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Foley: The Spy Who Saved 10,000 Jews
As the horror of Nazism tightened its grip on Germany, Jews found themselves trapped and desperate. For many, their only hope of salvation came in the form of a small, bespectacled British Frank Foley, Working as a Berlin Passport Control Officer, Foley helped thousands of Hews to flee the country with visas and false passports, personally entering the campus to get Jews out, and sheltering those on the run from the Gestapo in his own apartment. Described by a Jewish leader as 'the Pimpernel of the Jews,' Foley was an unsung hero of the Holocaust. But why is this extraordinary man visually unknot, even in Britain? The reason is simple. Foley was MI6 head of station in Berlin, bound to secrecy by the code of his profession. Michael Smith's work uncovering the remarkable truth led to the recognition of Frank Foley as Righteous Among Nations, the highest honor the Jewish state can bestow upon a Gentile. Foley is a story of courage and quiet heroism in the face of great evil- a reminder of the impact that one brave individual can have on the lives of many.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Michael Smith
26 books45 followersThere is more than one Michael Smith in the database.
Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.
Source: Wikipedia.
Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 30, 2017
You need to appreciate that Captain Frank Foley was at times both a spy and a civil servant and in an age when both jobs could be exercised to whatever degree the individual cared about his duties to country or the common good or where possibly both. If he had chosen to be a strict civil servant as other colleagues behaved he would have turned a blind eye to the happenings in Germany, to the persecution of the Jews and to the uncivilised practices of an evil and sadistic state regime. It was the independence of being an operative of MI6 that made his awareness and humanitarian actions so notable. He bent rules to give many an opportunity to escape the horrors of the concentration camps and the ruthless bloody persecution of honest and upright citizens. He lived in Germany for many years and saw the way evil gripped a nation and in a quiet and methodical way went about helping as many as he could without getting caught by either his government employers or the Nazi authorities. The book gives a very detailed understanding of the society and the system that trapped and killed so many and you are left wondering why countries like Britain did not do more to help but one could ask the same question about the Syrians fleeing their country today - the sickening attitudes to those being persecuted is not just endemic in other countries but lives on in so called democratic and law abiding nations as well. The book follows this understated and modest man as he continues his involvement through the war and makes you even more impressed by his MI6 duties and actions. I came away wondering what wasn't included because of both the clandestine activities and the Official Secrets Act but what made me, a retired civil servant, so proud was that this man moved heaven and earth to save who he could and put the common man above the red tape and bureaucratic rules of indifference. If you doubt what took place in Germany under Nazism then you need to read this book.
November 1, 2016
This book initially seemed to me to be as unassuming as the man depicted on its pages. And like Capt. Frank Foley, who was a genuine hero, the book proved to be much richer than I had expected. It tells the story, as the title says, of Frank Foley, who, while working for British Intelligence during World War II in Berlin (he spoke fluent German) also served as the Director of the Passport Control Office and in that post, may very well have saved the lives of over 10,000 Jews. Afterward, he continued to Norway, where he represented the British government in war meetings with the Commander General of the Norwegian forces; and, on leaving there, continued in M!6, where among his duties, he briefed Rudolf Hess, maintained his contacts among the spies in Germany, and was instrumental in the attempt by British Intelligence to mislead the Germans regarding the landing on Normandy. After the war, he returned to Berlin where he sought out Nazis who were conspiring to return the former regime.
The book contains a wealth of information. Its descriptions of Foley's activities in Berlin to save the Jews, risking his life and virtually going against the restrictions placed on immigration both by the British and American governments are riveting. Smith has a superb ability of summarizing events in a clear and engaging way.
An important read.
The book contains a wealth of information. Its descriptions of Foley's activities in Berlin to save the Jews, risking his life and virtually going against the restrictions placed on immigration both by the British and American governments are riveting. Smith has a superb ability of summarizing events in a clear and engaging way.
An important read.
October 8, 2018
This is a riveting read, mainly about Frank Foley's efforts to enable Jews to emigrate before WW2, but also about his continuing work in MI6 up till the end of the war, including his involvement in the de-briefing of Rudolf Hess. FF was certainly an extremely brave person: although he was nominally attached to the British Embassy in Berlin (as Passport Control Officer) his status as an Intelligence Officer deprived him of diplomatic status, so that if the Germans had got wind of his activities he would have risked execution.
The book also describes in great detail the appalling saga of the Nazi rise to power and subsequent ill treatment and extermination of minorities, especially the Jews. The unwillingness of other nations either to shelter or enable refugees to settle in Palestine is shocking, but we have echoes of that hardness of heart among governments today.
Since this book was written, FF's name has been included in the list of Righteous among the Nations at Yad Vashem, which is a tribute to the thoroughness of the research done by the author.
The book also describes in great detail the appalling saga of the Nazi rise to power and subsequent ill treatment and extermination of minorities, especially the Jews. The unwillingness of other nations either to shelter or enable refugees to settle in Palestine is shocking, but we have echoes of that hardness of heart among governments today.
