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CHIEF OF INTELLIGENCE, by Ian Colvin; Victor Gollancz. English price, 12/6. ADMIRAL WILHELM CANARIS "" was Chief of the German Military Intelligence Service from January, 1935. to February, 1944, when he was deposed by Hitler and replaced by Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Chief of the Security Police (Reichsfuehrer S.S.). It is a foul story that Mr. Colvineunfolds in his account of the activities of Canaris during those nine fateful years. He was deeply involved in the numerous plots to overthrow or murder Hitler and when these failed-they were hesitant and woefully lacking in moral courage-Canaris used his position at the nerve centre of German ‘intelligence to inform his country’s enemies of Hitler’s plans. Mr. Colvin appears to have a sort of admiration. for the double crossing
methods of Canaris. His policy of con-| doning contact with Germany’s opponents "supplied the Allies with intelligence of inestimable value." He "did not manage to deter Hitler from his fatal course and he encouraged revolutionary movements rather than led them. His omissions in the intelligence field helped the Allies to achieve surprise and brought their victory mercifully closer." Mr. Colvin offers no convincing -evidence in proof of that claim, which is scarcely less extravagant than that "his moderation and humanity prevented the war from taking yet more violent forms than it did," or that his influence with Franco kept Spain out of the war. It is difficult to suppose that, if there had been no Canaris, the course of the war would have been different. Mr. Colvin has mastered the technique of popular journalism, but his accounts of, his numerous meetings with. former associates of Canaris and what. they told him become wearisome. What does impress one is that Canaris managed to evade the clutches of the Gestapo for so long. But they got their man. at last. He was arrested three days after the abortiye attempt on Hitler’s life in July, 1944, and after the usual maltreatment was hanged on April 9, 1945. Mr. Colvin says it will not be easy for. readers to make up their minds whether Canaris was "a German patriot o: a British spy, a European statesman or a cosmopolitan intriguer, a double agent. an opportunist, or a seer." One reader at least, has made up his mind.
S.D.
W.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 658, 15 February 1952, Page 13
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380SPIDER'S WEB New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 658, 15 February 1952, Page 13
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