Some of the Second World War's greatest victories began with a secret.

Join us as we uncover the hidden world of espionage during the Second World War. From occupied France to the jungles of the Pacific, discover the resistance fighters, spies, Coastwatchers and codebreakers whose courage, deception and intelligence helped shape the course of the war.

Featuring Nancy Wake, Major Sei Hashida, Michael Veitch's Coastwatchers, and the remarkable women who kept Allied secrets in wartime Canberra, these are the people who fought the war from the shadows.

Stories:

• 00.00-00:51 – Content warning
• 00:51-03:53 – Nancy Wake: The secret war begins
• 03:53-09:23 – John Fahey: Australia's first intelligence
• 09:23-22:45 – The Coastwatchers with Michael Veitch
• 22:45-41:24 – Nancy Wake, The White Mouse with Ali Sharman
• 41:24 -48:54 – ULTRA intelligence with Craig Tibbitts
• 48:54-59:21 – The Cable Girls with Sita Sargeant
• 59:21-1:12:51 – Major Hashida's Notebook with Craig Collie
• 1:12:51-1:14:13 – The legacy of espionage in the Second World War

Show notes:

Want to go deeper into the stories featured in this episode?

Discover the people, objects, voices and histories behind these accounts, including collection items and personal records from the Australian War Memorial, and books by our guest authors.

• Read John Fahey's Australia's First Spies: The Remarkable Story of Australia's Intelligence Operations, 1901–45
• Read Craig Collie's Major Hashida's Notebook.
• Read Michael Veitch's Australia's Secret Army.
• Read Ali Sharman's Gestapo's Most Wanted: The White Mouse

Explore the full episode online:

https://wm.awm.gov.au/podcast/life-shadows

If this episode raises difficult feelings, support is available:

• Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 or openarms.gov.au
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au