As part of the infamous Double Cross operation, Jewish double agent
Renato Levi proved to be one of the Allies' most devastating weapons in
World War Two.
In 1941, with the help of Ml6, Levi built an extensive spy ring in North
Africa and the Middle East. But, most remarkably, it was entirely
fictitious. This network of imagined informants peddled dangerously
false misinformation to Levi's unwitting German handlers. His efforts
would distort any enemy estimates of Allied battle plans for the
remainder of the war.
His communications were infused with just enough truth to be palatable,
and just enough imagination to make them irresistible. In a vacuum of
seemingly trustworthy sources, Levi's enemies not only believed in the
CHEESE network, as it was codenamed, but they came to depend upon it.
And, by the war's conclusion, he could boast of having helped the Allies
thwart Erwin Rommel in North Africa, as well as diverting whole armies
from the D-Day landing sites. He wielded great influence and, as a
double agent, he was unrivaled.
Until now, Levi's deceptions and feats of derring-do have remained
completely hidden. Using recently declassified files, Double Cross in
Cairo uncovers the heroic exploits of one of the Second World War's
most closely guarded secrets.
The Dialogue Espionage Classics series began in 2010 with the purpose of
bringing back classic out-of-print spy stories that should never be
forgotten. This fascinating spy history series includes some of the best
military, espionage and adventure stories ever told.
Nigel West is a military historian specializing in security and
intelligence topics. He sits on the editorial board of the
International Journal of Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence and
Global War Studies and, for the past three years, he has chaired the
panel of judges for the annual St. Ermin's Intelligence Book of the Year
award.
