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Book Review: The Spy and the Devil by Tim Willasey-Wilsey

October 20, 2025 8:17 AM | Anonymous

The Spy and the Devil: The untold story of the MI6 agent who penetrated Hitler’s inner circle
by Tim Willasey-Wilsey

May 8, 2025
Publisher: Blink Publishing

The Spy and the Devil
by Tim Willasey-Wilsey

 
This is the forgotten tale of MI6's top spy in Nazi Germany and his bid to stop the Second World War. In the world of espionage, where the accounts of renowned spies often dominate the narrative, this is a rare gem - an untold story of a completely unknown spy.

Baron William de Ropp, a Baltic German aristocrat, wasn't just any ordinary spy; he was MI6's top-secret agent in Nazi Germany from 1931 to 1939, managing to escape Berlin just before war broke out. This unsung hero had direct access to Adolf Hitler and an inside track on the Nazi regime. His reports, shrouded in secrecy, had the power to shape British policy toward Germany in a pivotal period of history.

The Spy and the Devil is a riveting tale of espionage, intrigue, and the untold impact of one man's secret mission on the course of history. A journey into the shadows of Nazi Germany, where a forgotten British spy worked tirelessly to avert catastrophe, and discover the secrets that history almost left behind.
Although aspects of de Ropp's activities appear in other books, notably the authorised history of MI6, his story has never been published in full before, adding an extra dimension to what is, by any standard, the account of a very remarkable man. Drawing on his years of service in the Foreign Office, Tim Willasey-Wilsey offers an insider's view of this enigmatic British spy.


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Reviews:

None currently available
See also:

The Spy and the Devil as reviewed by Michael Smith for The Cipher Brief - September 16, 2025 

Michael Smith is the author of The Real Special Relationship: The True Story of How MI6 and the CIA Work Together (with a foreword by former CIA Director, General Michael Hayden, and an introduction by former MI6 Chief Sir John Scarlett).
 Tim Willasey-Wilsey CMG speaks with Richard Iron CMG OBE to discuss The Spy and the Devil. They discuss the complexities involved in uncovering the life story of a secret agent and the effects which his reporting had on British foreign policy. Australian Institute of International Affairs - October 6, 2024

About the book: 
The Spy and the Devil; 
The untold story of the MI6 agent who penetrated Hitler’s inner circle
by Tim Willasey-Wilsey
Blink Publishing- 512 pages 10.99 (Kobo)
Publication Date: May 8, 2025


About the Author: Tim Willasey-Wilsey
 

Tim Willasey-Wilsey is an author, historian, academic, and former diplomat. In addition to his role at RUSI, he is a Visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London. His first book, The Spy and the Devil, was published in May 2025. He also advises a leading AI company.

Tim served for twenty-seven years as a British diplomat in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. He worked in Angola during the Cold War, South Africa in the years just before majority rule, Central America at the time of the Sandinista/Contra war and in the Middle East following the Oslo accords. Latterly he focussed on South Asia and Northeast Asia.

He lectures and writes on government approaches to conflict and its resolution and on terrorism and insurgency. Tim has a particular interest in the Kashmir dispute, India-Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Koreas and the survival of a sovereign and secure Ukraine.

Tim advises international banks and large companies on geopolitical risk and on how to calibrate their risk-appetites to international clients and transactions. 

He writes and speaks extensively on geopolitics. In the UK his main outlets are RUSI and Times Radio. Overseas he is a regular contributor to the US global security website Cipher Brief and the Indian Council on Global Relations.

He was elected by the membership to two three-year terms on the Chatham House Council and reviewed books for their journal, International Affairs. He also lectures to overseas universities and governments.

Tim has an MA (First Class) in Modern History from St Andrews University. He was awarded the CMG in the 2007 New Year Honours List.

Biography Credit:  RUSI

À propos du livre :
L'espion et le diable ;
L'histoire inédite de l'agent du MI6 qui a infiltré le cercle restreint d'Hitler
par Tim Willasey-Wilsey
Blink Publishing - 512 pages 10,99 (Kobo)
Date de publication : 8 mai 2025

Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.

Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 

Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com


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