Handbook for Spies
Handbook for Spies
by Alexander Foote
British citizen Alexander Foote was recruited into a Soviet network of spies against Nazi Germany. Based in Switzerland, Foote was responsible for maintaining the network and forwarding information to the Centre in Russia. Foote describes how the network operated, including codes and secret transmissions, hiding from Swiss and German authorities, recruiting and funding, and eluding double agents. All the while, Foote watched Soviet Russia, presumably an ally to the free nations, become more and more like the Fascists Foote opposed. Eventually captured by Swiss police, Foote was debriefed in Russia, but managed to escape home to Britain after persuading the Soviets to send him on another mission. This is a fascinating story that illuminates a key part of the secret espionage networks undertaken during World War II.