Since this book was written, FF's name has been included in the list of Righteous among the Nations at Yad Vashem, which is a tribute to the thoroughness of the research done by the author.
May 22, 2024
Michael Smith has created a wonderful tribute in his book on the amazing work of Frank Foley. Frank operated as an important spy for Britain during World War II, and whose efforts while placed in the British Passport Office in Berlin not only served Britain’s wartime interests, but saved many thousands of Jews who needed a safe passage out of Nazi occupied Europe.
Frank Foley’s story was not widely known as he was a MI6 Officer and much of his work during the war was kept secret during the early cold war days immediately after World War II. Michael Smith’s biography paints Frank Foley as a decent, compassionate man who was willing take personal risks in order to protect life. He was based in Berlin during a perilous time and bore witness to the increasing horrors of the Nazi regime and the many Germans who backed it and enabled it. Frank’s clear thinking, humanity and tenacity saved the lives of thousands of European Jews.
Frank Foley’s story was not widely known as he was a MI6 Officer and much of his work during the war was kept secret during the early cold war days immediately after World War II. Michael Smith’s biography paints Frank Foley as a decent, compassionate man who was willing take personal risks in order to protect life. He was based in Berlin during a perilous time and bore witness to the increasing horrors of the Nazi regime and the many Germans who backed it and enabled it. Frank’s clear thinking, humanity and tenacity saved the lives of thousands of European Jews.
October 6, 2020
La storia di un uomo coraggioso, ispirato da nobili sentimenti ed ideali. Pur in tempi difficili e incoerenti non rinunciò ad essere "umano " e a prendersi carico della sofferenza e dolore a cui assisteva.
October 25, 2024
Outstanding
An absolutely outstanding book. I had not heard of Foley before, but he made a huge difference. The number of Jews he saved was remarkable. He also played a key role in so many other aspects of WWII. Glad his story is being told. Highly recommended.
An absolutely outstanding book. I had not heard of Foley before, but he made a huge difference. The number of Jews he saved was remarkable. He also played a key role in so many other aspects of WWII. Glad his story is being told. Highly recommended.
December 23, 2020
Good story. Not well told.
Read
November 19, 2022todo
January 22, 2020
Fascinating history of the era and a very ordinary man who achieved so much.
May 6, 2015
This is the first time I have come across Frank Foley, an MI6 agent stationed in Berlin under the cover of Passport Control Officer during the pre-war period. With the declaration of war he transferred to Norway, and with Norway's fall back to the UK where he acted as a liaison officer between MI5 and MI6, an important role in the smooth functioning of the Double Cross Committee or Twenty Club and amongst other duties debriefed Rudolph Hess.
The main interest in this biography is Michael Smith's explanation of the difficulties facing the German Jews and the extra-ordinary catch-22 situation in which they found themselves. Emigration to Palestine was complex with British concerns over Arab reactions and the punitive regulations introduced by the Nazis. The Americans had strict quotas. The British government had anxieties about popular reaction to the refugees who flooded the Southern English ports, as well as concern about spies. In Foley's cover duties as passport officer, he showed compassion and an extraordinary ability to bend the rules to provide visas for as many people as he could. He was aware of the illegal shipments of refugees into Palestine but failed to inform British Admiralty, allowing the safe passage of many vessels.
I am surprised at the amount of high level information that Foley and his teams were able to send to London, and the dismissal of so much of it on the grounds that this was contrary to British thinking.
A well written book, well researched by an author who considers Foley to have been overlooked. I also feel some shame about the past, as well as concern for the plight of refugees of the present.
The main interest in this biography is Michael Smith's explanation of the difficulties facing the German Jews and the extra-ordinary catch-22 situation in which they found themselves. Emigration to Palestine was complex with British concerns over Arab reactions and the punitive regulations introduced by the Nazis. The Americans had strict quotas. The British government had anxieties about popular reaction to the refugees who flooded the Southern English ports, as well as concern about spies. In Foley's cover duties as passport officer, he showed compassion and an extraordinary ability to bend the rules to provide visas for as many people as he could. He was aware of the illegal shipments of refugees into Palestine but failed to inform British Admiralty, allowing the safe passage of many vessels.
I am surprised at the amount of high level information that Foley and his teams were able to send to London, and the dismissal of so much of it on the grounds that this was contrary to British thinking.
A well written book, well researched by an author who considers Foley to have been overlooked. I also feel some shame about the past, as well as concern for the plight of refugees of the present.
January 9, 2010
I hadn't heard of this Englishman Foley until I alighted by chance on this book. This is perhaps one of the truely great and little known stories of heroisim and mans humanity from the II WW. Cool and unexaggerated but still an edge of your seat read.
November 21, 2011
reads a little too much like a history book (which really, it is), but still gripping in its depictions of horror and courage.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews