Secret armies

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22682

Title

Secret armies

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

John L. Spivak exposes the extensive network of Nazi spies, propagandists, and saboteurs operating within the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Drawing on original documents and firsthand accounts, this 1939 exposé reveals how the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis infiltrated American institutions to secure raw materials and military secrets, challenging the era's false sense of security against foreign domination.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1939, John L. Spivak's *Secret Armies* serves as an urgent exposé detailing the infiltration of the United States and the Western Hemisphere by Nazi agents and their allies. Spivak, a journalist known for his detective-like instincts, argues that the United States was not merely a passive observer of global fascism but a primary target for a Berlin-directed conspiracy. The book documents the activities of the 'Fifth Column,' a shadowy network of spies, propagandists, and saboteurs operating across the Americas. Spivak reveals how organizations such as the 'Friends of Germany' and the 'Order of '76,' led by figures like Colonel Edwin Emerson and Sidney Brooks, disseminated anti-democratic propaganda. Emerson, a soldier of fortune with a history of imprisonment in Cuba, utilized a room paid for by the German Consulate General to launch these groups. The text provides specific evidence of coordinated operations, including Nazi activities in the Panama Canal Zone involving Japanese and German cooperation, attempts to overthrow the Mexican government to control vital oil supplies, and the establishment of fascist cells within American universities. Spivak argues that these agents were strategically positioning themselves to sabotage American defenses and supply lines during an inevitable future war. The narrative relies on original letters, Gestapo records, and interviews to substantiate claims of a vast conspiracy. Spivak details how propaganda was often smuggled onto German ships to avoid federal offenses regarding unstamped mail, and how agents like Guenther Orgell facilitated the transfer of secret instructions. He highlights the collaboration between German, Italian, and Japanese powers, noting that while Germany focused on political pressure and espionage, Japan and Italy sought to secure raw materials and strategic footholds in Latin America. Spivak concludes that the United States must vigilantly root out these infiltrations to protect its democracy and security. He warns that economic and military necessity drove the Axis powers to secure a foothold in the Americas before the coming global conflict. By exposing the methods used to manipulate public opinion and organize underground armies, Spivak urges the American people and government to recognize the gravity of the situation and take decisive action against foreign-directed activities that threatened the nation's sovereignty.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Politics