An explosive account of the competing spy networks that used neutral Holland as their base in the First World War After First World War broke out the port city of Rotterdam in particular became a prolific breeding ground for secret agents and spies. The neutrality of the Netherlands, its geographical position in between most powerful warring nations, its proximity to the Western Front meant that British and German secret services both chose Holland as their main base for spying operations on each other. On neutral Dutch ground newly established intelligence services learned the spy trade. Spy Nest tells the story of the secret agents involved, their Dutch hirelings and the spies they recruited and sacrificed between August 1914 and November 1918. AUTHOR: Edwin Ruis is historian born in Rotterdam in 1971. The original Dutch edition of Spynest (Spionnennest 1914? 1918) won critical acclaim in the Netherlands and Belgium. His second book, Gith Mission (Vechtmissie) has also received strong reviews. Ruis writes regularly for the World at War magazine and has appeared on radio and TV discussing World War I. He has also lectured at public events and international conferences. SELLING POINTS: ? Describes the activities of spymaster Hilmar Dierks and his spies that were executed in the Tower of London ? Fresh insight into German intelligence operations directed against Britain ? Reveals unknown history of WWI espionage and shows Rotterdam as key spy centre of World War I ? Primary sources from Dutch archives, British National Archives, diaries, memoirs and newspapers 16 b/w illustrations, 8 b/w plates
