KG 200: A Novel. The Greatest Secret of World War II

What do you do when you learn about a secret Luftwaffe unit, and want to write a book about it, but can find very little remaining documentation? Well, you could write a story about the unit, "based on investigations and hitherto unpublished information in fourteen countries." And, just to keep readers interest up, "Many of the most fantastic, the most unbelievable incidents here described, actually happened." (Both quotes are from the Author's Note.) The story begins with one of KG 200's B-17s crash landing in Britain, after being shot down by German flak while on a mission to parachute in a load of spies. The pilot is not only the Luftwaffe's best and brightest, he just happens to be the key player in Operation Ulysses, a secret mission the Fuhrer hopes will alter the course of the war. So, why was he the one flying the mission, and why didn't he crash in France? Hmmm. British and American intelligence know the Germans are repairing and flying Allied aircraft, and know a bit about Ulysses, and even know where the pilot is hiding out in London. Rather than bringing him in, they help him escape back across the Channel, so they can get a better idea about the operation. An RAF and USAAF pilot who have been investigating the crash are sent to follow him, though they have no training in covert operations or assistance from any commandos or OSI operatives. After gathering the clues they need, and making a miraculous return, they prove to be the only ones who can stop the operation. Once you take a deep breath and suspend disbelief, you'll find an exciting, well-paced story. Though it's a bit clunky in parts, particularly the romantic bits, and the ending is rather contrived, the book draws you in and keeps you turning pages. It's one of the best WWII fiction books I've read, and I would certainly recommend it. One annoyance - the authors never indicate which parts "actually happened", and which, besides Ulysses, were made up. A few pages at the end of the book to sort out fact from fiction would have been very welcome. From a note just inside the cover (of the Pan edition), "Actor John Clive was filming on location in Holland when he stumbled on evidence of the real KG 200. ... The novel itself developed with the collaboration of J.D. Gilman - a name covering the identities of two distinguished writers. One half of J.D. Gilman is an acknowledged specialist in intelligence and security matters, while the other half is a military expert and thriller writer."

This superb cloak and dagger novel is based more on the legend of the German's slite special operations group KG 200 whose various operations ran from the special attack to the highly covert. A great drama. Plenty of wonderful twists though given to the occasional soap opera line. My big beef with the authors is their awful propensity for killing off characters.

which state that you can't abuse a flag of truce. They also state that you can't use an enemy's flag and uniform. Thatwas one reason why Otto Skorzeny was tried for war crimesafter the war. What did KG-200 do that was contrary to thethe Laws of Land Warfare? They used captured Allied aircraft. Whenthe author was researching this book, he was originally planning on it being nonfiction, but when he wanted to getinformation about it from the Air Force Academy, he was toldthat there was nothing about it. It was secret and it probablystill is. Not even the Luftwaffe acknowledged its existance.

KG 200 was an actual part of the Luftwaffe dedicated to more covert air operations such as flying captured American and British planes. 'KG 200' the novel is a remarkable, fictional look into this secret department of the German air force. Fans of World War II fiction will have a field day. A little slow moving at times it nevertheless captures the reader and holds interest