Captured WW2 German General Hermann Ramcke arrived in Britain with a stash of brandy... and refused to talk. So the British gave him a fake Iron Cross, plied him with drink, and let the hidden microphones roll. What he revealed next was pure gold for Allied Intelligence: (🧵)

For years I’ve been captivated by the hidden stories of wartime 'Women in Intelligence'. In my book on them, I reveal their vital roles and remarkable courage (many for the very first time) showing how they helped shape both world wars.

During WW2, British intelligence secretly hid listening devices in this very tree at Trent Park, North London. German generals and POWs casually revealed Hitler’s plans and war crimes while walking beneath it... all recorded for Allied intelligence!

The paperback edition of 'The White Lady' will be published on 22 September 2026. The extraordinary true story of Belgium’s greatest wartime contributions across both world wars - a unique topic! Pre-order your copy now: amzn.to/4uLD0qr (Hardbacks are already out)

At 18, he fled Nazi Germany, was wrongly interned as an “enemy alien” in Britain, yet went on to shape our understanding of World War Two and the Holocaust through his powerful artwork. This is the only photo I have of Hans Jackson, on his wedding day in 1945:

In 1943, Anton Walter Freud (grandson of Sigmund Freud) was headhunted by the SOE while serving in the British Pioneer Corps. In April 1945 he was parachuted into Austria on a daring mission: to gauge local support for the Allies and sabotage railways and communications.

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Elisabeth Abegg, a brave German teacher who openly opposed the Nazis, saved over 80 Jews by hiding them in her Berlin apartment throughout the war. Honoured as Righteous Among the Nations in 1967:

Is it possible that an 18th century math formula could help win wars, catch spies, and make better wartime decisions? Sir David Omand GCB (former GCHQ Director) joins me to reveal how Bayes' Theorem has powered military intelligence: (Video credits to @mi_intel)

During the Second World War, Latimer House in the Chess Valley was one of Britain's most secret intelligence sites. Captured German U-boat crews, Luftwaffe pilots and officers were brought here, where their conversations were secretly recorded and analysed to gather vital intelligence for the Allied war effort. As a historian who has researched the site extensively, I’ve uncovered how several women played crucial roles in these operations. One was Naval intelligence officer Evelyn Barron, who worked as an interrogator – a remarkable position when interrogation was seen as a male domain. Their contributions yielded key wartime intelligence, yet the stories of these pioneering women remain surprisingly little known today. I was honoured to film this short clip for Country Life Magazine - all video credits go to them.

‘Secret Listener’ Paul Douglas photographed revisiting his wartime workplace, Latimer House, more than 70 years later. How did he feel about intercepting the conversations of his former countrymen during WW2? He said: ‘I never felt I was betraying Germany. Germany betrayed me.’

Colin Anson (born Claus Ascher) lost his father to Dachau, escaped on the Kindertransport, and became a fearless British Commando in the elite X Troop. His extraordinary wartime journey is told in full in my biography: amzn.to/3WWPMEi

British Spymaster Thomas Kendrick was ready for the outbreak of the Second World War... Or was he? The truth about his preparedness is far more complex than you might think. Discover the full story in my book 'The Walls Have Ears': amzn.to/3LYattn

Giorgio Perlasca, an Italian who once fought for Franco, renounced Fascism and became a hero of the Holocaust. In 1944 Budapest, he posed as a Spanish diplomat and single-handedly saved over 5,000 Hungarian Jews by issuing false passports and providing shelter.

Looking forward to a weekend of wartime history at The Victory Show 2026! Sept 5 on The Walls Have Ears. Sept 6 with Crispin Thomas on Women in Intelligence. I hope to see you there! bit.ly/4w9cMzt

At just 16, Elsie Maréchal became an Allied secret agent and helped rescue hundreds of downed airmen. Betrayed and arrested, she endured brutal Gestapo beatings in a Brussels prison, yet never broke or betrayed her network. She and her mother survived three years in Ravensbrück. We remember her courage:

Identity card of a heroic female agent from the White Lady network, operating behind enemy lines in occupied Belgium. Who was she? Her extraordinary courage is revealed and told in great detail in my book 'The White Lady': amzn.to/3GWutgo

Colin Anson fought in the elite unit X Troop Commando. His wife Alice waged her own secret war in the WAAF, meticulously analysing V-weapon sites from photographic reconnaissance. They were remarkable, and I was honoured to know them both.

Looking forward to this online event with @robinlustig. Join us: nyadventureclub.com/event/19…