Title
Operation ColumbaThe Secret Pigeon Service: The Untold Story of World War II Resistance in Europe,Used
Sold by Ergodebooks, an authorized reseller.
Returns accepted within 30 days | support@ergodebooks.com
Shipping Information
- Free Standard Shipping — United States only
- Processing Time: 1–3 business days
- Estimated Delivery: 3–5 business days after dispatch
- Double-boxed, fully insured & discreetly packaged
- Tracking number sent via email once dispatched
- Orders over $250 require signature upon delivery. Taxes calculated at checkout.
Returns & Refund
Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery.
Damaged or Defective Item
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Wrong Item Received
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Change of Mind
Return shipping at customer's expense · 25% restocking fee applies
Payment Option
The fascinating, untold story of how British intelligence secretly used homing pigeons as part of a clandestine espionage operation to gather information, communicate, and coordinate with members of the Resistance to defeat the Nazis in occupied Europe during World War II.Between 1941 and 1944, British intelligence dropped sixteen thousand homing pigeons in an arc across Nazioccupied Europe, from Bordeaux, France to Copenhagen, Denmark, as part of a spy operation codenamed Columba. Returning to MI14, the secret government branch in charge of the 'Special Pigeon Service,' the birds carried messages that offered a glimpse of life under the Germans in rural France, Holland, and Belgium. Written on tiny pieces of rice paper tucked into canisters and tied to the birds legs, these messages were sometimes comic, often tragic, and occasionally invaluablereporting details of German troop movements and fortifications, new Nazi weapons, radar systems, and even the deployment of the feared V1 and V2 rockets used to terrorize London.The people who sent these messages were not trained spies. They were ordinary men and women willing to risk their lives in the name of freedom, including the 'Leopold Vindictive' networka small group of Belgian villagers led by an extraordinary priest named Joseph Raskin. The intelligence Raskin sent back by pigeon proved so valuable that it reached Churchill and MI6 parachuted agents behind enemy lines to assist him.Gordon Corera uses declassified documents and extensive original research to tell the story of the Operation Columba and the Secret Pigeon Service for the first time. A powerful tale of wartime espionage, bitter rivalries, extraordinary courage, astonishing betrayal, harrowing tragedy, and a quirky, quarrelsome band of spy masters and their special mission, Operation Columba opens a fascinating new chapter in the annals of World War II. It is ultimately, the story of how, in one of the darkest and most dangerous times in history, under threat of death, people bravely chose to resist.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main focus of 'Operation Columba--The Secret Pigeon Service'? A: The book focuses on the untold story of how British intelligence used homing pigeons during World War II to gather information and coordinate with the Resistance in occupied Europe.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Operation Columba' is Gordon Corera.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This book is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: How many pages does 'Operation Columba' have? A: The book contains a total of 352 pages.
- Q: When was 'Operation Columba' published? A: The book was published on October 16, 2018.
- Q: Is this book a first edition? A: Yes, this is the First U.S. Edition of 'Operation Columba'.
- Q: What kind of information can readers expect from this book? A: Readers can expect a powerful narrative of wartime espionage, including stories of courage, betrayal, and the unique role of pigeons in military intelligence.
- Q: Is this book suitable for readers interested in World War II history? A: Yes, this book is suitable for anyone interested in World War II history, espionage, and the unconventional methods used during the war.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is in new condition.
- Q: What logistical details are provided for this book's shipping? A: Orders are dispatched from our UK warehouse the next working day.