What happens when a talented young man who seeks adventure, sets off to find it, only to become a special operations and unconventional warfare expert for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)? Luck, timing, and capitalizing on golden opportunities enabled a young Danish student who initially wanted to be a sea captain to become one of the most influential and successful covert operatives for Great Britain and the United States spanning World War II, Korea, and the early 1960s.
Superspy is the story of Hans V. Tofte who served with the Special Operations Executive, the OSS, and eventually the CIA. Tofte, a charismatic man who spoke six languages and made friends and contacts easily, turned chance meetings into opportunities to serve both the UK and US advancing war efforts and key strategic interests around the globe.
Dr. David Foy is the author of this book, Superspy; and two others, Loyalty First and For You the War Is Over. He received his terminal degree from the University of Arkansas and has served as a US Army intelligence officer (uniformed and civilian), a defense contractor, and college faculty member. He has been a historian for over thirty years and served the director of national intelligence as a historian.
Superspy highlights Tofte’s experiences conducting unconventional warfare organizing and employing indigenous forces, and managing their operations, including supporting sabotage operations in China against the Japanese, supporting Yugoslavians against the Nazis in the mediterranean, and supporting US Air Force escape and evasion efforts for downed aircrew in Korea.
The book is well organized and cited throughout. The author was very careful to paint a balanced picture of Tofte, illuminating his incredible contributions to combat success, but also acknowledging his detractors and human frailties both in younger years and battles with alcohol addiction later in life. This is an honest look at a man, not propaganda for adoring audiences.
Superspy is delightful to read and due to the author's skillful writing can be digested very quickly. It will be attractive to military intelligence officers, and special operations forces. Historians will also find this book interesting and insightful. Additionally, it is instructive to leaders who manage larger than life personalities, and military professionals who must understand that battlefield victory doesn't always translate to idyllic outcomes.