Secret WWII: Spies & Special Ops

Six months after Pearl Harbor, the United States makes an important advance in understanding the Japanese naval code ahead of the Battle of Midway, which becomes a major turning point in the Pacific war. Meanwhile, President Franklin Roosevelt establishes the country's first intelligence agency, the Office of Strategic Services, and German agents target the United States in a bold sabotage plot—Operation Pastorius.

Host Bradley W. Hart is joined by historians and authors Michael Bell, John Curatola, Nick Reynolds, Jeff Rogg, and John Fox.

On December 7, 1941, a surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor stuns the nation. In this episode, we explore the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and its impact on the American intelligence community, the creation of a new spy organization, and the extent of Nazi espionage in the United States.

Host Bradley W. Hart is joined by guests Nicholas Reynolds, author of Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence; Jeffrey Rogg, author of The Spy and the State; and John Fox, official historian for the FBI.

World War II was fought on battlefields all over the globe. But it was also fought in the shadows—in covert operations that didn't make the headlines, both at home and overseas.

The National WWII Museum presents Secret WWII: Spies & Special Ops, a new podcast series exploring wartime tales of espionage and intrigue.

Hosted by Museum Senior Historian Bradley W. Hart, PhD, tune in to hear from expert historians and listen to the stories of the people who were there to uncover the secret World War II.