Double Cross in Cairo

As part of the infamous Double Cross operation, Jewish double agent Renato Levi proved to be one of the Allies' most devastating weapons in World War Two.

In 1941, with the help of Ml6, Levi built an extensive spy ring in North Africa and the Middle East. But, most remarkably, it was entirely fictitious. This network of imagined informants peddled dangerously false misinformation to Levi's unwitting German handlers. His efforts would distort any enemy estimates of Allied battle plans for the remainder of the war.

His communications were infused with just enough truth to be palatable, and just enough imagination to make them irresistible. In a vacuum of seemingly trustworthy sources, Levi's enemies not only believed in the CHEESE network, as it was codenamed, but they came to depend upon it. And, by the war's conclusion, he could boast of having helped the Allies thwart Erwin Rommel in North Africa, as well as diverting whole armies from the D-Day landing sites. He wielded great influence and, as a double agent, he was unrivaled.

Until now, Levi's deceptions and feats of derring-do have remained completely hidden. Using recently declassified files, Double Cross in Cairo uncovers the heroic exploits of one of the Second World War's most closely guarded secrets.

The Dialogue Espionage Classics series began in 2010 with the purpose of bringing back classic out-of-print spy stories that should never be forgotten. This fascinating spy history series includes some of the best military, espionage and adventure stories ever told.

Nigel West is a military historian specializing in security and intelligence topics. He sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence and Global War Studies and, for the past three years, he has chaired the panel of judges for the annual St. Ermin's Intelligence Book of the Year award.