The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Monday, March 23, 2015

"Secret Listeners" Revealed

From the Jan. 29, 2013, Jewish Daily Forward "World War II 'Secret Listeners' revealed: by Anne Joseph.

Secret Listener Fritz Lustig was told his job was more important than firing a machine gun or driving a tank.

The "Listeners" were a group of Austrian or German refugees who "monitored, recorded and made detailed transcripts of private conversations between Nazi prisoners of war in the United Kingdom."

Between 1942 and 1945, Trent Park was used to imprison high-ranking officers and allowed a comfortable existence with the idea that making them feel relaxed and happy might cause them to discuss sensitive affairs of state amongst themselves, unaware that their quarters were bugged.

Microphones were in the flower pots, a snooker table and elsewhere.  The listeners were in the basement.

Lustig believes he is the only still-living Listener.

--GreGen

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