Audiobook9 hours
Spies in the Congo: America's Atomic Mission in World War II
Written by Susan Williams
Narrated by Justine Eyre
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
The Shinkolobwe Mine in the Belgian Congo was described by a 1943 Manhattan Project intelligence report as the "most important deposit of uranium yet discovered in the world." So long as the U.S. remained in control of this mine and its supply, it had a world monopoly on the primary material needed to build an atomic bomb. The uranium from this mine was used to build the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Given the possibility that the Germans were also working on an atomic bomb, it was a priority for the U.S. to prevent Congo's uranium from being smuggled to Germany. This task was given to the newly created Office of Strategic Services, later known as the CIA.
Although much has been written about ALSOS, the secret intelligence mission created to investigate the German atomic project, so far nothing has been written about the intelligence mission at the source of uranium-the Belgian Congo. Spies in the Congo is based on a mass of newly released (and formerly top secret) archive material in the U.S., the U.K., and Belgium; personal testimonies; and a range of audio visual materials, including a set of eight mm films taken by the lead spy.
Although much has been written about ALSOS, the secret intelligence mission created to investigate the German atomic project, so far nothing has been written about the intelligence mission at the source of uranium-the Belgian Congo. Spies in the Congo is based on a mass of newly released (and formerly top secret) archive material in the U.S., the U.K., and Belgium; personal testimonies; and a range of audio visual materials, including a set of eight mm films taken by the lead spy.
Author
Susan Williams
Hi, I live in Dorset, England and I was a Teaching Assistant. Due to Covid 19 I have decided to retire. Not sure what the future holds with regards to work, but for now, I'm concentrating on my writing and other hobbies. I am married and have two wonderful sons. I enjoy, reading, writing, playing darts, crafts, exploring coffee shops and mooching .
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Reviews for Spies in the Congo
Rating: 3.5909090181818186 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
11 ratings1 review
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This was an interesting look at an arena of WWII that I suspect few people know about. The author not only describes the events during WWII but also gives a thought-provoking look at the Congo and its history, both before and after the war. Not an exciting adventure with a lot of gun fights and such, but still interesting.