The Hornet's Sting_ The Amazing Untold Story of World War II Spy Thomas Sneum - Mark Ryan [0]
The Amazing Untold Story of World War II Spy Thomas Sneum
Mark Ryan
Copyright © 2009 by Mark Ryan
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ryan, Mark. Hornet’s sting : the amazing untold story of World War II spy Thomas Sneum / Mark Ryan.
p. cm.
9781602397101
1. Sneum, Thomas, 1917-2007. 2. Spies--Denmark--Biography. 3. World War, 1939-1945--Secret service--Denmark--Biography. 4. World War, 1939-1945--Underground movements--Denkamrk--Biography. 5. Denmark--History--German occupation, 1940-1945. I. Title.
D810.S8S5976 2009
940.53’489092--dc22
[B]
2009006210
Printed in the United States of America
This story is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Sneum, Kjeld Pedersen, Kaj Oxlund, Arne Helvard, Sigfred and Thorbjoern Christophersen, Lorens Arne Duus Hansen, Christian Michael Rottboell, Paul Johannesen, Hasager Christiansen, John Christmas Moeller, Roland Olsen, Niels Richard Bertelsen, Hans Henrik Larsen and the many others who risked, suffered and sacrificed so much in the Second World War. We are all human, with our fears and faults, and we possess varying degrees of courage and competence in the challenges we face in this life. All those who set out to undermine Adolf Hitler’s Nazis in occupied Europe, however successful, whatever their eventual fate, deserve the respect of future generations. Let the power of their story put to shame those politicians and teachers who already seem to be forgetting the creators of our freedom.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION: ZURICH, FEBRUARY 1998
Chapter 1 - THE TIGHTROPE TO RADAR
Chapter 2 - TRAPPED
Chapter 3 - HIMMLER AND THE LONGBOW
Chapter 4 - A TASTE OF FREEDOM
Chapter 5 - ON LOCATION
Chapter 6 - FLIGHT PLAN
Chapter 7 - THE JIGSAW PUZZLE
Chapter 8 - A CLOSE SHAVE
Chapter 9 - TAKE-OFF
Chapter 10 - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Chapter 11 - WING-WALKER
Chapter 12 - THE WELCOME
Chapter 13 - DISBELIEF
Chapter 14 - SENDING FOR THE DOCTOR
Chapter 15 - THE SPYMASTER
Chapter 16 - SIS, SOE AND A STRAINED MARRIAGE
Chapter 17 - SPY SCHOOL
Chapter 18 - A RECIPE FOR DISASTER
Chapter 19 - INTO ACTION
Chapter 20 - A FRAGILE FOOTHOLD
Chapter 21 - BED MANNERS
Chapter 22 - THE THREAT
Chapter 23 - MEET THE WIFE
Chapter 24 - BROTHERS IN ARMS
Chapter 25 - HISTORY-MAKERS
Chapter 26 - INFIGHTING
Chapter 27 - CHRISTMAS HORRORS
Chapter 28 - HUNTED
Chapter 29 - BOHR’S BOMBSHELL
Chapter 30 - LONDON BECKONS
Chapter 31 - TREK TO THE UNKNOWN
Chapter 32 - CLOSING IN
Chapter 33 - SURROUNDED
Chapter 34 - DEFIANCE AND LOYALTY
Chapter 35 - LIVING ON THE EDGE
Chapter 36 - WALKING WITH GHOSTS
Chapter 37 - SPILLING THE BEANS
Chapter 38 - THE GAMBLE
Chapter 39 - THE CONSEQUENCES
Chapter 40 - THE ORDEAL
Chapter 41 - A DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT
Chapter 42 - SMEAR CAMPAIGN
Chapter 43 - POWERLESS
Chapter 44 - A NEW BETRAYAL
Chapter 45 - ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR
Chapter 46 - WHEN LIFE IS TOO SHORT
Chapter 47 - THE ACCIDENT
Chapter 48 - REWARDS AND MEMORIES
Chapter 49 - COMING HOME
Epilogue - THE HORNET’S STING
NOTES
Index
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the help of two people—Thomas Sneum and Alan Brooke.
Tommy, the hero of the story, was patient, helpful and amusing, especially once he had overcome