Nazi Saboteurs: Hitler's Secret Attack on America (Scholastic Focus)

by Samantha Seiple

Overview

A gripping tale of the little-known Nazi plot to attack on American soil, and the brave individuals who got in the way.

In 1942, amid a growing German threat, Nazi agents infiltrated the United States in hopes of destroying American infrastructure and sowing panic throughout the nation. Nazi Saboteurs tells the nail-biting tale of this daring plot, buried in history, for young readers for the first time. Black-and-white historical photos throughout paint a picture of a nation on edge, the FBI caught unawares, and the incredible capture of eight dangerous criminals. A thrilling historical narrative for WWII buffs, reluctant readers, and adventure junkies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338259148
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/03/2019
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	642,094
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	1010L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Samantha Seiple is the author of Lincoln's Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, America's First Private Eye, a 2015 Junior Library Guild Selection; Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion; and Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure. She has worked as a competitive intelligence specialist for a Fortune 500 company, as a librarian, and as a production editor and copy editor. Her education includes degrees in English, journalism, and library and information science. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

"This riveting tale has received scant attention, and this telling [...] does it justice. A story that will appeal to both espionage and World War II enthusiasts." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

12/01/2019

Gr 4–7—June 13, 1942. Four saboteurs emerged from a German submarine off the coast of Amagansett, NY. A chance encounter with a lone Coast Guard "beach pounder" on patrol triggered a chain of events that ultimately led to the capture, imprisonment, and/or execution of this team, plus another team of four who landed in Florida four days later. All were German-born, but spent several years in the United States and were proficient in English. The operation was doomed from the start; trust was severely lacking, and some wanted to kill their leader, George Dasch, who disobeyed orders. Within the week, Dasch confessed the entire scheme to the FBI. In less than two weeks, all eight were arrested. By June 28, 1942, the men learned their fate after being tried by a military tribunal. The author concludes this well-written account by discussing the pros and cons of the use of a military tribunal in the aftermath of 9/11; the same issues were present in the 1942 case. Mug shots of the eight men and short bios add authenticity to the text. The bibliography includes military tribunal and FBI records, CIA and MI5 files, books, magazines and newspapers, and websites. Back matter also includes photo credits and an index. VERDICT Seiple has done an excellent job researching and presenting a topic that is sometimes mentioned in other historical accounts, but seldom thoroughly covered. A sound addition to any upper elementary or middle school collection.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

School Library Journal

2019-08-12
In 1942, Nazis sent eight inept white German-Americans to the United States with a mission to sabotage industrial sites.

All of the eight men who had been transported to the East Coast via submarine had previously lived for years in America but had returned to Germany early in the war. Some seem to have been motivated by a desire to serve their native country; others were more pragmatic in their plans, perhaps wanting to escape Germany. The training period was short, and there was no attempt to weed out less-effective agents. Immediately after landing on a New York beach, the leader of one group, George Dasch, encountered a Coast Guardsman whom—violating his orders—he released, giving away their secret mission. Only a week later, Dasch turned himself in to the FBI, erroneously believing he would be hailed as a hero. Although the information he revealed was critical in capturing the rest of the saboteurs, he was tried alongside the others before a military tribunal. Six (although not Dasch) were condemned to death and immediately executed. In a concluding chapter, Seiple draws connections between these saboteurs and the legal odyssey of 9/11 terrorists, whose fate remains uncertain. This riveting tale has received scant attention, and this telling, heavily informed by court transcripts, does it justice. Excellent backmatter and a smattering of period photographs round out the presentation.

A story that will appeal to both espionage and World War II enthusiasts. (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews