CASSIA Spy Ring in World War II Austria

After Hitler annexed Austria in 1938, the Gestapo began silencing critics. Many were shipped to concentration camps; those deemed most dangerous to the Reich were executed. Yet a few slipped through the Gestapo’s net and organized resistance cells. One group, codenamed CASSIA, became America’s most effective spy ring in Austria during World War II.This first full-length account of CASSIA describes its contributions to the Allied war effort—including reports on the V-2 missile, Nazi death camps and advanced combat aircraft and tanks—before a catastrophic intelligence failure sent key members to the guillotine, firing squad or gas chamber.

"Fills a gap in OSS history. It is well-documented and should be of interest to all those concerned with the OSS in WWII."--Studies in Intelligence; "Well-researched...a riveting account of an OSS operation gone wrong...[Turner] gives us a scholarly work that reads like a spy novel rather than an academic study...a solid case study of an early intelligence operation"--Military Review; "A gripping story of forgotten heroes, and a must read for anyone interested in the early days of spies and espionage."-- Against the Grain ; "Turner lifts the veil on [the Cassia] operation with research and deep analysis from an extensive array of never-before used primary sources...deftly recounts the multinational Cassia team's heroic exploits... With panoramic descriptions of the infamous Gestapo headquarters and detention center, Turner tells this intriguing and inspiring narrative with the highest attention to detail. Turner transports the reader, making us feel we're among the key Cassia operatives.... [Turner is] a substantive expert in the history and practice of intelligence...the lessons about agent handling and communications are valuable in their own right...eloquently recounts how OSS officers refined the art of spy craft by learning from their successes and failures...Turner has done a great service to the memories of the valiant men and women of Cassia, who made such an extraordinary contribution to the war effort of the U.S. and allied forces against Nazi Germany."--The Cipher Brief; "With this volume, Turner proves himself to be not only an accomplished researcher and interpreter with an eye to detail and accuracy, but also a preeminent expert on the secret service milieu and on the craft of espionage. ...Increasing public awareness about these courageous people's sacrifices...is another reason why Turner's work is an important contribution to the history of the Austrian resistance--to be added to those by other foreign researchers such as Joseph E. Persico, Radomir V. Luza, Barry Rubin, and Charles Fenyvesi. ...In his smooth writing style, C. Turner painstakingly traces the resistance activities of each member of the [CASSIA] group." --Dr. Siegfried Beer, Journal for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies.

C. Turner’s 25-year career in foreign affairs included postings in the Far East, South Asia, and Europe. Before serving in the government, he conducted anthropological fieldwork in Asia, Oceania, and North America.