MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service

by Stephen Dorril

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The first comprehensive history of the UK government overseas intelligence service, MI6, by an acknowledged expert and author of the highly acclaimed Smear! Epitomised in the public imagination by James Bond, MI6's svelte and glamorous image has been peeled away by Dorril's searching investigations to reveal a less savoury truth. Here is the story of MI6's recruitment operation after WW2 of former Nazis; anticommunist guerrilla campaigns in the Ukraine and the Baltic States; Operation Stalin which led to mass arrests and executions ordered by Stalin; the European terrorist network 'Gladio'; tunnels built in Vienna and Berlin known as operation 'Gold and Silver' ;and many other little-known operations. The dealings of George Blake, Oleg Penkowsky, Kim Philby and Maurice Oldfield, among others, are also fully explained, as are the many tensions that have existed and to some extent still exist between MI6 and its sister intelligence organisations especially in contentious territories such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future. such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future.such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future.such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future.… (more)

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This is the first operational history of M16, the first look at the organization in action. With a level of detail unparalleled in the annals of British intelligence, Dorril chronicles the fascinating history from 1949 to the current day. Replete with tales of its most spectacular failures, stirring successes, unsavory plots and bizarre missions, the real-life cloak-and-dagger world is exposed. From the grisly truth about Operation Stalin, which exploited the Russian dictator's paranoia and led to the execution of thousands, to the tunnel M16 dug beneath the Berlin wall to the recruitment methods, training programs and space-age gadgetry of the modern spy, this definitive history has it all.

Cultural_Attache | Jul 28, 2018 |

I found this a very interesting book for a number of reasons; firstly that I was in some of the areas of operation that are discussed, particularly in the late 1950s and 1960s, and it was an eye-opener to see what was been done in our name behind the scenes at the time, before and after, including arranging , or attempting to, regime change. Secondly it gives an insight into the mindset and reasoning of the people playing this game and who they are, e.g. the number of people with nicknames or who are " the honourable" - a flavour of public school high jinks among the natives at the end of empire. Unlike the other reviewers though I probably got more out of it by my experience and by dipping in and out, moving from one operation to another. (

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Dunkelbaum | Jun 11, 2017 |

I'm afraid that I have to agree with the opinion that this book is difficult to read. I have no quibble with the writing style, simply the level of detail included about events which most readers will consider of little interest, for example, the exact details of the agenda and individuals present at a whole series of JIC meetings in the 40s. Twice I have had to put it back on the self out of sheer boredom - it won't be attempted a third time.
As an academic study, I am sure that it is unrivalled but I cannot recommend it to anyone simply interested in the general area.

Note to the author or his editor - cut this book by approx. 60% and you will have yourself a bestseller, especially in the current climate of 'dodgy dossiers' etc. (

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cwhouston | Nov 20, 2010 |

I found this book difficult to read, and gave up in the end. It is very detailed, and is probably an excellent academic reference, but I found it a bit too dry. (

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Pondlife | Jul 28, 2010 |

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MI6: Fifty Years of Special Operations

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The first comprehensive history of the UK government overseas intelligence service, MI6, by an acknowledged expert and author of the highly acclaimed Smear! Epitomised in the public imagination by James Bond, MI6's svelte and glamorous image has been peeled away by Dorril's searching investigations to reveal a less savoury truth. Here is the story of MI6's recruitment operation after WW2 of former Nazis; anticommunist guerrilla campaigns in the Ukraine and the Baltic States; Operation Stalin which led to mass arrests and executions ordered by Stalin; the European terrorist network 'Gladio'; tunnels built in Vienna and Berlin known as operation 'Gold and Silver' ;and many other little-known operations. The dealings of George Blake, Oleg Penkowsky, Kim Philby and Maurice Oldfield, among others, are also fully explained, as are the many tensions that have existed and to some extent still exist between MI6 and its sister intelligence organisations especially in contentious territories such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future. such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future.such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future.such as Ireland. Post Cold War, Dorril discusses what role, if any, MI6 will have in the future.

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