A Spy at the Heart of the Third Reich: The Extraordinary Story of Fritz Kolbe, America's Most Important Spy in World War II

The author did a very good job with the information available about this courageous German man, Fritz Kolbe, who spied for the Allies. He was truly at the center of the action, working at the German Foreign Ministry, in close proximity to Ribbentrop, visiting the Wolf's Lair with Hitler in residence, and bumping up against the major players.

I agree with another reviewer who stated that his observations about the well-known figures of the Reich - such as passing Himmler or Heydrich in the hallways or watching Hitler from afar at the Wolf's Lair - would have been interesting. Apparently, he didn't keep a diary or write down his recollections after the war. Nevertheless, the book has tension and you have to admire this very daring and heroic man. Not only did he face certain death but it was sure to be both a gruesome and long ordeal as he would have faced interrogation first if caught. Great account of one individual who fought his own war against the Nazis.

Found this book very interesting, in as much as the people of the third reich were in awe and fear of their leaders. However there were those who managed to see the light and attempt to alter the status quo. A very interesting read.

Lucas Delattre's documentary of Fritz Kolbe is one of the most riveting tales of espionage I have ever read. Kolbe, a German citizen who hated the Nazi regime, was employed by the German foreign ministry and offered himself up as a spy to an American OSS officer in Switzerland. The Americans were skeptical at first, believing that Kolbe might be a double agent.

During the last two years of World War II, as Germany was crumbling under constant bombardment by the Allies, Kolbe made several trips from Berlin to Switzerland where he handed over top secret documents to the Americans. Had he been caught (and he almost was, once), he would have certainly been executed.

I have read most of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, and this story is better. Not sexy, just better because it really happened.

I highly recommend this book.

Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant

[[ASIN:0981929702 Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant]]

When an individual decides to put his personal morality above the corrupt needs of the Nazi state you get people like Fritz Kolbe. Lucas Delattre's fascinating book about Kolbe, one of the highest-level Germans in the Nazi government to spy for the Allies, is a portrait in courage. The author has done a very good job of illustrating the dangers Kolbe encountered as he smuggled information to the Allies during the height of World War II. The author doesn't stop there, however, but goes on to explain how Kolbe was shunned by German government officials after the war and blackballed despite his heroic actions. It is encouraging that some in Germany were not blinded by Hitler's nationalistic tactics and discovered the moral bankruptcy of the government. The only question is why there weren't more people like him.

Great read for those interested in WWII and the OSS (pre-CIA) espionage therein. Reads like a novel; Kolbe is a fascinating character who wears a "barely competent" facade to mask his misdeeds against his Nazi superiors.

very informative read

An interesting book on WWll spying and counter intelligence and on how one man can and did help defeat Hitler and his regime.