The OSS in World War II
Fred Wolf (cover photograph) New York, N.Y. Ballantine Books, 1972. First Printing [Stated]. Mass market paperback. [10], 403, [1] pages. Illustrations. Occasional footnotes. Includes Preface, Prologue, Epilogue, Glossary, Appendix, Notes, Bibliography, and Index, as well as 23 chapters. The Complete Story of America's First Wartime Espionage Service, the Forerunner of the CIA. This book details the formation of the OSS--forerunner of the CIA--from its beginnings, when it was described by Radio Berlin as "fifty professors, twenty monkeys, ten goats, twelve guinea pigs and a staff of Jewish scribblers," through its development into an organization which made decisive contributions to the Allied victory. Mr. Hymoff began his career as a reporter at The World-Telegram and Sun in New York City. He covered the Korean War for 15 New England newspapers and for the International News Service, and later worked for CBS. During World War II, Mr. Hymoff served in the Office of Strategic Services, which he made the subject of one of his several books. As an NBC news manager, he helped create "Monitor," the Peabody Award-winning radio program. He was also a consultant to the United States Information Agency, the Voice of America, the Department of Defense and the League of Women Voters, for which he helped produce the 1980 Presidential debates. Earlier, as the communications and public affairs director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, he developed the satellite broadcasting system used by 500 radio and television stations. At the time of his death Mr. Hymoff was the vice president of communications and marketing for the National Security Institute, a defense industry security firm. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was a wartime intelligence agency of the United States during World War II, and a predecessor to the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) and the independent Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Other OSS functions included the use of propaganda, subversion, and post-war planning. On December 14, 2016, the organization was collectively honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services was conducting multiple activities and missions, including collecting intelligence by spying, performing acts of sabotage, waging propaganda war, organizing and coordinating anti-Nazi resistance groups in Europe, and providing military training for anti-Japanese guerrilla movements in Asia, among other things. At the height of its influence during World War II, the OSS employed almost 24,000 people. Condition: Fair.
Keywords: Office of Strategic Services, Espionage, Sabotage, Propaganda, Psychological Operations, William Donovan, Allen Dulles, Guerrilla Warfare, Partisans, William Stephenson, Fred Wolf
ISBN: 345028821165
[Book #81992]
Price: $17.50