear disaster, military and civilian, on many occasions.
Exploring the evolution of espionage from ancient Greece and Rome through the Elizabethan era to the modern digital age, Colonel John Hughes-Wilson provides a comprehensive analysis of intelligence's role in history. Drawing on diverse sources, he examines undercover operations, reconnaissance, and the complexities of contemporary cyber intelligence. The book critically addresses why vital information is frequently overlooked or manipulated by those in power, offering a thought-provoking perspective on the significance of intelligence in shaping events.
In mid summer 1918 a top secret mission, which has remained classified information for a century, was set in motion to kill Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was felt that by killing their head of state and commander in chief it would serve as a mortal blow to the German forces and they would collapse very quickly after the assassination. The facts are borne out in never-before-published notebooks, maps and pilots' flying records, kept secret for a hundred years. The implications of this secret attack raise many new -- and explosive -- questions. Exactly who ordered an attack to kill the Kaiser? Was it sanctioned by the C-in-C, Sir Douglas Haig? By the War Office? Was the King informed of the attempt to kill his royal cousin? Was Lloyd George, the Prime Minister asked? We do not know; but someone in London must have sanctioned the attack. The Official History makes no mention of any attack, and public records say nothing. John Hughes-Wilson has woven an exciting and well-paced historical novel to mark this centennial event from the research on discovering this mission. The story, based on true events, looks at this long hidden secret and puts it into the context of the time. It explores areas rarely examined: secret service operations in 1914-18; dirty, undercover intelligence work; the very real political intrigues between Whitehall and the generals and the heroics of the aircrew of the day, whose life expectancy at one point in 1917 was only eleven days in action
The Battle of Hamel is arguably, the most important battle of the First World War yet it is stillrelatively unknown. It was turning point of the Great War and saw American troops fightingalongside Australian troops in their first taste of war on foreign soil, making the reputation of theman who led the troops, General Monash of the Australian Army. In the summer of 1918 the war was in the balance but the battle plan was beautifully conceivedand executed, and without the Allies' victory, Amiens would not have been possible. It is special for three reasons, firstly it lasted only ninety minutes with very few casualties.Secondly it was the battle that set up the troops for Amiens after which the Germans were rolledback to Berlin. Finally and most importantly it is the first time American troops fought onforeign soil and really entered international politics. Formerly on the course at Sandhurst it has now been replaced by more modern examples butHamel is still the perfect battle a century on, superbly prepared. When most battles are fought theoriginal plans go out of the window, not so with Hamel.
"From the ancient Greek and Roman origins of human intelligence to its use in the Catholic church to Francis Walsingham's Elizabethan secret service to the birth of the surveillance state in today's digital hi-tech age, Colonel John Hughes-Wilson, professional military-intelligence officer and author of the bestselling Military Intelligence Blunders and Cover-Ups, gives an extraordinarily broad and wide-reaching perspective on intelligence, providing an up-to-date analysis of the importance of intelligence historically and in the recent past. Drawing upon a variety of sources, ranging from first-hand accounts to his own personal experience, Hughes-Wilson covers everything from undercover agent handling to photographic reconnaissance to today's much misunderstood cyber welfare. This book stands apart from the rest in that it tells the real inside story from a controversial insider's point of view, lifting the veil on what really happened behind the scenes in the intelligence world during some of the most well-known military events that have shaped our lives. On Intelligence is looking for hard answers - there are some tough lessons to be learned from both intelligence failures and successes - why is crucial intelligence so often ignored, misunderstood or spun by politicians and seasoned generals alike? One of the leading military experts of our time, Colonel John Hughes-Wilson skilfully weaves together an accessible and readable narrative on intelligence, accompanied by his unrivaled professional insight."--Publisher's website
A History of the First World War in 100 Objects, now reissued in paperback, narrates the causes, progress and outcome of the First World War by telling the stories behind 100 items of material evidence of that cataclysmic and shattering conflict. From weapons that created carnage to affectionate letters home and from unexpected items of trench decoration to the paintings of official war artists, the objects are as extraordinary in their diversity and story-telling power as they are devastating in their poignancy. Each object is depicted on a full page and is the subject of a short chapter that 'fans out' from the item itself to describe the context, the people and the events associated with it. Distinctive and original, A History of the First World War in 100 Objects is a unique commemoration of 'the war to end all wars'.
Reading this book by former intelligence officer Colonel John Hughes-Wilson, no one can be in any doubt that JFK's death was not at the hands of a lone deranged gunman, but a deadly plot to remove a President who threatened vested interests at home and abroad. číst celé
A terrifying East-West confrontation - but what historical significance?