Ultra Hush-hush: Espionage and Special Missions (Outwitting the Enemy: Stories from World War II) - Softcover

Shapiro, Stephen; Forrester, Tina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1550377787 ISBN 13: 9781550377781

Publisher: Annick Press, 2003

Synopsis

Spies, special missions, and codes and ciphers! Stories of ingenuity and intrigue from World War II.

Enjoy spellbinding World War II stories about people who demonstrated great resourcefulness under pressure and came up with amazing solutions to seemingly impossible problems.

For example, a British unit specializing in creating illusions fooled German reconnaissance pilots into thinking bombers had blown up a major British munitions factory. How? By painting a gigantic canvas the size of the factory roof to look as if the roof had gaping holes in it with massive destruction inside!

Military messages must be disguised by codes and ciphers. One of the most successful and enduring codes of all time was based on a rare language spoken only by the Navajo. This code was instrumental in the American defeat of the Japanese at several key battles. In fact, the code was so difficult to break that the U.S. military kept it top secret until it was replaced by computer codes in 1968.

Key Features

Presents 19 fascinating stories from World War II in an engaging, accessible format
Introduction and sidebars provide lively background information about World War II
Includes over 80 color maps and illustrations, and archival photographs

About this title

About the Author:

Stephen Shapiro is the recipient of the Canadian War Museum History Award for his essay The Battle for Queenston Heights: A Critical Point for Canada.

Tina Forrester is a researcher and writer on a broad spectrum of subjects. Her previous works include The Millennium Time Capsule Book.

David Craig's previous works include the dramatic illustrations in the children's book Attack on Pearl Harbor and First to Fly: How Wilbur and Orville Wright Invented the Airplane.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-8-This first installment in this series presents 19 examples of espionage that occurred during World War II. Well-known stories such as the Navajo Code Talkers and the Desert Fox are related, along with less familiar tales. For example, the authors describe the daring rescue of Benito Mussolini from imprisonment in a secluded ski resort in Italy by an SS officer named "Scarface" Skorzeny. They also detail the actions of the Brandenburg Regiment, elite German soldiers who used their knowledge of foreign languages and customs to blend into the enemy's troops. Readers will be intrigued by these tales of spies, saboteurs, and double-crossings. Full-color illustrations and black-and-white photographs add interest to the text, and the liberal use of sidebars and maps will help students understand the lengths both sides went to win the war. Terms are defined as they are used, either in boxed entries or in the glossary. An introductory time line and a map of the world at war serve as reference points for the events discussed throughout the pages. Even the most reluctant readers will find something of interest within this world of secrets.
Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI
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About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1550377787
• ISBN 13: 9781550377781
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Craig David