Hidden Agenda: How the Duke of Windsor Betrayed the Allies
In his first book, Allen investigates the relationship between  Charles Bedaux, a Nazi spy, and the Duke of Windsor (the former  King Edward VIII). According to Allen, the duke passed Allied  military secrets to the Nazis via Bedaux, information that  proved crucial to the conquest of France. This act of treason  was subsequently covered up by a royal family fearful of a  backlash. The assertion of treason is indeed dismaying, but  though Allen shows that the duke consorted with a known spy (not  entirely news to informed readers), he does not present  persuasive evidence that he was actually feeding information to  the Nazis. Allen argues vociferously that the information  supposedly passed along was significant, and he is not  convincing here either. Fundamentally, Allen does not seem to  understand the complexities of military history or to be  conversant with the latest literature on the subject (especially  Ernest May's Strange Victory: Hitler's Conquest of France).  Knowing an enemy's battle plan does not necessarily decide a  battle, since the Allies knew German plans through much of  1940-42, via the Ultra secret, yet were not able to win major  victories until 1943. Allen is also inconsistent in his source  utilization, citing some material precisely and others with only  vague references. He ends by setting up a straw man: To doubt  his findings and conclusions, he implies, is to be an apologist  for the royal family. Not recommended.Frederic Krome, Jacob  Rader Marcus Ctr. of the American Jewish ArchivesCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.