Summer Reading Assignment for History of Espionage

Fall Semester, 2016

Elizabeth Anderson

Assignment:

All students entering History of Espionage in Fall, 2016 must read Ben Macintyre,
Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and
Assured an Allied Victory.

ISBN-13: 978-0307453280

Upon completion of the novel, students must write answers to all the following
questions to be submitted the first day of class.

1. What could explain the fact that German intelligence fell for a feint like Operation
Mincemeat to the point where Hitler deployed troops to Greece rather than Sicily?

2. The characters who worked on the plot were a strange eccentric group of people, many
with blistering egos. What do you think made them cohere as a group and successfully
pull off this multi-faceted escapade?

3. Discuss the brilliant planning—and fine-tuning— that went into the success of the
operation. What impressed you most...or surprised you most?

4. How did luck play a role in the operation's success?

5. What does Macintyre mean when he says that the overall scheme was a "double
bluff"?

6. What does this book reveal about the spy-world during war—the role that
"intelligence" played back then and might still play today? How would you prioritize
what is more important in determining the outcome of war - intelligence, leadership, or
battle?

7. What comparisons can you make between World War II espionage and current day
intelligence activities?

1
Specific Details:

All questions must be answered in paragraphs, typed and double-spaced. Font must be
Times New Roman, size 12. Margins must be 1 inch on all sides. On the first page,
please type your name, the course, the due date and your section on the top left of the
page. Be sure to have page numbers.

Please proofread your work – and ask someone else to proofread it as well. In all written
work, you need to use proper grammar and punctuation. No contractions should be used.

Due Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2016.

NO late papers will be accepted and no excuses will be entertained. You have all
summer…get to work. NOW!

Have this assignment typed and ready to hand in at the beginning of class.

Please note - This book will also be incorporated into class discussion over time.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at Elizabeth.Anderson@ssfs.org

Enjoy your summer!

Elizabeth